Waitrose has become the first UK retailer to sell a fair-trade carbonated beverage - Ubuntu Cola.
It is the first cola to carry the Fairtrade mark in the UK and uses fair-trade sugar from the Kasinthula Cooperative in Malawi and the Kaleya Cooperative in Zambia.
The Ubuntu Trading Company will donate at least 15 per cent of its annual profits to the Ubuntu Africa Program, which benefits the farmers who grow the company's sugar cane and their families.
James Hodgson, drinks buyer at Waitrose, said: "Ubuntu Cola is an example of the great things we can do with Fairtrade, and it is a pleasure to be able to stock a drink which is playing such a positive role in the industry."
The beverage is available in 50 Waitrose stores for 59p per 330ml can.
Fizzy drinks giant the Coca-Cola Company last month announced that it had agreed to test fuel cells powered by environmentally friendly biogas to power its Odwalla juice packaging plant in Dinuba, California.
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Cranberry juice producer Ocean Spray has added two new blueberry drinks to its product portfolio.
Coca-Cola Enterprises took over the distribution of the brand last month, so is to be responsible for selling Ocean Spray Blueberry and Blueberry Light, the Morning Advertiser reports.
The fruit beverages are available in one-litre cartons that are taller and slimmer than the brands previous packaging and have a new cap for better pouring.
A TV advertising campaign will soon be launched, promoting Ocean Spray's beverages as mixers to go with spirits, as well as being a good soft drinks on their own.
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Birell has been evaluated as the best non-alcoholic beer in the Czech Republic by tasters from the country's breweries and from the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting (RIBM).
A brewer's event took place earlier this week in Brno, south of the Czech Republic, where results from the 18th annual tasting competition called Zlaty Pohar Pivex (Pivex Gold Cup) were announced.
Birell won second place in the non-alcoholic beer category at last year's competition but beat five other brands this year to win the gold medal.
"Birell is one of the best non-alcoholic beers in the Czech Republic. That is why we are pleased that not only consumers but also professionals once again confirmed Birell's unique taste and quality," stated Vladimir Vanek, brand manager of Birell.
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The companies are investing a combined total of £4m in the initiative, which will promote Gordon's & Schweppes tonic, Smirnoff & Coca-Cola, Pimm's & Schweppes lemonade and Bell's & Coca-Cola. A consumer campaign will run through the summer alongside an on-trade push, which will include PoS and branded glassware kits given to over 10,000 outlets.
"Our commitment to licensees is to help them make more money by providing outlets with the ability to serve fantastic finished drinks," said Diageo sales director, David Smith. "Our work with CCE will see great category growth and should see repeat footfall for licensees." [...more]
Glastonbury cider brand Brothers is launching an apple cider to join its pear and flavoured cider ranges.
Brothers Bittersweet Apple Cider is a 5.5% abv medium dry cider which is high in tannins but low in acidity. It will come in 500ml bottles and 250ml stubbies.
It is the first purely apple cider that the company has launched and is a response to the maturation of the apple cider sector where consumers are becoming more educated and are actively seeking out new flavour profiles and propositions, managing director Matthew Showering said.
"Brothers Cider is a natural innovator, being the first to market with both pear and flavoured ciders," he told the Morning Advertiser. "The apple cider category has lacked significant innovation for some time and we felt it was time to take our fast growing brand and inject some excitement into the marketplace." [...more]
Top golfer Marc Warren has signed a new sponsorship deal with Highland Spring.
The Scottish European Tour player, 28, is the latest "sporting ambassador" for the water brand.
As part of the deal, the Highland Spring logo will feature on Warren's golf bag as he competes around the world and he will drink the water as part of his regular dietary regime.
Sally Stanley, marketing director at Highland Spring, said: "Marc's considerable career achievements have positioned him at the top of his game and he will be a fantastic brand ambassador for Highland Spring. [...more]
Coca-Cola Enterprises' brand Diet Coke has launched a new on-pack promotion.
As part of the multi-million pound brand campaign, packaging of the entire range has undergone a makeover and it has formed partnerships with popular magazines and a leading fashion website.
Coca-Cola hopes these changes will make the brand more appealing to fashion and beauty-conscious consumers.
As part of the Know the Look on-pack promotion, consumers can win free copies of More, Heat, Grazia and Closer magazines when they buy two-litre bottles and multipacks of six, eight, ten, 12 and 15 cans.
Selena Taylor, trade communications manager at Coca-Cola Enterprises, said: "We're incredibly excited about this promotion and it's fantastic to be able to offer consumers such amazing prizes." [...more]
PepsiCo's has launched AMP Energy Juice, a 100 per cent juice that has the same power as the other drinks in the AMP Energy family.
The soft beverage is now being sold in convenience stores and at grocery retailers across America.
It is available in 12-ounce single serving re-sealable bottles in a number of flavours, including Orange and Mixed Berry.
AMP Energy Juice includes vitamins B and C and also contains taurine, ginseng and guarana.
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Britvic is increasing the size of its bag-in-box format, used for post-mix draught carbonate serves.
The bags in boxes for the entire Britvic carbonate range, including Pepsi, will now come in a 12 instead of 10-litre format. The company confirmed this would result in a price increase, but said it could not yet comment on how much it was likely to be.
"We have introduced a new 12-litre bag-in-box for our carbonates range, which will replace the 10-litre format," confirmed Paul Linthwaite, Britvic on-trade business unit director. [...more]
Coca-Cola India and Reebok are to sponsor the Hero Honda International Field Hockey World Cup 2010.
Reebok has been named as the tournament's Official Apparel Partner and Coca-Cola India will be its Official Beverage Partner.
Coca-Cola India will provide a range of beverages to all of the teams playing in the competition and will also provide drinks in the World Cup's VIP Lounge and Media Centre.
Atul Singh, president and chief executive officer at Coca-Cola India, said: "Coca-Cola India has always believed in promoting a healthy, active lifestyle through sports and has had a long term association with various sports globally."
Volunteers at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, in which the competition is being held between February 28th and March 13th, will all wear Reebok T-shirts. [...more]
PepsiCo is planning to close a plant in Pryor, Oklahoma, which mainly manufactures Gatorade.
Blaming the unfavourable economic environment, the company may shut down the plant in about three months time. About 100 employees would be affected by the closure.
Company spokesman, Pat Burke, told reporters: "Unfortunately, in the end, based on the economic conditions, we determined we could not keep the plant open. [...more]
Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. has announced that Martin M. Ellen will join the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer on April 1, 2010. In addition to his strong background in finance, Ellen will bring considerable experience in franchising, operations and the beverage industry.
At DPS, he will be responsible for the company's finance and IT organizations and will report to Larry Young, president and chief executive officer. He will succeed John O. Stewart, who last year announced his plans to retire on March 31, 2010.
"Marty's extensive public company experience and involvement in strategy and operations, as well as finance, will bring valuable perspective to our executive leadership team as we continue to build on DPS's position as the industry leader in flavored beverages," Young said. "I am grateful for John's many contributions to our business and look forward to working with Marty to take our young company to the next level of financial and operating success." [...more]
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