The $1.65B deal that made KDP a major player overnight in energy drinks

It’s a matter of time… next billion dollar takeover is just around the corner.

Juice News 🧃

Behind the scenes of the $1.65 billion deal that made Keurig Dr Pepper a major player overnight in energy drinks

Last year, just two months into his new job as CEO of Keurig Dr Pepper, Tim Cofer was eyeing what he viewed as a transformative deal. The company had long thirsted for a way into the lucrative and fast-growing energy drink segment, that over recent years has become the beverage world’s hottest category. Though KDP—No. 284 on the Fortune 500—had decent sales with its existing brand, C4, focused on the workout segment, as well as Black Rifle, a veteran-founded and “unapologetically American” brand, the new CEO knew KDP needed something new in the mix. But he didn’t want just any energy drink. He wanted Ghost.

Keurig Dr Pepper Unveils First-Ever State of Beverages Report

"Today's consumers don't just drink to hydrate—they drink to energize, indulge, connect, feel comforted, express themselves and more. Whether seeking well-being or a nostalgic favorite, beverages are deeply personal and understanding what's driving those choices has never been more critical," said Tim Cofer, CEO of Keurig Dr Pepper. "Our inaugural trend report makes clear the essential role beverages continue to play in consumers' everyday lives and strongly indicates that Americans, led by the younger consumer, are seeking even more personalization, variety and better-for-you options than ever before.

As a health crisis looms, now is the time for a sugary drink tax: WHO

As non-communicable diseases linked to sugar-sweetened beverages continue to rise, Dr Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Việt Nam, has outlined key measures to curb their consumption in an effort to safeguard public health. Việt Nam is facing a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, with sugary beverages identified as a leading cause of various health issues. In your view, what strong measures should Việt Nam adopt to help ease this public health challenge?

OptiCept Launches Validation Project with Leading Juice Producer in Vietnam

OptiCept Technologies has signed an agreement with one of Vietnam’s largest food companies to validate the CEPT® technology for juice extraction. The project includes a fee-based testing period during which the CEPT® application will be integrated into the customer's production lines for pineapple and passion fruit juice.

THC beverage brands navigate unknown waters

Boris Jordan, chairman and CEO of Curaleaf, Stamford, Conn. “Consumer feedback has shown that there is a valid business growth opportunity, and clearly safer, more reliable and quality products are needed. We stand out in a noisy marketplace by instilling industry-leading safety protocols as well as strict manufacturing and testing standards,

A sweet revolution: Making better-for-you drinks even better

When it comes to beverages, specifically, consumers are increasingly trending toward natural, zero-calorie options that are naturally sweetened with ingredients such as Stevia or monk fruit. However, as consumers know, those sweeteners are often noted for lingering off-notes that make the transition to wholly natural sweeteners more challenging for beverage manufacturers and create barriers to widespread adoption.

If You’re Not Drinking Beet Juice, Are You Even a Pro Athlete?

What do former Olympic marathoner Ryan Hall, running coach Joe Holder, triathlete Lauren Goss, and CrossFit Games champion Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr all have in common? They’re elite athletes, yes—but they’re also big believers in the power of beets. “[Beetroot shots] are just so beneficial,” Toomey-Orr recently told Women’s Health. “You don’t realize the importance of what beetroot can actually do for your body, your recovery, just everything when it comes to high-stress, high-pressure environments and when you’re demanding so much from your body.”

Blue Moon and eos put the Valencia orange taste on everyone’s lips

Beer brand Blue Moon and beauty brand eos are teaming up for a summer collaboration to put the beverage’s traditional Valencia orange garnish on everyone’s lips. The brands have come together to create Blue Moon x eos Valencia Orange Lip Balm, so those craving a Blue Moon can bring the flavor to their drink even when they don’t have an orange immediately available. The limited-edition product is housed in eos’s iconic sphere – making it look like a Valencia orange – and is formulated with sustainably sourced ingredients like shea butter, beeswax and coconut oil.

Citrus News 🍊

Increased Rainfall Impacts Florida Citrus

Recent rainfall has been a welcome sight for Floridians, but it can be a concern for the state’s citrus growers who are producing next year’s crop. Chris Oswalt, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences citrus agent, cautions growers about citrus canker amid the increased moisture in the region.

New early orange varieties outperform Brazil’s popular early oranges in juice quality, flavor and color

Developed by Embrapa and partners, the new oranges mature early (May–August), making them ideal for citrus farming due to faster harvesting, reduced drought risk, and potential for mechanization. They yield over 30 tons per hectare without irrigation and are compatible with major rootstocks used in São Paulo.

Research Worth Reading 🔬

Exploring the Genetic Networks of HLB Tolerance in Citrus: Insights Across Species and Tissues

By elucidating module-specific functions and their correlation with species- and tissue-specific responses, this study provides a robust foundation for identifying key genetic targets. These insights facilitate breeding programs focused on developing HLB-tolerant citrus cultivars, contributing to the long-term sustainability and resilience of global citrus production.

A colorimetric and fluorometric dual-functional chemodosimeter for highly sensitive and selective detection of Cu2+ in fruit juices

• A new fluorescent chemodosimeter IN-P has been developed for turn-on detection of paramagnetic Cu2+

• The ratiometric absorbance and fluorescence dual-mode detection has been established

• The chemodosimeter exhibited a fast response time, high sensitivity (LoD 13.6 nM) and excellent selectivity for Cu2+ sensing

• The chemodosimeter has been effectively employed for the quantitative determination of Cu2+ in fruit juice samples.

Characterisation of Fresh-Like Orange Juice Prepared by Ultrasound Treatment Followed by High-Pressure Processing under Industrial Setting

The rising demand for minimally processed nutritious food has led to advancements in non-thermal food processing technologies. This study evaluated the effects of combined ultrasound (US) and high-pressure processing (HPP) on the quality of Navel orange juice.