Beverages


  • Gummy worms and soda from the Trolli and Mountain Dew collaboration
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    Courtesy of Ferrara
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    Leftovers: Mountain Dew and Trolli link on candy, soda | Twinings splashes into refreshers

    The brands are teaming up for a “boundary pushing” collaboration, while Guinness launches a beer flavored ice cream with Van Leeuwen.

    By Food Dive staff • Aug. 15, 2025
  • A cocktail is held at a bar.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    How umami flavors are taking the cocktail world by storm

    Spirit makers and others in the alcohol sector are crafting new drinks that embrace consumer demand for savory and Asian-inspired flavors.

    By Amanda Schuster • Aug. 14, 2025
  • Trendline

    Mergers and acquisitions

    Declining sales and slowing consumption have more companies divesting brands, opening the door for smaller players and private equity firms to expand their portfolios.  

    By Food Dive staff
  • Michelle Obama’s Plezi launches fizzy fruit drink aimed at tweens and teens.
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    Courtesy of Plezi Nutrition
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    Michelle Obama’s Plezi grows up to serve expanding beverage wellness market

    After focusing on kids’ juices with less sugar and more nutrients, the company has turned to better-for-you sodas and sports drinks aimed at teens and adults.

    By Aug. 13, 2025
  • A promotional image of several Pepsi premium mixed drinks.
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    Courtesy of PepsiCo
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    Why Coke and Pepsi think dirty soda is a win for restaurants

    Consumer demand for premium, customizable beverages is pushing soda makers to add everything from dried fruit to flavored soft serve.

    By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 12, 2025
  • A bottle of Oikos Fusion.
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    Courtesy of Danone
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    Danone launches Oikos yogurt drink aimed at GLP-1 users

    The product is viewed by the CPG giant as a “one-of-a-kind opportunity” to help consumers rebuild or maintain muscle they lose when taking weight loss drugs such as Ozempic.

    By Aug. 11, 2025
  • Vital Proteins Collage & Protein shake
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    Courtesy of Vital Proteins
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    Column

    Leftovers: Vital Proteins launches ready-to-drink collagen shake | Danone wants to bring Activia to Gen Z

    The brand known for its drink mix-ins is launching its first protein shake, while a cocktail mix maker is bringing Bloody Marys to the ketchup aisle.

    By Food Dive staff • Aug. 8, 2025
  • A shopper walks down a grocery aisle
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    andresr via Getty Images
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    Stressed, bored and curious: How consumers are approaching food shopping right now.

    Shoppers don’t just want retailers to echo their economic anxieties — they seek help discovering new food and beverages, the Kearney Consumer Institute found.

    By Jeff Wells • Aug. 7, 2025
  • A sign about acceptance of SNAP EBT at a grocery store.
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    Catherine Douglas Moran/Food Dive
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    More states ban soda and ‘junk food’ purchases from SNAP benefits

    Varying restrictions add more confusion for food companies already struggling with slowing sales.

    By Aug. 6, 2025
  • Budweiser and Bud Light cans
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    Thai Phi Le/Food Dive
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    Anheuser-Busch invests $9M in New York state brewery

    The money will go toward beer production while also expanding the brewery’s capacity to produce ready-to-drink brands such as Nutrl and Skimmers.

    By Aug. 5, 2025
  • An image of a person standing in front of a bar, lit with candles and neon lights. The eprson is wearing a white jaclet, gray pants and a silver shirt. there is a can of energy drink on the bar.
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    Courtesy of Monster Energy
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    Optimism rising for beverage category

    Retailers surveyed by Goldman Sachs expect 1.3% traffic gains for the full year, led by strength in energy drinks. 

    By Jessica Loder • Aug. 5, 2025
  • samuel adams boston beer
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    Dave Kotinsky via Getty Images
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    Boston Beer founder Jim Koch returning to Sam Adams brewer as CEO

    Michael Spillane, who has been in the top role for 16 months, will step down to focus on personal matters.

