Call it a rollup or not, but New Age Beverages has been showing it can add foundering brands to portfolio and quickly restore them to profitability, scoring $15.1 mil in Q2 revenues vs $687K a year ago, even before latest brands have been fully integrated into revenue base. Co was cash-flow-positive to tune of $2.15 mil, and its net income of $2.5 mil reversed a loss of $2 mil a year ago. "We are making money," declared ceo Brent Willis, architect of transformation in just a year from marginal kombucha play generating $2.3 mil in annual sales. "As far as we can tell, among all small caps, we're the only ones with positive ebidta."

By now the genre of business memoirs is a highly developed one, with most constituting a sort of victory lap by a successful entrepreneur, offering testimony to his or her own genius, leavened by a few humbling anecdotes to show they're not 100% perfect (just 98%) and a sprinkling of lessons that might get the book picked up for biz-school courses.

Ripple, the marketer of pea-based protein bevs that come as close as possible to dairy milk in flavor and look, has added pair of new sku's. Emeryville, Calif-based co has launched Unsweetened Vanilla, which is packed in 48-oz bottles and contains 8 g of protein and 80 calories per 8-oz serving. Like rest of line, it's made from co's proprietary Ripptein ultraclean pea protein, and also includes sunflower and algal oils, for Omega-3 fatty acids. Brand has also entered half-and-half fray, offering 16-oz bottles of non-dairy creamer option in Original (with 0 g of sugar) and Vanilla (1 g). "Dairy free. As it should be," is mantra of co, which aims to curtail use of animal-based nutrition on environmental sustainability grounds . . . Jin-Ja, which markets well regarded ginger infusions in RTD and concentrate form, has branched out into powdered greens with Jin-Ja Super Greens, vegan, non-GMO powder in berry flavor that's packed in 30-serving canisters.

Coca-Cola European Partners wowed investors with Q2 earnings report that handily beat volume expectations (+4.5%) and delivered strong price/mix gain, too (+3%). Wall Streeters had been anticipating gains more in 1% range on both measures. Among other categories, flavored CSDs/energy grew 7% as Fanta and energy entries did well. Noncarbs grew 6.5, with bottled waters up 5% led by Aquabona and Chaudfontaine, while juices/isotonics rose 7.5% thanks to brisk growth from Capri Sun, Aquarius and iced teas. "Overall, a very impressive quarter with strong execution aided by some external tailwinds," assessed Wells Fargo's Bonnie Herzog. "We believe CCE continues to demonstrate the merit of its CCEP transaction, and have confidence in management's ability to hit its targets," she wrote, referring to transaction that created giant European bottler. Coke Zero Sugar scored double-digit gain, helping lift core trademark by 3.5% overall . . . Castle Brands, mainly a spirits marketer, reported strong growth from its Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer, +51.8% to 457K cases, thanks in part to pickup of brand by 4,500 Walmart stores in Mar. Since acquiring additional 20.1% stake in Gosling-Castle Partners jv to 80.1% stake in late Mar, Castle has been able to consolidate brand with its financial results. Riding Dark & Stormy and Moscow Mule cocktail crazes, Goslings has proved good fit within spirits house.

Celsius Holdings continued its strong growth trends, with revenues surging 66% to $10.2 mil in its 2d qtr as Boca Raton, Fla-based marketer of expanding range of fitness bevs drew balanced growth across all its main channels, both domestically and internationally. Domestic revs rose 66% to $6.6 mil and overseas revs rose 62% to $3.6 mil. That domestic growth was compounded of 32% gain at retail, 182% in health & fitness accounts, which were recently buttressed by trainer-grade extension called Celsius Heat, and 109% growth in Internet channel. That "exponential growth," as cfo and interim ceo John Fieldly termed it, stemmed from ongoing efforts to build brand awareness via "Live fit" campaign, broaden distribution and increase product placements. In Q2, operating income moved $509K into the black, reversing $1.4 mil loss a year earlier. Favorable results released at close of trading yesterday afternoon prompted spike in share value in trading so far today. Shares have nearly doubled in value since last fall.

We reported on quiet demise of Koa Olakino co a coupla months ago (BBI, Jun 15). Tho founder Adam Louras didn't get back to us when we checked in at time, turns out he's segued to new role as coo of direct-to-consumer wellness play Dirty Lemon, per BevNet report yesterday on Koa's liquidation. By chance we just profiled popup store that Dirty Lemon has been operating under Drug Store name on NY's Lower East Side as awareness builder (BBI, Jul 28) . . . Robert Case, former cmo of Nestle USA, has signed on with Austin-based Moonshine Sweet Tea as member of advisory board, bringing 30+ years of experience at multinational food/bev giant. His presence "will bring exceptional leadership and strategic direction" to co, said ceo Remmy Castillo. Case lives in Altadena, Calif.

"For fresh iced tea, belly up to the bar," headlined Times food writer Florence Fabrikant a few weeks ago, heralding "city's latest branded tea store," Pure Leaf Tea House, taking a place amid teahouse flock that includes not just chain stores like Argo and David's Tea but branding statements like elegant store operated nearby in Soho by Harney Tea. Soho, of course, is ground zero nexus of superpremium consumption among NY fashionistas, offering in opulent aesthetics what it lacks in cutting edge. (For that, open up in Meatpacking District or on Lower East Side.) And just who might be Pure Leaf? "A company that sells teas meant to be served with ice," offered Fabrikant, giving no hint of its identity as $700 mil Pepsi/Unilever grocery store brand.

Here’s colorful quote from A-B distrib, itching to go after Monster Energy, following A-B acquisition of Hiball Energy a few weeks back:  “If this has any legs, we will be a thorn in Rodney Sacks’ side.  It’s payback time.”  Recall, many AB distribs were really hurt by loss of Monster to Coke system and didn’t like the way they were treated on the way out either.  

Still, “payback”?  Is that any way for mature biz exec to talk?  Actually, payback can be strong motivator.  In fact, there’s good antecedent right in Bud network.  Students of new-age bevs may recall that big break for floundering SoBe brand 15 years back came when entrenched rival AriZona Iced Tea terminated buncha Bud wholesalers in Southern Calif; unused to such treatment (which could never happen in beer, given franchise protections), the distribs took on SoBe as much out of desire to put a hurt on AriZona as enthusiasm for brand itself.  In those revenge-seeking Bud guys’ hands, SoCal proved to be market where NY-based brand ignited, leading to $385 mil sale to PepsiCo.  Some Bud houses, including now-defunct Foothill Bev, did very well both as equity stakeholders and with buyout when Pepsi deal happened – possibly better than much-diluted owners of brand. 

 Will history repeat itself here?  Parallel only goes so far.  It doesn’t seem A-B and conservative Hiball mgrs so far have plans for mad rush to roll out Hiball.  Further, organic brand plays in what is, at least to date, narrower “healthier energy” niche than broadly targeted Monster.  That may limit how much damage Hiball can inflict.  Still, it could be interesting scenario to watch.