Having first acquired a majority stake of 90% in Think Spirits in 2018, ABG has taken over full ownership of the company as part of its strategy to become a multinational beverage company. Think Spirits Founder, Patrick Borg, and his team will remain in the business and no operational changes are expected.

Patrick Borg, Founder and Managing Director of Think Spirits says: “We are delighted to be entrusting our family business to the very capable team at ABG. Having established the business in 2004, we have built it up to become one of the leading players in the Australian drinks trade and being 100% owned by ABG will give us the opportunity to expand even further. Even with the challenging conditions over the last few months, our business is doing extremely well and our figures are way ahead of last year, which is great for all of us.”

Seymour Ferreira, CEO at Amber Beverage Group says: “This acquisition is important strategically for ABG as part of our ambition to become a truly global beverage company. The team at Think Spirits has done an excellent job steering the business through recent challenging times in the region. With China and parts of Asia opening up, we see great potential for our business and Australia is a country which is leading the way out of the crisis. What we are seeing in China and Australia is an indicator of what will happen in the rest of the world with retail re-opening, wholesalers and the on-premise coming back to business and Think Spirits is well positioned to help us expand into these exciting markets.”

Source: Amber Group

Clean Juice, the first and original USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise, today announced the opening of its 100th location in New Jersey. This milestone in the company’s four-year history belongs to Clean Juice franchise partner and former New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree and his wife, Leilah. The 100th store opening will officially grand open in Morristown, NJ, on Saturday, June 27, 2020.

“Reaching 100 store openings, with many more in development, is a significant milestone, especially given that the Clean Juice brand is barely four years old,” said Landon Eckles, co-founder, and chief executive officer of Clean Juice. “We are proud that the many communities we serve are embracing Clean Juice for its healthy, high-quality products and for the diversity in franchise ownership we promote and strive toward daily.”

David Tyree is known for his history-making “Helmet Catch” that served as the turning point in the Giants’ Super Bowl XLII victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

“Clean Juice stood out to me immediately, and its brand philosophy matched the high standards and principles I set for myself and my family,” said David Tyree. “Integrity was a cornerstone virtue I valued while playing in the NFL and carries through today as a father, husband, team member, and business owner.  The Clean Juice brand epitomizes integrity, high-quality and is unwilling to sacrifice its standards. We are proud to introduce Clean Juice and its healthy, organic menu to our community.”

Clean Juice sources only the highest quality, premium organic ingredients for its organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, açaí bowls, and a recently expanded toast product line, all of which are made on-site directly in front of guests. Clean Juice aims to provide the perfect nutrition that comes only from organic food. When and if there is a sourced or seasonal product that cannot be found organically, each franchise location notifies guests through its “transparency board” in the front of all stores.

“As a couple committed to health and wellness, it was important for us to do something that contributed to the well-being of our community,” said Leilah Tyree. “We are glad to be a part of the only juice franchise that is USDA-certified as truly organic. Serving high-quality products is a tremendous opportunity we deeply value!”

Clean Juice’s current menu features refreshing, clean, and healthy USDA-certified organic products stretching far beyond fresh and cold-pressed juice.  The company recently unveiled new organic wraps and new organic combos along with their seasonal summer menu that features blue spirulina, a powerful immune-boosting antioxidant. Clean Juice is committed to the health and wellness of communities it serves and engages with non-profits through regular contributions determined by sales of signature menu items. This includes naming several smoothies and fresh juice items in honor of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, one of the leading funders of pediatric cancer research in the U.S. and Canada.

In the company’s short four year history, Clean Juice has achieved numerous awards including #431 as Inc. Magazine’s Fastest Growing Private Companies; a Top New Franchise and one of the Fastest Growing Franchises from Entrepreneur magazine; a Top 100 Movers & Shakers by FastCasual.com; a Top 100 Game Changer by Franchise Dictionary Magazine, a leading national publication for the franchise industry; a Top Emerging Franchise by Franchise Gator; and the Fastest Growing Franchise and Fast 50 in Charlotte by the Charlotte Business Journal. Clean Juice continues to seek and welcome qualified franchisees to its family of franchise partners.   Earlier this year, Landon Eckles was recognized as a Most Admired CEO by the Charlotte Business Journal.

