CEO Update has named Susan K. Neely, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Washington, D.C.-based American Beverage Association (ABA), the 2017 Trade Association CEO of the Year, an annual award recognizing outstanding trade association executives. Neely received the award for her forward-thinking leadership as the head of the ABA and her dedication and service to the wider association community, the company says.

Nestle Waters North America (NWNA), Stamford, Conn., announced that Fernando Mercé has been named president and chief executive officer of the company, effective May 1, 2017.

Clean drinking water is something most Americans take for granted. Yet, there have been many disasters throughout the years — the 2004 Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and, more recently, the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Mich. — which have called the safety of drinking water into question.

As Perrier Artist of the Year, HOTTEA will kick off a year-long partnership with the brand and will have his original design featured on limited-edition packaging, which will be available in the United States later this year.

Perrier Sparkling Natural Mineral Water announced that Eric Rieger, also known as HOTTEA, was named the 2017 Perrier Artist of the Year.

With the 47th annual Earth Day (April 22) roughly a month away, consumers increasingly are reminded about the environmental sustainability efforts in which they can participate. But consumers aren’t the only ones who try to take the extra step to be more environmentally conscious.

As consumers’ shopping behaviors continue to evolve, the drug store channel has seen a boon within beverage aisles. Although the channel is struggling to grow, beverages could offer potential for the channel going forward as these stores expand their offerings, says Evan Hoffman, industry research analyst at Los Angeles-based IBISWorld.

Capping a decades-long streak of vigorous growth, bottled water achieved a major milestone in 2016, when it surpassed carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) to become the largest beverage category by volume in the United States, according to New York-based Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC). Total bottled water volume grew from 11.8 billion gallons in 2015 to 12.8 billion gallons in 2016, an increase of nearly 9 percent, which marked the third year of accelerated growth, the market research firm says. 

To address challenges faced by communities with little of no access to clean water, Voss Foundation was founded by the directors of Voss of Norway ASA as an independent nonprofit organization to address the availability of clean, safe water resources and hygiene in Sub-Saharan Africa.

True Drinks introduced the rebranded AquaBall, featuring a preservative-free formula.