FINANCIAL
Hansen Beverage Company hired
Flowdesign to develop its new vitamin enhanced water drink “VIDRATION.” • Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated announced
that the Board of Directors has declared a dividend for the Third Quarter of
2008 of $.25 per share on shares of the Company's Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock payable on August 22, 2008 to shareholders of record as of the
close of business on August 8, 2008. • PepsiAmericas,
Inc. announced that its Board of Directors approved a third quarter 2008
dividend of $0.135 per share on PepsiAmericas common stock. The dividend is
payable October 1, 2008 to shareholders of record on September 15, 2008. The
board reviews the dividend policy on a quarterly basis. The Board of Directors
also approved an increase in the Company's existing share repurchase program.
The Board authorized the repurchase of an additional 10 million shares of
common stock. • Celsius chose
TransMedia Group as its PR firm.
LAW AND POLICY
Coca-Cola Enterprises published
its third company-wide Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report, “Shape
Tomorrow...Today.” To access CCE's 2007 Report in its entirety, click here.
Comments and feedback related to the 2007 Report are welcome at crs@cokecce.com.
• The city council of Madison Wisconsin indefinitely tabled a potential ban on
bottled water in the city. Read more here. • In a possible sign of things to come for the U.S., Coke has cut the size of canned beverages in Hong Kong by seven
percent. For more, click here.
PEOPLE
Vital Lifestyle announced it has
hired sales and marketing expert Art Greenwald as its Executive Vice President
of Sales for the US. • PepsiAmericas,
Inc. announced that Wahid Hamid was elected to the company's board of
directors, effective July 23, 2008. • Coca-Cola Enterprises announced that Steve Cahillane will assume
the role of President, North American Business Unit, effective immediately,
following the departure of Terrance M. (Terry) Marks. The company also
announced the appointment of Hubert Patricot as President, European Group.
Previously, Cahillane served as President of the European Group for Coca-Cola
Enterprises, and Patricot served as General Manager of Great Britain, Coca-Cola
Enterprises. • International Flavors
& Fragrances Inc. announced that Richard A. O'Leary, 48, has been named
Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective July 31, 2008. O'Leary will be a
member of IFF's Leadership Team. His appointment follows the previously
announced departure of Douglas J. Wetmore, Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. • Coca-Cola named Chief Administrative Officer Alex Cummings as executive vice president and Treasurer David Taggart as senior vice president. • Jones Soda executive vice president of sales Lars Nielsen left the company.
MISCELLANEOUS
SunTrust, the bank which holds Coca-Cola’s
secret formula in an Atlanta vault, has been forced by the credit crunch to
sell its $2bn stake in the beverage giant. For more, click here. • After a parade of good news for tea companies, a doctor warns that iced tea
is bad for people prone to kidney stones. Read more here.
• A Texas study
found that the body converts fructose – like that found in high-fructose corn
syrup – into fat faster than other forms of sugar. For more, click here. • Students at Winona State University in Minnesota performed a study that found
subjects could endure more pain after their consumed a Red Bull. Click here
for more.
DISTRIBUTION
Reeds Inc. has been finding great
success with adding large direct-to-chain outlets. Its most recent addition is
the 215 outlets of Ralph's Supermarkets. The company also announced that Kroger Supermarkets has agreed to carry select
Reed's and Virgil's beverage products in at least 815 locations operating under
the retail banners of Kroger, Dillon's, Fry's, King Soopers and Smith's. The
initial launch will make Reed's Premium Ginger Brew, Reed's Extra Ginger Brew,
Virgil's Root Beer, Virgil's Cream Soda and Virgil's Real Cola available to
Kroger Shoppers in select store locations throughout the United States. •
Bond Laboratories, Inc. announced that its Fusion 6+ Hour 2 Ounce Energy Shot has
now gained placement in excess of 5,000 C-store doors in its first six months
of availability. • Rudy
Nutrition, Inc. announced retail availability of Rudy Beverages in all ten
Butera Market locations in the city of Chicago and surrounding areas. • AXLE Fuel Energy Drink signed a
distribution agreement with 2B Distribution of Surrey, BC, Canada. • Hat Trick Beverages announced
that it has launched a Southern California Logistics Centre for distribution of
its cold drinks in the south west area. • Zipfizz
Corporation signed a distribution deal with CVS/pharmacy. Earlier this year,
Zipfizz signed distribution agreements with Target, Rite Aid, H-E-B, Bartell
Drugs and Vitamin Shoppe for the company's flagship product, Zipfizz Healthy
Energy Mix. • Coca-Cola
Enterprises announced that it has entered into an agreement with Honest Tea
Inc. to begin distributing Honest Tea
and Honest Ade in select pilot markets in the western United States. • DNA Beverage announced its energy drink is now being distributed throughout Atlanta, Georgia
by General Wholesale Company. • Purple
Beverage Company, Inc. announced that Birmingham Beverage Company of
Alabama has agreed to distribute Purple to its Southern retailers, including
Publix, Western Supermarkets, Piggly Wiggly and Bruno’s.
NEW
SKUs
NutriPure Beverages, Inc. reported that
XND Technologies, Inc. has targeted October 1, 2008 as the official release
date for their Nu2O line of nutrient-enhanced bottled water
products.
PROMOTIONS/APPEARANCES
Pro Bowl wide
receiver Braylon Edwards of the Cleveland Browns, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl
Champion defensive end Osi Umenyiora of the New York Giants, and NASCAR driver
Steven Wallace, along with his father, NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace, will appear
as spokesmen promoting 5-Hour Energy.
• On Friday, July 25, Sierra Mist,
premiered its first original web series, On the Bubble. • Fyxx Hybrid Energy Drink is
splashing through the city of Newark, NJ with a high-energy, high-profile
billboard and mobile campaign. • Go
Girl and vitaminwater sponsored
the 2008 Fashion Day Soiree Shopping Events in Los Angeles. • Bond Laboratories, Inc., makers of Fusion 6+ Hour Energy, announced its sponsorship commitment to The
H.I.T. Squad's "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler for his rematch with Scott
Smith. • Honest Tea announced
that two of its newest varieties, Lemon Black Tea and Peach White Tea, will
contain Fair Trade Certified tea leaves. Labels of both teas will soon carry
the Fair Trade Certified mark. • Celsius sponsored the open casting call for The Biggest Loser at
the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. • TrimWater announced the start of its online talent search. The
nationwide competition, conducted in partnership with NEHST Studios from now
through October, will provide ordinary people a platform to display their
talents. Contestants can submit video entries showcasing their talents at www.screentest.biz.