Source: Clean Juice

Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha, a beverage company producing crisp and refreshing, function-forward kombucha, today announced national availability of Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha products at Sprouts Farmers Market, one of the fastest-growing natural food retailers in the country. Rollout to 348 stores is scheduled to be complete in early June, including placement in the grab-and-go sets of all stores.

Sprouts Farmers Market has made healthy living accessible to shoppers for nearly two decades by offering affordable, fresh, natural and organic products. Rooted in farmers market heritage, Sprouts is known for pioneering an innovative grocery model that offers a unique assortment of healthier products with special attributes, such as plant-based, gluten-free, keto-friendly and grass-fed, to meet the growing and diverse needs of today’s consumer.

“Sprouts has done an exceptional job of establishing themselves as an approachable leader in healthy living, reaching a demographic of shoppers who seek natural products at true value,” said Melissa Hauser, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha. “We are grateful and thrilled about this new partnership with Sprouts, and excited to join them on their mission.”

Rowdy Mermaid recently completed its second and final tranche of its Series A investment, bringing total gross proceeds to $7 million. With projected triple-digit sales growth in 2020, the brand will continue to support national retail expansion.

The company’s newest flavor, Watermelon Bloom, in addition to other favorites like Lion’s Root, Savory Peach, Strawberry Tonic, and Alpine Lavender, will be available in individual, 100% recyclable, 12-ounce cans in June 2020. Additional promotions will be available via the Sprouts mobile coupons app.

Source: Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha

Amber Beverage Group, a leading producer, distributor, logistics provider and retailer of beverages, has partnered with the Espiritus Group to manage its Riga Black Balsam brand. ABG owns several other core brands sold in the United States, including Moskovskaya Vodka, Rooster Rojo tequila, KAH Tequila and Cosmopolitan Diva.

ABG’s Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Director USA and Latin America, Pepijn Janssens, says, “For quite some time now we have seen the sales of Riga Black Balsam grow in the USA, however, we haven’t been able to give it the full support we felt it needed until now. Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to announce our partnership with the team at Espiritus which will definitely allow us to take the brand to the next level in the US.”

Riga Black Balsam’s Global Brand Director, Maris Kalnins, adds, “The US is the largest premium bitter market in the world, showing positive year on year growth for several years in a row. The latest forecasts show that the segment increase will continue growing over the next few years. We know that consumers are ready to pay more for new experiences, for natural products, for products with a great heritage and for mixable brands. Riga Black Balsam represents all of these market and consumer trends in just one original clay bottle; a premium product, crafted from all-natural ingredients that can easily be enjoyed in a number of ways and with a proud heritage of more than 265 years.”

Espiritus Partner and Vice President of Sales, Daniel Olech, says, “We are confident that Riga Black Balsam’s rich history and superb quality presents a unique brand proposition within the liqueur category as one of the oldest and most respected bitter brands in the world.  We are planning on growing the nationwide footprint of the Riga Black Balsam brand over the next two years.”

The Riga Black Balsam line of herbal liqueurs was founded in Latvia, in the Baltics, in 1752 and is its most famous spirit.  Riga Black Balsam is available in over 30 countries; in 2018 the brand was launched in the UK and USA. Also, in the range are Riga Black Balsam XO version, Riga Black Balsam Black Currant, Riga Black Balsam Cherry and Riga Black Balsam Espresso. Riga Black Balsam has won more than 100 awards in international competitions.

Source: Amber Beverage Group

Tomato color is obtained by extracting lycopene from the fruit of solanaceous tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum MILL.). It delivers a rich red color and is not affected by variation of pH in foods and beverages.

In Japan, tomato color is widely used in drinks, desserts, and fish meat products. San-Ei Gen has promoted the use of highly stable tomato color formulations, from Lycored tomato products, using their unique manufacturing methods for more than 20 years.

In an effort to expand the use of Lycored’s tomato color into beverages, the cooperation between Lycored and San-Ei Gen provides San-Ei Gen with distribution exclusivity for this segment.

