Thanks to a pair of high-profile backers and a popular TV do cuseries, small-but-mighty Wrexham FC has emerged as an unlikely star on the international soccer stage. That success caught the attention of Danone-owned coffee brand STōK Cold Brew, which was named today as the club’s official stadium sponsor, beginning July 1. The club’s historic Racecourse Ground home field will be renamed STōK Racecourse.

The partnership comes despite the fact that STōK has no presence in the U.K. market – and has no current plans to launch there. However, Brittney Polka, Danone North America’s VP of RTD Beverages, hinted that fans will have to “stay tuned” come July to see if the coffee will be available within the stadium that bears its name.

STōK’s not the only American beverage brand to partner up with Wrexham this week. Betty Buzz, a sparkling mixer company founded by Reynolds’ wife, actress Blake Lively, was named yesterday as the club’s official training kit sponsor. Both Betty Buzz and STōK will be following the team on its upcoming U.S. tour this summer. Get the full story on BevNET. 

One of the country's largest fresh food distributors is getting bigger: KeHe announced on Wednesday that it has entered into an agreement to purchase DPI Specialty Foods from PE firm Arbor Investments. 

• KeHE plans to add over 1,000 DPI customers across all channels to become a "one-truck solution" for products, according to a press release.
• KeHE and DPI will continue to operate independently until the deal is closed. 
• DPI operated distribution centers in Colorado, California and Oregon, servicing 17 Western states and carrying over 44,000 ambient, chilled or frozen items. 
• The acquisition "provides an opportunity to deliver enhanced experiences for customers, suppliers, and ultimately, consumers,” said KeHE president and CEO Deb Conklin. 

G.O.A.T. Fuel, the mushroom-enhanced energy drink startup backed by 3x Super Bowl champion Jerr y Rice and run by his daughter, CEO Jaqui Rice Gold, closed a $5 million seed funding round this week, co-led by venture firms Stage 1 Fund and Morrison Seger Venture Capital Partners. The capital adds to the $7 million previously raised from individual angel investors such as former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and Minnesota Timberwolves owner Marc Lore. Gold told BevNET this week that the cordyceps-packed, better-for-you energy brand is now available in over 700 stores across the country, including Publix and Walmart. The funding, she said, will go towards expanding its sales force and bringing experienced personnel onto its operations team in order to focus on profitability.

“We've been nimble up until this point, and we’re really looking forward to seeing the company grow and expand,” she said. Read the full story today on BevNET. 

Just a few months after hitting the market, better-for-you iced tea upstart Ryl Tea is ramping up marketing and retail activations to support the release of Ryl Sweet Tea, its low-calorie, zero-sugar take on the Southern summer staple. Speaking with BevNET earlier this week, founder and CEO Blodin Ukella (formerly OWYN's chief strategy officer) praised the input of investor and country music star Morgan Wallen during the six months spent developing the recipe, and explained that having the artist on board adds authenticity and is helping the company attract its target audience of "Southern-inspired Gen Z/Millennails." More details to follow on Ryl Tea's distribution plans and long-term vision today on BevNET.  

This year, beverage brands attending BevNET Live can participate in retailer One-to-Ones, powered by Hi-Touch Libations & SIP. Sprouts representatives will be available for private, pre-scheduled meetings to help brands aiming to thrive in retail channels that cater to consumers seeking premium and innovative products. Learn more.

Having started with the basic proposition of zero-sugar, hibiscus-infused refreshment, New York-based RUBY has been busy building on that concept over the last year or so with new flavors and the introduction of a carbonated line. That creative streak continues through its new collaboration with Public Records, a multi-faceted music and hospitality space in Brooklyn, to create Grapes of Knoweldge, a LTO non-alc play on a sparkling Lambrusco. Each can features custom artwork desisnged by Public Records co-founder and creative director Shane Davis. 12-packs will be available for nationwide shipping on May 24, while individual cans will also be sold on-site at Public Records (233 Butler St, Brooklyn, NY) starting May 28. 

Richard’s Rainwater is looking sunnier with rebranded packaging, showcased on Instagram this week. Available in still and sparkling varieties in glass bottles and 16 oz. cans, the Texas-based sustainable water manufacturer announced the refresh, stating “It's the same refreshing, pure, delicious water you love, just a reimagined look to capture that 'woah' feeling you get when you see a rainbow after a storm, reminding you that there's something you almost missed.” The new look introduces a new “R” logo to the front of the label and adds more color to the design scheme, via swirls of red and yellow complimenting its prior blue and white heavy look.