News in brief

Coca-Cola to roll out caffeine-free Coke Zero this summer

A caffeine-free version of Coke Zero will hit US stores from mid-July to give fans a “great-tasting option for later-in-the-day consumption”, says Coca-Cola.

Nestlé sales growth slows – but CEO reconfirms expectations

Nestlé has reported slower sales growth in the first quarter of 2013 hit by unrest in the Middle East and a cold start to spring, which affected sales of ice...

Coca-Cola to hand back US distribution networks under refranchising strategy

Coca-Cola has revealed plans to begin handing back some of its US distribution network to independent bottlers – a move that is expected to improve the company’s profitability in North...

DISPATCHES FROM THE 2013 INNOBEV GLOBAL BEVERAGES CONGRESS, WARSAW, POLAND

GSK brand Lucozade unlikely to attract multinational trade buyer: M&A expert

GSK brand Lucozade is more likely to attract a possible private equity buyer than a multinational food and beverage trade player that prefers brands with greater global potential, according to...

News in brief

Kraft brings Kool-Aid man into the 21st century with new campaign

Kraft has hired Saatchi & Saatchi New York and VSA Partners of Chicago to give Kool-Aid a “serious makeover”.

Heineken silent on $650m sale rumor regarding PepsiCo licensee

Heineken has refused to comment on rumors it has now put its Finnish business Hartwall up for sale seeking around €500m, after starting a strategic review of the unit in...

CEO ROBERT SANDS EXCITED AT SECURING MODELO 'CROWN JEWEL'

Constellation Brands will double Grupo Modelo brewery output post $4.75bn deal

Constellation Brands plans to double of the capacity of its new Piedras Negras brewery in Mexico to 20m hectolitres within three years, and says its ‘transformational’ deal with AB InBev...

Tragedy strikes Mexico: 7 Grupo Modelo staff die

Anheuser-Busch InBev $20.1bn takeover target Grupo Modelo has confirmed that seven of its staff have died in an accident at its Mexico City brewery.

PepsiCo seeks to patent novel high-protein nutrition beverages in 4floz ‘hydration units’ as protein craze gathers pace

An international patent application filed by PepsiCo last September - and published yesterday - reveals the firm is seeking to patent high-protein nutrition beverages in 4floz ‘hydration units’ containing alpha-lactalbumin,...

Unilever hails one-third sustainable sourcing

Unilever has said it now sources more than a third of its agricultural raw materials sustainably, up from just 14% two years ago and 24% in 2011.

Nestlé brewing hot cup of promise for Chinese coffee growers

An agreement between Nestlé and a local government in China’s Yunnan Province will accelerate the development of the coffee industry in the country, the F&B company has predicted....

Cola cricket

IPL sponsorship just the start for cricket-loving Pepsi

With the opening of the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League, PepsiCo is wheeling out its biggest marketing coup to the cricket-crazy public of India.

Ex AB InBev bigwig blew whistle claiming firm watered-down Budweiser

Anheuser Busch’s former director of operations support says he repeatedly complained to senior managers about his belief that the firm was intentionally watering-down drinks to provide less alcohol than advertised....

Coca-Cola seeks to clarify high-fiber slurpee patent stories

Contrary to some media reports, Coca-Cola is not developing a new high-fiber frozen beverage, but it did help develop Slurpee Lite - a low-calorie beverage launched in 7-Eleven last May,...

EU food and drink production flat in Q4 2012

Food and drink production in the EU remained flat in the fourth quarter of last year as some raw materials became costlier, according to data from FoodDrinkEurope.

GSK jolts Lucozade with Champions' Choice caffeine variant

GlaxoSmithKline has debuted a caffeine-boosted version of its isotonic Lucozade Sports range with mental focus the central selling point.

nutritionist enlists senatorial support as monster threatens legal action

Dr Deb reacts to Monster Energy legal threat: 'Let's air your dirty laundry in public'

Senator Richard Blumenthal has denounced Monster on Twitter for threatening kids’ nutritionist ‘Dr Deb’ with legal action, following ‘false and defamatory’ statements on energy drinks made in a newsletter aimed...

AB InBev admits new Grupo Modelo suit could derail $20.1bn deal

ABInBev says it will 'vigorously defend' itself against a new consumer class action seeking to prevent its full $20.1bn buyout of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo, but admits the suit could...

Inaugural Food Vision heralded as success by global food industry – organisers commit to return in 2014

Following a highly successful inaugural summit last week, organisers William Reed Business Media have confirmed that Food Vision will become an annual event, returning to Cannes, France, in March 2014. 

‘We take this matter very seriously’: Carlsberg admits German cartel probe involvement

Carlsberg has confirmed to BeverageDaily.com that it is under scrutiny as part of a wider, ongoing investigation by the German Federal Cartel Office, which also includes AB InBev.

Coca-Cola: ‘A third of beverage industry growth could come from disruptive brands in categories that do not exist today’

A large chunk of the growth in the beverage category in North America over the next decade will come from products in categories that do not even exist today, predicts Coca-Cola’s...

Volac heralds high-protein dairy beverage launch as 'next step' for company

British dairy nutritionals manufacturer, Volac, has launched a low-fat, high-protein dairy drink called Upbeat in the UK - a move that marks the company's entry into the consumer market for dairy beverages....

Dean Foods launches consumer-driven high-protein TruMoo innovation

Dean Foods has launched a high-protein, long-life version of its popular TruMoo flavoured milk range in an attempt to meet increasing US consumer demand for protein-enriched beverages.

Coca-Cola sheds 750 North American staff in distribution shake-up

The Coca-Cola Company announced yesterday that it plans to shed 750 North American jobs after revealing last month that it plans to reduce its regional distribution footprint.