Coca-Cola’s Powerade will reassert itself in the US this year with increased marketing and advertising spending, and two major product introductions. A new Powerade Power Water will go head-to-head with PepsiCo’s Propel fitness water for the first time since Propel’s introduction 20 years ago. Like Propel, the sugar-free electrolyte- and vitamin-enhanced Power Water will target lower-impact workout occasions or casual daily hydration. The second new product, Powerade Ultra, will focus on endurance workouts ranging from triathlons to body building...

In October, Simon Lowden was named PepsiCo’s first chief sustainability officer. The job made sense for Lowden, whose 23 years at PepsiCo has included leadership posts in food, beverage and international. Lowden’s most recent prior role was as president of PepsiCo Global Foods. Previous roles have included chief marketing officer for PepsiCo North America Beverages and before that PepsiCo International.

This story is a recap of highlights from his Future Smarts conference appearance Dec. 9 in New York.

Convenience store retailers are among those looking to better understand the hectic and uncertain US market for CBD-infused beverages. A raft of CBD products from ready-to-drink coffees to relaxation shots have flooded the market since Congress legalized industrial hemp production late last year, even though the FDA hasn’t legalized CBD for use in foods and beverages. To help store owners make better sense of the market, the convenience store trade group NACS hosted CBD workshops and a “CBD Pavilion” at the organization’s annual trade show, held this year in Atlanta. The CBD display area was a first for NACS. Underscoring the challenges of the emerging category, the CBD Pavilion ...

A photo gallery with this story catalogs the 25 beverage products on display at NACS’ CBD Pavilion.

This year's NACS trade show in Atlanta, with exhibits that covered the space of almost two football fields, offered a first look at innovation being sold into retailers for 2020. The products pictured are some of the newest innovations from Coke, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper and Nestle. These products mostly launch late this year and early next year.

PepsiCo announced accelerated plastic waste reduction efforts last month, including a new 2025 target to cut the company’s use of virgin plastic for packaging by 35%. Such targets are becoming more critical for beverage makers as consumer backlash against single-use plastic grows. In addition

A fast-paced collection of recent news from around the non-alcoholic beverage industry so you go into meetings prepared. Also a great way to feel the industry pulse.

In an exclusive interview, Jones Soda CEO Jennifer Cue discuses a $9 million investment by Canadian hemp and CBD holding company HeavenlyRX ...

Dave Holmes created an alcohol beverage category by founding and developing SpikedSeltzer, which he sold to Anheuser-Busch in 2016. Now his ambition is focused on the burgeoning hemp-based CBD...