PowerPlant Ventures announced that the fund has acquired ZICO coconut water from The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta. PowerPlant Ventures, a growth equity investor, was co-founded and is co-led by Mark Rampolla, who is the brand visionary behind ZICO, which he founded in 2004 and sold to The Coca-Cola Co. in 2013. 

Although sales for the coconut and other plant waters market might be down for the five-year period of 2014-2019, brands are innovating their lines to help bring the category more mainstream.

With an upsurge in sales for its coconut water, VitaCoco is donating $1 million to COVID-19 Response Funds of Feeding America and No Kid Hungry.

Vita Coco released two new flavors for its self-titled Pressed line: Coconut Mango and Coconut Strawberry Banana.

Domestic and exotic fruits finding favor in the beverage market include lemon, lime, peach and strawberry, while up-and-coming exotic flavors include blood orange, passionfruit and guava.

Harmless Harvest announced the launch of Protein & Coconut, a new line of plant-based snack drinks. 

Food safety, health-and-wellness and clean-label trends are influencing more beverage-makers to invest in high-pressure processing (HPP) equipment.

Similar to last month’s poll, readers continue to show interest in cannabis beverages. In the Readers’ Choice: New Product poll for July, Beverage Industry readers selected YOLO Shots: CBD-Infused Caffeine Shots as their favorite new product release.

Laird Superfood launched the latest flavor in its HYDRATE Coconut Water portfolio: Pineapple Mango.

As consumers are shifting away from sugary alternatives, they are beginning to venture into the land of plant waters, experts say.