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Brynwood Partners, a Greenwich, Conn.-based buyout firm, announced that its newly formed portfolio company, Harvest Hill Beverage Co., has acquired the Juicy Juice business from Nestlé USA, Glendale, Calif.

Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CytoSport Holdings Inc., Benicia, Calif., for approximately $450 million. The deal includes the Muscle Milk brand of shelf-stable, ready-to-drink protein beverages; a manufacturing facility in Benicia, Calif.; as well as several manufacturing and distribution agreements both domestically and abroad, according to Hormel Foods. Total 2014 annual sales for the Muscle Milk brand are expected to be approximately $370 million, it says.

Celsius Holdings Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., announced its newest flavor, Celsius Negative Calorie Cola, which will be unveiled July 4 during the Subway Firecracker 250 at the Daytona International Speedway.

Phillips Distilling Co., Minneapolis, launched UV Sugar Crush tropical fruit candy-flavored vodka.

Castle Brands Inc., New York, reported positive results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending March 31.

Ito En North America Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a subsidiary of Ito En Ltd., will debut bottled Shincha green tea in the United States. Shincha is the year’s very first harvest of green tea, which is known for its fresh and lively flavor, sweet finish, and smooth umami character, the company says. The company plans to bottle the tea, which is only accessible for a few months each year, under its Oi Ocha green tea brand and release it online and at select U.S. retailers for a limited time.

Since the start of the FIFA World Cup on June 12, soccer (or football) has taken the world by storm. Just this week at IFT in New Orleans, tradeshow attendees gathered around exhibitor booths with TVs to catch the action. In some moments, you almost forgot you were at a tradeshow when the fan crowd roared and cheered.

Super-premium green juice is outpacing the growth of the $1.6 billion super-premium juice category, according to Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co., citing data from Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. (IRI). Additionally, Greek yogurt, which five years ago represented less than 10 percent of yogurt sales, today represents nearly 50 percent, according to the market research firm’s data.*

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), Reston, Va., announced the passing of Director of Expositions A.J. Janosko, who passed away June 23 as the result of an accident over the weekend.

As the weather warms up, it looks as though people are finding favor with iced varieties to give themselves a little pick me up. In Beverage Industry’s May New Products poll, readers voted Verve MoJoe as the top release posted on www.bevindustry.com during the month.