MOLSON COORS ADDS ENERGY AND CBD BRANDS IN US. Molson Coors Beverage announced last week that it will be the exclusive distributor of a new energy drink backed by megastar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The brewer also will invest in the new brand, called Zoa, as Molson Coors expands further into the non-alcoholic beverage sector with its first pure-play energy offering. The product, packaged in 16-oz cans, will launch in March with five flavors. Pricing will be above premium, according to Molson Coors. Ingredients include turmeric, the sour superfood berry camu camu, and berries from the acerola shrub. The concept was developed with LA Libations. Separately, Molson Coors and its cannabis partner Hexo announced the US launch of a CBD sparkling water in Colorado.

ZICO RETURNS HOME. Coca-Cola sold its discontinued Zico coconut water back to a private equity fund called PowerPlant Ventures co-led by Mark Rampolla, who founded the brand and later sold it to Coca-Cola. According to Coca-Cola and PowerPlant, Zico will not have access to the US Coke bottling system and PowerPlant will run production and distribution separately from Coca-Cola. PowerPlant’s operating entity, Zico Rising, has hired former Monster Energy/Hansen’s executives Tom Hicks and Alan George as CEO and CFO respectively.

BODYARMOR SIGNS UNDERWOOD AS COKE OPTION NOW AVAILABLE. Bodyarmor, the sports drink brand minority owned and distributed by Coca-Cola, has signed country music superstar and fitness entrepreneur Carrie Underwood as an investor and celebrity endorser. The deal includes a new media campaign for low-calorie Bodyarmor Lyte featuring Underwood. COKE OPTION. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola’s option to acquire the remaining ownership interests in Bodyarmor becomes exercisable this year, according to previous regulatory filings. Such a buyout under the option would come at a price based on an already agreed-upon formula. Should the option expire, Bodyarmor could still sell to Coca-Cola later using the same formula, according to the filings. The exact option period wasn’t specified. It remains unclear to what extent the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a change in Coke’s timetable or strategy related to Bodyarmor. A key question for Coca-Cola system bottlers would be whether Coke would keep in place Bodyarmor’s management team, including Co-founder Mike Repole and President Brent Hastie, after a full acquisition. Coke and Bodyarmor did not have a comment by publication time.

SUSTAINABILITY. PepsiCo has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2040, which is 10 years earlier than targets set out in the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change (President-Elect Biden has said a first priority will be rejoining that agreement). The company also committed to reduce “absolute greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by more than 40% by 2030,” according to a statement ... Talking Rain, maker of Sparkling Ice, announced it will buy carbon offsets for its US natural gas use and fleet emissions; projects tied to the credits will reduce 28,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, according to Talking Rain.

TECHNOLOGY. PepsiCo has invested in a German startup called Air Up that flavors water using pods that release scented air into the mouth to trick the brain into detecting flavor, according to the website Sifted ... Separately, PepsiCo has announced the latest round of global finalists in the company’s Greenhouse Accelerator, including Spain-based maker of a “digital solution to detect and treat cognitive dysfunctions using mind-tracking technology.”

LAUNCHES, EXPANSIONS. Chobani has introduced a line of ready-to-drink cold brew coffees ... Danone has launched a plant-based Silk Ultra protein drink aimed at athletes ... Alkaline Water’s Alkaline88 and A88-Infused bottled water will now be available in all 99 Cents Only Stores in California and the Southwest ... Flow Alkaline Spring Water has introduced a Vitamin-Infused Water line in three flavors ... Tazo has launched “Calm,” a new flavor of its ready-to-drink tea line, which is infused with chamomile, lemongrass, hibiscus flowers and spearmint ... Ten Alkaline Spring Water has added an eight-pack of 12-oz aluminum cans to its package lineup ... Meal replacement maker Huel has added Salted Caramel and Banana flavors to its Black Edition lineup of bagged shake mixes.

REGULATION, TAXES. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo suspended various political donations in the wake of the recent US Capitol attack and challenges to the election of President-Elect Joe Biden ... New federal dietary guidelines issued in December make no change to the recommendation for added sugar, which is a limit of 10% of daily calories; a proposal for a reduction to 6% was rejected ... Coca-Cola has ended an association with the International Life Sciences Institute, known as a pro-sugar research group, according to Bloomberg News.

QUICK TAKES. The US Agriculture Department has forecast a 15% decline in the Florida orange harvest during the 2020-2021 season, according to the Ledger news site ... Brands Coke and Pepsi have decided not to advertise during the Super Bowl game on Jan. 7; Pepsi will focus on its halftime show sponsorship and will air an in-game ad for Mtn Dew ... Pro basketball superstar LeBron James and Coca-Cola have decided to end a sponsorship deal for Sprite and Powerade after almost 18 years, as James heads to NBA league sponsor PepsiCo to represent Mtn Dew, according to media reports.