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This summer, Mello Yello, a brand of Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co., is partnering with History’s “American Pickers” TV show in its hunt for handpicked antiques and collectibles and encouraging amateur pickers across the nation to share their own finds.

New research from Chicago-based Mintel suggests that while craft beer drinkers might enjoy the big, bold flavors of their favorite artisanal brews, they also place a premium on what the beer says about them. For the 25-34 age group, which represents the segment's heaviest consumers, 70 percent say that the brand of beer says a lot about a person, and 66 percent say the style does the same. This strong sense of self has manifested itself in record sales for the craft beer industry, as Mintel estimates sales of craft beer — including craft-style offerings — will reach $20 billion in 2014, more than doubling sales of five years ago.

As the economy continues to expand, premium and super-premium distilled spirits are coming back stronger than ever, according to the Beverage Information & Insights Group’s “2014 Liquor Handbook.” The Norwalk, Conn.-based company reports that this premiumization trend means that consumers are drinking less but drinking “better,” which resulted in slower case sales growth of 2.2 percent, reaching 210 million 9-liter cases in 2013.

New York-based TY KU Sake & Spirits created a new importing and marketing group, Davos Brands, under the direction of Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Svedka Vodka Guillaume Cuvelier, who will serve as the new company’s vice chairman.

Lassonde Industries Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of fruit juices and juice drinks based in Rougemont, Quebec, completed its previously announced acquisition of Apple & Eve LLC, Port Washington, N.Y., for a total cash consideration of $147.9 million.

In celebration of its second anniversary, Waiakea Water has released its inaugural commercial. The roughly 1-minute commercial offers an informational approach about the brand’s natural filtration process through an active volcano.

ProSupps USA, Allen, Texas, released its pre-workout powder Mr. Hyde in a ready-to-drink (RTD) format.

Starbucks Coffee Co., Seattle, reported its financial results for the third quarter of its fiscal-year 2014.

London-based SABMiller plc reported total beverage volume growth of 3 percent, on an organic basis, in its first quarter of 2014, which ended June 30. In addition, the company’s group net producer revenue (NPR) was up 6 percent, and group NPR per hectoliter was up 3 percent, both on an organic, constant currency basis, in the term.

PepsiCo Inc., Purchase, N.Y., reported organic revenue growth of 3.6 percent and reported net revenue growth of 0.5 percent in the second quarter of 2014, compared with the prior-year period. Global beverages experienced 2 percent organic revenue growth and a 1 percent reported net revenue decline because of unfavorable foreign exchange translation and the company’s refranchising of its bottling operations in Vietnam, it says.