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• A deeper look at the brewing battle between Westrock Coffee and Dairy Farmers of America
• Learn how flavor supplier Symrise is planning its return to beverage incubation with the bWorks program
• What is the strategy behind Pernod Ricard's acquisition of South African spirits maker Inverroche?
• How will Rarebird's new capital raise put energy behind its positioning as the "first-ever jitterless coffee?"
• Manufacturing platform Keychain has landed a new $5 million from overseas

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Leading U.S. milk cooperative Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) which also provides co-packing services for RTD coffee drinks, has accused private label coffee and tea manufacturer Westrock Coffee and six of its own former employees of poaching talent and stealing trade secrets in a lawsuit filed in a Missouri court late last year.

The allegations also detail a battle for an unnamed, important client. Westrock is “directly soliciting” the “extremely popular” RTD coffee and energy drink brand, which has a joint venture with DFA, according to the complaint. 

While the suggestion that the coffee company deliberately sought to seize talent and secrets from DFA is only an allegation, what is beyond a shadow of a doubt is Westrock’s big ambitions to dominate the coffee set. 

The 524,000 sq. ft. Conway, Ark. facility in question only opened last year and the company promised that it would be the “largest roasting-to-RTD operation of its kind,” and hiring cream of the crop talent has been part of its stated strategy, as the company told us last year.

🧃 From Califia to RTD Cocktails

It’s Hump Day! Here’s a look at the new drops and activations from the first half of the week.

🌱 Plant-based dairy maker Califia Farms is tapping its green-thumb energy with The Green Album of daily affirmations designed to help plants grow. Plus, it’s narrated by Irish actor Chris O’Dowd.

🥤 Poppi has teamed up with Texas-based iced tea franchise HTeaO on an LTO line of sparkling drinks pairing the two brands in new mash-ups.

🚨 Correction 🚨

In yesterday’s edition, we misidentified Sam Wilson, co-founder of soda brand No Cap! and leader of consulting firm Betr Brands Solutions, as Steve Wilson. Our editors have approved an aggressive increase in coffee drinking in response.