The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, reports that its second quarter and year-to-date 2011 operating results are meeting or exceeding the company’s long-term growth targets and gaining volume and value share in total nonalcohol ready-to-drink (NARTD) beverages. Reported worldwide volume grew 6 percent in both the quarter and year-to-date. Excluding new cross-licensed brands in North America, primarily Dr Pepper brands, worldwide volume grew 5 percent in the quarter and year-to-date.
Tea continued to capitalize on a positive year in both the bagged and loose leaf tea segment as well as the ready-to-drink (RTD) segment. RTD showed the most growth at 8.5 percent for more than $2.3 billion in sales, according to SymphonyIRI Group, Chicago, for the 52 weeks ending May 15 in U.S. supermarkets, drug stores, gas and convenience stores and mass merchandise outlets, excluding Wal-Mart. Bagged and loose leaf tea sales experienced a 1.8 percent increase for more than $782.5 million, the market research firm’s data states.
Orgain Inc.expanded its line of Orgain ready-to-drink nutritional shakes for adults with the introduction of an organic, nutritional shake formulated specifically for children. Orgain Healthy Kids is sold in 250-ml. aseptic cartons and available in Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla flavors. The packaging carries the same minimalist design cues from the first Orgain brand, but adds a cartoon monkey and fresh ingredient images to entice children, the package design firm says. Orgain Healthy Kids launched nationally at Whole Foods Market stores and is available for $2.39-$2.49.
Organically growing business: Maine Root sees lineup expand, ready for more
Maine Root, Portland, Maine, has evolved a lot since the day 11 years ago when Founder Matthew Seiler decided to brew his own organic soda. Seiler was restoring boats on the waterfront in Portland, Maine, in the summer of 2000 when a high school friend opened up Flat Bread Pizza Co., an organic pizza company, just a few wharfs down from where Seiler was working. Seiler was hired by his friend to build the clay oven and stayed on to wait tables. But Seiler realized that the organic restaurant didn’t have the beverages to match, so that’s when he went home and mixed up his own batches of root beer.
Fair Trade certified beverages grow in popularity, finds Beverage Industry's Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Fuhrman. Fair Trade USA, a third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States previously known as TransFair USA, released a number of announcements to coincide with Natural Products Expo East in Boston last month.