• Coke’s Price-Conscious Q2
• Oatly To Deploy Euro Playbook To Pump Up U.S.
• Beverage Sales Lift C-Store Channel
• La Colombe Marketing Chief Departs
• What Else Is New?

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What are conditions like at “the intersection of vibrant taste and clean nutrition”? Cold, if you ask Generous Brands. 

With a clear mission in mind, the portfolio company (Bolthouse Farms, Evolution Fresh) has created a robust platform of fresh, healthy refrigerated beverages, with Tuesday’s purchase of #2 national kombucha brand Health-Ade (believed to be around $500 million) being the latest and perhaps biggest pick-up thus far. 

And while Health-Ade brings the total revenue of Generous’ portfolio to nearly $1 billion, the deal brings more than money. Generous has made its manufacturing capabilities and cold chain distribution expertise (all producers are refrigerated) the linchpin of its platform, and its latest buy reflects how the company is thinking about infrastructure and portfolio architecture. 

• Health-Ade aligns with that approach, with dedicated manufacturing and ability to fill both glass bottles and cans – as well as giving Generous Brands an initial foothold in fermentation and gut health.
• Those different packaging types, alongside cold-pressed capabilities via Evolution Fresh, provide “portals for different products,” CEO Steve Cornell told us yesterday.

Even against the backdrop of plummeting consumer confidence and rising inflation, Generous remains confident that fresh, better-for-you drinks will continue to thrive as consumers recognize and accept that premium quality and ingredients require the extra effort of cold-chain. 

Confidence in the long-term viability of the project was reflected in the fact that Health-Ade investors Manna Tree and First Beverage took a mixture of cash and equity as part of the deal, with the equity accompanying seats on the board. 

“When you think about clean unprocessed nutrients, this company does it,” Cornell told BevNET. “We think we’ve got a real powerhouse in the clean food space. This company is going to be at the center of what so many consumers and so many retailers want.”

To learn more about how Health-Ade fits into Generous Brands strategy, read the full story here.

Watch founders and CEOs introduce their brands and provide a recap of recent news and updates. This week’s special co-host is Dayton Miller, a managing partner with BFG Partners, who shared his thoughts, questions and feedback with the participants. He is joined by Ray Latif, the editor and producer of the Taste Radio podcast.

Watch the episode now. 

The Coca-Cola Company’s revenue is rebounding as it embraces pricing as a solution to overcome its declining volume sales, according to its Q2 earnings report.

• Overall operating revenue was up 1% versus a 1% volume drop and 6% pricing increase.
• In North America, the Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar brands continue to grow, while dairy brand Fairlife touted a double-digit volume spike.
• While some categories are showing big promise, coffee is not. CEO James Quincey admitted on the call that its $5 billion investment into Costa Coffee “is not where we want it to be from an investment hypothesis.”

Insiders can get the full story on BevNET.

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A double-digit revenue jump in Oatly’s International & Europe segment helped offset soft consumer demand in North America during Q2. 

• Oatly has taken a page from its European playbook to increase traction. It is now running campaigns in high-impact areas to tackle the main barriers to conversion: taste and price point. 
• The company is also rolling out a “Look Book” with unique recipe ideas.
• Despite these efforts, CEO Jean-Christophe Flatin does not expect significant growth until the playbook has been heavily executed against, which will require sufficient resources for a prolonged period of time. 

💭 “We had higher expectations [for North America] given the success we’ve seen in Europe and internationally using the same playbook. We know what’s possible, and we remain committed to applying these lessons to drive consistent performance,” said Flatin during a call with analysts and shareholders.  

Insiders can read the full earnings recap on BevNET.

U.S. convenience retailers are feeling positive as total beverage sales grew 3.4% in Q2, according to a Goldman Sachs survey. The tailwinds came from rising demand in energy and hydration with retailers expecting the beverage category to grow 3.7% for the year, along with a 1.1% increase in store traffic.

• Despite the sales lift, in-store traffic was down slightly 0.2% in Q2 (but improved from -2% in Q1).
• Retailers also expressed concern over potential pricing actions by the end of the year, putting pressure on consumers who are already searching for promos.
• While energy drinks remain king among c-store sales, (up 12% YoY), retailers are bullish on the “modern soda” set as Poppi and Olipop continue to drive demand for the “better-for-you” soft drink category. 

Digest all of the insights on BevNET.

Longtime La Colombe Coffee Roasters marketing head Kathryn O’Connor is moving on after 11 years with the Philadelphia-based brand, she announced on LinkedIn this week.

• O'Connor has served as CMO of La Colombe since February 2023 and said she is taking time off before determining her next move.

Related Reading: Chobani Acquires La Colombe in $900 Million Deal

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

👑 Patrick Mahomes’ Throne Sport Coffee debuted a new video ad featuring the football phenom as part of its “This. Not That.” marketing campaign, viewable on YouTube.

🚿 Cann, meet Canopy. The hemp beverage brand has partnered with bath products maker Canopy for a limited edition… showerhead? Yep! Plus additional products like an aroma kit.

🌵 Magic Cactus, the hemp-infused cactus water maker, has added Wild Black Cherry to its flavor lineup, now available across the country.

🍊 Pressed Juicery is going deeper into retail with a Costco exclusive functional wellness smoothie multipack, launching this week into 550 stores nationwide.

Check out the latest marketing moves on BevNET.