All news articles for September 2018

Indian juice company finds right formula as brands jockey to differentiate

Paper Boat floats down a stream of confidence in indigenous flavours

By Richard Whitehead

“One rainy day, an August afternoon, when you had just come home from school, completely drenched. Tearing a page from your math notebook, you ran outside to make a tiny boat and launch it into the biggest puddle you could find! Mom would then call your...

AI beer, robotic cocktail makers, and connected cocktail libraries - what next for digital?

Guest article

Digital remains untapped by drinks firms

By Jon Reay, founder, Rewrite Digital

By 2022, global market intelligence firm IDC forecasts that 80% of enterprise revenue growth will depend directly on digital offerings and operations. And yet alcohol is trailing most other sectors when it comes to digital, write Jon Reay of Rewrite Digital.

Horst Bittermann with Jean-François Roche, president, ECMA.

ECMA Congress 2018

ECMA Congress welcomes Pro Carton president

By Jenny Eagle

Horst Bittermann made his debut as president of Pro Carton at the ECMA (European Carton Makers Association) Congress (September 20-21) in Riga, Latvia, this year, taking over from Roland Rex who stood down in June after eight years.

Shaping the bottle of the future. Pic:getty/antonikhr

The quest for the most sustainable beverage packaging

By Rachel Arthur

Drinks should only be put on the market in the most sustainable option available – packaging that can be recycled and reused, but also has the lowest environmental impact overall, according to a vision set out by a University of Cambridge report. But...

Rise struggled with sourcing oat ‘milk’ that was up to their standards because they place a strong emphasis on organic ingredients.

Organic nitro cold brew oat beverage lattes launching

By Beth Newhart

Coffee brand Rise Brewing Co. has introduced a line of ready-to-drink nitro cold brew lattes, including two flavors made with oat beverages. Consumer demand and ‘flavor profile’ drove the decision to use dairy alternatives, the company said.

Hans van Schaik, MD, ECMA speaking at the ECMA Congress last week.

ECMA Congress 2018

ECMA revises its business strategy to tackle growing challenges

By Jenny Eagle

ECMA (The European Carton Makers Association) has revised its business strategy to tackle growing challenges within the industry such as Brexit, food safety, recruiting a younger workforce, currency fluctuations and sustainability.

© Getty Images / EddieHernandezPhotography

Brazil ranked number 2 most innovative craft beer market: Mintel

By Stephen Daniells

The domination of Brazil’s beer market by big brewers has essentially created a market with ‘bored’ consumers thirsty for innovation, and that’s why its craft beer market is starting to take off, says a Mintel analyst.

Chapman is a sparkling drink that blends botanical flavours and hibiscus flowers. © DVees

DVees brings West African flavours to Europe with 'accessible' formats

By Niamh Michail

UK start-up DVees is on a mission to bring West African flavours to Western Europe, starting with a hibiscus-infused drink and range of condiments. "You can find West African food if you look for it, but it's not accessible or beautifully presented,"...

Crafty Nectar was founded in 2015 and gives subscribers a new selection of craft ciders to try each month.

‘Forget craft beer – the craft cider movement has arrived!’

By Rachel Arthur

The craft cider category is no longer about tractors and sideburns: instead, it's firmly established itself as a beverage for modern millennials, says Crafty Nectar, the world’s largest craft cider subscription service. But there’s still work to...

Frontier Label uses stone paper and recycled beach plastic in its products to cut down on environmental strain.

The straw law flaw: What more can be done?

By Beth Newhart

The banning of single-use plastic straws gained a lot of traction across the US this summer, with major companies like Starbucks, McDonald’s and Disney at the forefront. But experts say straws are just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ and brands could be doing...

What beer goes with best with your barbie? The answer may be changing from lager to something else... pic:getty/kolbz

Big brewers find ways to profit from the growing culture of drinking less, drinking better

Though smaller than ever, Australia’s beer market has ‘never been more profitable’

By Richard Whitehead

The iconic image of the larrikin lager drinker cracking open an endless succession of cold ones couldn’t be more wrong, going by long-standing trends in the Australian beer industry, which is seeing consumption slump to a four-decade low.

Cacao, Cafe Mocha and Original will be available exclusively on Amazon.co.uk starting September 18.

Soylent ‘cult following’ in the US leads to UK launch

By Beth Newhart

Popular meal replacement drink Soylent launches in the UK this week, hoping to capitalize on its US success with its first global expansion. With research showing that skipping meals is becoming more commonplace in the UK, Soylent believes it can fill...

By blocking the bitter flavours of sweeteners, fermented mushroom extract can cut sugar in food and drink. © GettyImages/pinkomelet

MycoTech brings mushroom-based bitter blocker to Europe

By Niamh Michail

As US supplier MycoTechnology turns its attention to the European market, its CEO explains how fermented mushrooms can reduce sugar, block bitterness and improve the nutritional content of plant protein. “It’s really unlimited what we can do with our...

Trademark Coca-Cola also offers sugar-free Light and Zero (in South Africa) and Diet and Zero Sugar (UK). Pic:getty/champlifezy

Coca-Cola assesses sugar tax impact

By Rachel Arthur

The UK and South Africa both introduced taxes on sugar sweetened beverages earlier this year. How has this affected Coca-Cola?

Lion Dairy and Drinks' portfolio includes flavored milk and iced coffee. Stock picture:getty/theeradechsanin

Kirin considers sale of Lion Dairy and Drinks

By Rachel Arthur

Japanese beer and beverage giant Kirin has announced a strategic review for Lion Dairy and Drinks - a producer and distributor of dairy products and beverages in Oceania – with the sale of the unit one of the options.

Cave Shake to take on new markets with investment from L.A. Libations

Cave Shake to take on new markets with investment from L.A. Libations

By Mary Ellen Shoup

Los Angeles-based Cave Shake – a ready-to-drink (RTD) vegan, ketogenic shake brand – said that despite droves of consumers ‘going keto’, the company is taking a steady, targeted approach to becoming the #1 brand in the category guided by a recent investment...

Coca-Cola seeks global patent on AI mobile app

Coca-Cola seeks global patent on AI mobile app

By Kacey Culliney

The Coca-Cola Company wants to patent its character recognition app that uses artificial intelligence and relies on consumer input to scan reward codes as part of its product loyalty program.