    By Aug. 4, 2025
  • Freshly roasted coffee beans are seen in a barrel
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    High coffee prices brew interest in bean-free alternatives

    Costs tied to climate change and tariffs could position substitutes made from broken rice or other ingredients as cheaper, more sustainable options.

    By Leah Borts-Kuperman • July 31, 2025
  • PepsiCo's Starry
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    Courtesy of PepsiCo
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    Starry ties free soda to hot temps as extreme weather sways marketing

    The campaign comes as market share for PepsiCo’s flagship soda continues to decline, with Sprite surpassing Pepsi to become the No. 3 soft drink in the U.S. by volume.

    By Peter Adams • July 31, 2025
  • Cans of Poppi soda are displayed on a shelf
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Beverages become essential to consumer wellness routines: report

    The success of hydrating and functional drinks is pushing brands to align more with shoppers’ daily health rituals, according to Numerator.

    By Amanda Schuster • July 31, 2025
  • la colombe cold brew
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    Retrieved from La Colombe on July 30, 2025
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    Chobani sued by Danone for allegedly copying cold brew packaging

    The food giant called Chobani's actions "the latest in a long line of efforts" to unfairly compete with the Stōk coffee owner.

    By July 30, 2025
  • A row of Coca-Coca soda bottles
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Coca-Cola leaned on marketing to navigate choppy economic waters in Q2

    Campaigns like the relaunch of “Share a Coke” spurred growth around the globe, executives from the CPG giant said during an earnings call.

    By Chris Kelly • July 30, 2025
  • Bottles of Health-Ade
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    Courtesy of Health-Ade
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    Bolthouse Farms owner buys kombucha manufacturer Health-Ade for $500M

    Generous Brands is looking to create a powerhouse in the better-for-you beverage sector, which is dominated by brands such as Olipop and Poppi.

    By July 29, 2025
  • Olipop products
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    Olipop

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    How Olipop is sweetening the PTO deal for employees

    The better-for-you soda maker wants to send the message “that our unlimited PTO is not just for show,” CEO Ben Goodwin said.

    By Caroline Colvin • July 29, 2025
  • Five Pepsi cans
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    Courtesy of PepsiCo
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    PepsiCo to end manufacturing at Detroit plant

    The beverage maker is set to lay off 83 workers at the facility, which will stop production, maintenance and transport operations on Sept. 27.

    By July 24, 2025
  • A bottle of Coca-Cola.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Coca-Cola to sell cane sugar version of its signature cola in US

    The announcement comes a week after President Donald Trump claimed he persuaded the beverage giant to replace high fructose corn syrup in its sodas.

    By July 22, 2025
  • Cans of Pepsi Prebiotic Cola
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    Courtesy of PepsiCo
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    PepsiCo launching prebiotic versions of its namesake soda

    The colas will debut online this fall and in stores next year as the beverage giant aims to attract health-conscious consumers back to its Pepsi brand.

    By July 21, 2025
  • Cans of Liquid Death's new energy drinks
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    Courtesy of Liquid Death
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    Liquid Death to launch energy drinks, entering $23B category

    With the release of Sparkling Energy, the edgy brand known for its tagline “Murder your thirst” will expand into its fourth beverage segment.

    By July 21, 2025
  • Snacking brands made by PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division on a grocery store shelf in Washington, D.C.
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    Christopher Doering/Food Dive
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    PepsiCo to launch Cheetos and Doritos versions without artificial colors, flavors

    The snacking and beverage giant also plans to rebrand Lay’s and Tostitos to highlight a simple ingredient list and a lack of synthetic additives.

    By July 18, 2025
  • Coca-Cola
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    Christopher Doering/Food Dive
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    Trump says Coca-Cola to use cane sugar in namesake beverage

    The soda giant stopped short of confirming the president’s claim, noting only that new innovations “will be shared soon.”

    By July 17, 2025
  • Row of Guinness logo glasses on a bar
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    Brian Ach via Getty Images
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    Smirnoff owner Diageo splits with CEO

    Debra Crew's departure after two years comes as the beer and spirits giant battles tariffs and declining alcohol consumption.

    By July 16, 2025