Articles by Jessica Jacobsen

Competitive spirit spurs new formats

Larger retailers get creative to compete for market share
jessica Jacobsen
Jessica Jacobsen
As non-traditional grocery retailers see more competition from dollar store formats and wholesale club stores, mass merchandisers and supercenters are enlisting new ways to grow their consumer bases.
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Local pride

jessica Jacobsen
Jessica Jacobsen
As more beverage companies pop up on the radar, it can be fun and interesting to see where they are located. Having emerging and established companies in your backyard can allow for a sense of pride and connection with those brands.
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Zico is hydrating a growing culture

Zico Beverages targets niche in the sports drink market
jessica Jacobsen
Jessica Jacobsen
Fresh out of college in 1991, Mark Rampolla ventured to Latin America as a Peace Corps. volunteer in Costa Rica. He also spent time in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Brazil. During his travels, Rampolla was enlightened by many things within the Latin American culture, including a popular regional drink: coconut water.
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What’s next?

jessica Jacobsen
Jessica Jacobsen
Whether it’s for suppliers or finished beverages, trade shows can provide an eye-opening experience about what trends are on the horizon. At this year’s National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show, the Cool New Products section was a great introduction to what innovations companies were showcasing. And on the show floor there was no shortage of emerging brands and categories.
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Xyience appeals to an active lifestyle

Xyience Xenergy drinks target healthy energy
jessica Jacobsen
Jessica Jacobsen

As the energy drink market expanded years ago, sports nutrition and supplement company Xyience, Las Vegas, saw the emerging category as the next step for its products. That evolution led to the development of Xyience Xenergy drinks. “Xenergy is ‘zen energy;’ that’s what it means,” says Michael Levy, chief financial officer and chief operations officer with Xyience. “It has a concept of healthy energy for people with an active lifestyle.”


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A colorful palette of options

Color trends address natural demands, stability concerns
jessica Jacobsen
Jessica Jacobsen
For beverages, colors can play a crucial role when it comes to shelf appeal. They can help grab a consumer’s attention as well as correspond to the flavor and branding of a beverage. In addition, as beverage-makers seek more natural ingredients to be able to provide clean label statements, the search for colors that can deliver on all of those requests has helped spark innovation among ingredient suppliers.
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Functionality niche expanding

Performance beverage ingredients meet broader consumer needs
jessica Jacobsen
Jessica Jacobsen

Beverages have become more than just a source of refreshment. Consumers also are turning to beverages for functional benefits. Sports drinks as well as energy drinks and shots have become a source to provide a variety of functionalities.“There are quite a number of functional benefits that consumers are looking for with energy drinks and shots besides [an energy] boost,” says Garima Goel Lal, senior analyst at Mintel International, Chicago.


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Historic partnerships

jessica Jacobsen
Jessica Jacobsen
Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, my dad taught me to love all things Chicago. So naturally, I became a Blackhawks, Bears, Bulls and Cubs fan. (Although I’m not a White Sox fan, I wish them luck as well.) I have specific memories and particular items that I associate with each team. When it comes to the Cubs, I think of the ivy at Wrigley Field, of course, but I also think of Old Style beer.
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Bai Brands’ fruitful growth

Bai beverages take coffee fruit to new heights
jessica Jacobsen
Jessica Jacobsen
With about 20 years of experience in the industry, Ben Weiss has learned a lot about the coffee business, and particularly about the outer fruit of the coffee bean. Weiss’ knowledge of the coffee fruit as well as his appreciation for the Asia-Pacific region led to the launch of Bai Brands, Princeton, N.J., which offers a collection of beverages that are infused with coffee fruit.
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