“We will work together to accelerate the product development efforts with an emphasis on expanding the color range and further expand the use of tomato color into other food and beverage applications where it has not often been used.”, says Masayuki Nishino, General Manager of San-Ei Gen.

“This agreement further strengthens our long-term commitment to the Japanese market and we’re certain that joining our product development efforts with San-Ei Gen will lead to improved coloration formulations that will benefit the industry as a whole.” says Rony Patishi-Chillim, CEO of Lycored.

Source: Lycored

Their partnership aims to deliver the best French rose wines from Provence to wineries, wine shops, restaurants and allow the consumer to enjoy the best juices from the harvest.

Owned by Valerie Rousselle & family, Château Roubine and Château Sainte-Béatrice are known as the wineries of excellence as both vineyards respect the regional winemaking tradition while using the most modern techniques. The specificity of each of them is to grow grapes organically, while working with sustainable and biodynamic agriculture.

The wines are elaborated in the purest respect of nature & environment, soil and biodiversity. The production is limited in order to seek the optimal grape maturity to deliver fantastic wines full of sunshine, delicate tastes and flavors.

These Côtes de Provence wines are found on the finest gastronomic tables and are exported all around the world.

Source: Choteau Roubine

Following the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill, the popularity of hemp-based products has skyrocketed in the U.S., with hundreds of new brands coming to market. The Brightfield Group projects that the hemp CBD market will be worth $23 billion by the year 2023, and expects food & beverage products to be the fastest-growing segment of the market.

Consumer preferences are changing; they’re elevating their standards. “Sträva is one of the originals,” notes Aamot. “We introduced CBD coffee to the market in 2016 and we remain true to our passion: roasting amazing coffee and delivering the absolute best CBD coffee available.”

Asked how the industry is evolving, Aamot states, “We’re observing a shift in consumer behavior as hemp products become more available in established retailers – consumers are seeking out traditional products enhanced with hemp cannabinoids rather than the specialized niche products which have characterized the industry for years.” The Brightfield Group concurs, finding that although tinctures have dominated the hemp market in recent years, comprising 25% of the market, their popularity is giving way to more mainstream consumer products.

Through this distribution deal, Sträva and Betterment anticipate the availability of products in over one thousand new retail locations by the end of 2020, with more to come in 2021 and beyond.

Source: Strava Craft Coffee, Inc.

Wabel and its online partner Needl are pleased to introduce the Online Discovery Sessions, the first 100% web-based B2B conference series dedicated to the FMCG industry. Starting April 23rd, Needl will be hosting more 20 different Online Discovery Sessions in categories such as food, drinks, beauty & personal care and home care.

These sessions will allow suppliers to virtually meet with a panel of buyers to present their products. Afterwards, interested buyers are able to contact them through the platform if their needs and capabilities align.

“The way of doing business has changed a lot over the past several weeks. This change brings new opportunities, and Wabel wants to help their partners make the most of them.” says Loic Paitel, Managing Director of Wabel.

For more information regarding Online Discovery Sessions or to register for one of these events, visit here.

Source: Wabel

Credit: Getty Images

Azelis, a leading distributor of specialty chemicals and food ingredients, is proud to announce its new distribution agreement with Merck. Effective on April 1st 2020, Azelis will distribute Merck Performance Materials’ complete range in Vietnam for personal care, CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers), food & health, and industrial chemicals.

Highlights & rationale

• This partnership is an extension of existing distribution agreements between Azelis and Merck in other countries and covers Merck Performance Materials’ range for personal care, CASE, food & health and industrial chemicals in Vietnam.
• To ensure business continuity and the best customer experience, former Merck’s employees will join Azelis’ team in Vietnam, reinforcing Azelis’ local sales and customer service for the Personal Care and CASE market segments.
• Merck Performance Materials’ portfolio includes first class pigments, active ingredients and high quality chemical raw materials.
• This agreement underlines Azelis’ commitment to organically grow with its key partners in Asia Pacific.

