Tariffs remain an issue and Functionality (still) is the key

The turbulence in the markets is far from over… better stay strapped in!

Juice News 🧃

Beverage Innovation Begets Process Renovation

Talking Rain jumped into the better-for-you soda category with the launch of Popwell, a new line of prebiotic and immunity-support drinks. Oscar Mayorquin, chief operating officer of Talking Rain, says the company wanted to differentiate the beverages and build on prior product line innovations, so it took the step to implement a new process for the category and create the drinks through a cold-crafting process that would preserve the flavors and functionality of the Popwell beverages.

Obey Your Third: How Sprite Became America's No. 3 Soft Drink

In terms of sales volume, Sprite controls 8.03% of the U.S. carbonated soft drink category, according to recently released 2024 figures from trade publication Beverage Digest. Pepsi, meanwhile, accounts for 7.97% of the market.

Coca-Cola sales slip following boycott among Hispanic consumers

The soda behemoth reported a 3% decline in volumes in North America in its most recent quarter amid an 8% increase in price mix, driven by muted sales for Coca-Cola and its water, sports drinks, coffee and tea category. Overall sales in the region declined 4%, it said.

Tariffs throw cold water on tea supply chains

US consumers could feel tariff impacts on a host of their favorite products, even if trade deals are reached, as many countries are actively working around the US in trade negotiations.

US imports from China have slowed, and major retailers, like Target and Walmart, are starting to raise concerns about empty shelves this summer due to the trade slowdown. This week, Walmart and Target resumed business with Chinese suppliers, following a several-week pause on tariff concerns, as first reported in CNN Business.

Northern California town's sugary soda tax is first to defy state ban

A tax on sugary drinks takes effect Thursday in the beachside community of Santa Cruz, seven years after California banned its cities and counties from implementing local grocery taxes as part of a reluctant deal with the powerful beverage industry.

The 2-cent-per-ounce tax, approved by voters in November, is the first in the state since lawmakers approved the 2018 deal. The American Beverage Association spent heavily to campaign against the ballot measure in the small city of 60,000, and in court called the tax illegal and likely to strain city resources.

‘100% Fruit Juice’ Claim by Dabur Misleading, Says FSSAI in Court

FSSAI argued in court that numerical descriptions and claims like “100%” give consumers a false picture regarding the product’s composition, especially as the juice is reconstituted or contains added ingredients such as water.

Varun Beverages Q1 earnings: Net profit rises 35%, board declares dividend

Varun Beverages on Wednesday reported a 35.2% rise in net profit for the quarter ended March 2025. Profit rose to Rs 726.4 crore in Q1 against Rs 537.2 crore on a YoY basis. Revenue climbed 29% to Rs 5,567 crore in Q1 against Rs 4,317.4 crore in the year ago period. EBITDA climbed 27.8%  to Rs 1,264 cr in the last quarter against Rs 989 cr on a YoY basis.

Metapress Magazine Votes Mighties The Top Zero-Sugar Drink Brand for Kids in 2025

Mighties has officially been voted the #1 Zero Sugar Drink Brand for Kids by Metapress  magazine, a leading health and parenting publication in the United States, at a time when parents are increasingly turning to healthy zero-sugar alternatives to keep their children hydrated through the scorching summer heat!

The mention reflects Mighties’ newfound status as the household’s favourite drink owing to its use of real fruit juice, functional ingredients, and absolutely no added sugar.

The Future of Beverages: Drinks That Do More

• Beverage innovation is thriving through brand collaborations and category crossovers, with non-beverage brands entering the market and creating unexpected product mashups.

• Functional benefits are migrating from supplements into mainstream beverages, with products now offering health advantages beyond quenching thirst.

• Consumer preferences are driving new beverage trends, including culturally diverse offerings from underrepresented communities, multi-textured drinking experiences, and the expanding low/no-alcohol category that focuses on adding pleasure rather than just removing alcohol.

Citrus News 🍊

RSA: Positive citrus outlook calls for caution

Russia takes a lot of product that is not necessarily easily sold in other markets, he explains, like really big Satsumas, oranges and lemons, and is not concerned about citrus black spot.

"When you finish loading citrus for English or Canadian supermarkets and for Asia, for example, Russia can become a market where you can place a range of fruit without the many phytosanitary restrictions of another citrus-producing country."

Wait for a Move Above This Price Before You Buy July Orange Juice (FCOJ) Futures

Fundamentally, FCOJ prices should continue to be supported by reduced orange output from major producers Brazil and Florida. A disease called citrus greening in Florida and adverse weather in both regions – droughts and hurricanes – have reduced orange production from Florida and Brazil. Consumer demand for FCOJ has also been stronger in recent years.

A move in July FCOJ above chart resistance at $2.800 would give the bulls more power and it would also become a buying opportunity. The upside price objective would be $4.0000, or above. Technical support, for which to place a protective sell stop just below, is located at $2.2500.

☝🏻 THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVISE ☝🏻

Research Worth Reading 🔬

Mechanism of Resistance to HLB Identified

Citrus plantations are being attacked worldwide by a bacterial disease called Huanglongbing or citrus greening. Using an artificial intelligence screening tool, the authors identified microbial peptides that could inhibit proteolysis. They narrowed down the selection to a single small peptide that stabilized MYC2 and reduced disease symptoms when applied to citrus trees. The work offers a mechanistically derived approach to fighting a devastating plant disease

Establishment and application of high‐pressure propagation breeding (HPPB)‐mediated genetic transformation system in citrus rootstocks

Citrus rootstocks are crucial for enhancing fruit quality, disease resistance, and stress tolerance; their root systems are not only vital for water and nutrient uptake but also help establish beneficial connections with soil bacteria (Song et al., 2023). Genetic transformation technology offers tremendous potential for improving citrus crops without altering the genetic background of the scion (Cheng et al., 2021).

Comparative evaluation of ohmic and conventional heat treatment on process time, microbial quality and bioactive retention of citrus beverages

• High voltage ohmic process best for retention of bioactives in citrus beverages.

• Electrical conductivity (EC) had positive effect on reduction of processing time.

• EC reduced upon addition of sugar and dilution of juice in the products.

• Ohmic heating reduces process time by 35 % for natural unsweetened citrus juice.

• Shortened process time of ohmic treatment least affected the sensory attributes.