Azelis is proud to have a longstanding partnership with Merck, a leading global specialist of Healthcare, Life Science and Performance Materials. The partnership between Merck and Azelis started back in 1968 with one of the companies Azelis later acquired. Over the years, Azelis extended its partnership with Merck across Europe. Vietnam is the latest country to be added to this list.

Azelis’ commitment to growth and dedicated organization for each industry, coupled with technical and market expertise, proved crucial for Merck’s decision to entrust Azelis with the distribution of their specialty portfolio. Azelis’ business ethic and compliance, financial stability, and transparent business practices gave Merck confidence to collaborate with Azelis in new territories.

Laurent Nataf, CEO and President Asia Pacific at Azelis, comments:

“Merck Performance Materials’ high-quality range will be a great asset for Azelis Vietnam, enabling us to offer innovative, tailor-made solutions to customers for their entire lateral value chain. Our dedicated application laboratories in Vietnam will play a critical role, allowing us to support our customers in formulation of innovative concepts that shorten their time to market and help them become and remain market leaders in their industries. This new agreement is also an important acknowledgement of our continuous efforts to be a preferred and trusted partner on a global scale.”

Panutin Tantichuwet, Head of Commercial Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand at Merck, adds:

“Azelis is a global leader in specialty chemicals distribution. Their local technical sales team will help us focus on enhanced services to our customers in Vietnam, where we aim to improve customer intimacy, innovation and technology effort. We are confident that thanks to our strong collaboration with Azelis, we will be able to serve Merck’s customers even better for future business growth.” Azelis has significantly grown in Asia Pacific during the last five years, establishing presence in 11 countries and opening more than 25 laboratories.

Source: Azelis

The three-day event will be the first of its kind catering to professionals working across a myriad of sectors from retail, to food service, to wholesalers, to hospitality and Government/ trade bodies. As a launch edition, Montgomery Group East Africa, the organisers behind KFE and KHE, have announced their intention is to give all participants and visitors an experience that will ‘educate and inspire’.

Among the brands set to take part this April are Sheffield Steel, Papyrus, G North & Son, Barry Callebault, Komari Beverages.

With onsite features planned that will include an SME Business Hub and a Conference, organisers are encouraging all attendees to take full advantage of the learning and networking opportunities these have to offer. Over the three days, there will be live demonstrations, masterclasses and tasting sessions from some of the region’s finest experts. The full line-ups for these feature areas is yet to be revealed and will be announced on the website very soon.

Working closely with the official event endorsers include Eat Out, an online directory for restaurants and booking in Kenya, the Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurants Association of Kenya (PERAK), Supreme Chefs 254, a chef Association with the largest Chef membership, amongst others, the Kenyan Food and Hospitality Events are expected to be the unmissable industry events of the year.

Ms Angela Kinyua, the Portfolio Director for Montgomery Group East Africa commented on the upcoming event, “We are incredibly excited to launch these exhibitions in Kenya, with experience in organising some of the food, beverage and hospitality’s most successful exhibitions in Europe and Asia, we are confident that KFE and KHE will follow suit. We’ve secured a fantastic line-up of exhibitors and a comprehensive schedule for our feature areas which will no doubt, be popular amongst attendees.” And in reference to the market itself she said, “East Africa’s tourist market has grown exponentially over the last few years, according to reports, by 2030 consumer spending on tourism in Africa will reach $262 billion*, and we believe that the Kenyan Food and Hospitality Events will leverage this trend as it connects industry professionals and bolsters spending and growth in the market.”

A visitor pass will grant attendees access to all three days and both co-located events: the Kenyan Food Event & the Kenyan Hospitality Event, and their respective feature areas. Those wishing to attend may register online at www.kenyanfoodevent.com or www.kenyanhospitalityevent.com.

Floor spaces are still available for those looking to take part, with stand prices beginning at $1,200. Simply get in touch with the relevant team member, for International enquiries, Tom Meek at Tom.Meek@montgomerygroup.com and for Kenyan enquiries, Jacob Birundu at Jacob.Birundu@montgomerygroup.com.

For more information about the event, visit www.kenyanfoodevent.com or www.kenyanhospitlaityevent.com.

Source: The Kenyan Food and Hospitality Events