Harmless Harvest has entered probiotic realm with 4-flavor bottled line that melds organic coconut water, coconut meat from young coconuts and active probiotic cultures from BC Ganeden. The 11-oz line is breaking in Original, Strawberries, Blueberries & Acai and Mangos & Acerolas flavors, line priced with 16-oz coconut water line at $4.99. Line boasts 12.5 bill CFUs as well as at least 5 g of fiber and medium chain fatty acids from the coconut meat. "Using the whole edible coconut," marketing materials boast. It's getting limited rollout, starting in 3 Whole Foods regions, sales staffer at booth said, noting that shorter shelf life required care in early stages.

Intriguing bicoastal play called Fogdog is offering "hydrodynamically" produced range of pouched and bottled cold-brewed teas and coffees, using proprietary system that's been set up at production sites in Bay Area and Brooklyn, NY. In essence, system employs fast-flowing cold water at under 38 degrees to extract subtler range of oils and aromas from ingredients, which debuted in flavors like Sumatra Dark Roast coffee and Scarlet Red and Golden Oolong teas, with more on way. The coffee has unusual cream-like look that comes not from addition of dairy but solely thru novel extraction method. Items are out in 12-oz straightwall PET bottles with minimalist labels at $3.99 as well as pouches with dispensing spigots in 3 sizes: 1.5-liters (5 servings), 3-liters (10 servings) and 9-liters (30 servings). Pouch pricing comes out to about $1.99-2.50 per cup.

Bill Germano, Thomas Kemper Soda vet who'd been running Reliant Recovery Water, has exited co to pursue project in alc-bev space, with 15-year Coca-Cola Enterprises vet Rob Seale stepping in as natl dir of sales & marketing and landing Ralph's chain as customer and inaugurating concerted push to recruit DSD distribution partners. Rob, who's based in LA area, is running co in tandem with Mark Huang, vp in charge of day-to-day activities at Tacoma, Wash, he said in brief conversation at Reliant booth at Fancy Food Show. Recall that Reliant, backed by wealthy Russell family, is pursuing applications for patented nanobubbles technology for range of applications including hydration, via Reliant, and agriculture. Seale, a recent recruit, said he couldn't offer explanation for Bill's decision to leave, and Bill has declined to comment in recent weeks. While Rob is still getting hands around biz, he said one clear initiative will be to crack smaller C&G stores as immediate-consumption channel, which will require recruitment of DSD partners beyond handful co currently musters, mainly indie Pepsi bottlers in Pac NW. That's bit of a challenge because Reliant is refrigerated brand, which helps maintain electrokinetic qualities that are crucial to functionality, per Rob, whose title is natl dir for sales & marketing. Since leaving Coke system, he'd held jobs at 24 Asset Mgmt, foodservice player Performance Food Group and food brokerage Waypoint.

Two Rivers Coffee, NJ-based maker of Keurig-compatible pods that leapt into action in 2012 upon expiration of Keurig's patents, has landed juice brand Welch's among its latest licensing partners, offering 12-count boxes in Cinnamon Apple, Grape Apple, Peach Apple and Strawberry Apple flavors. Also at Fancy Food Show, co displayed newer format it's entered, soluble-powder packets, with hot cocoa offered under brand names like Tootsie Roll and Junior Mints, flavored coffees under brand names like ice cream maker Friendly's and Welch's cider packet that represents first nationally branded rival to Alpine, which has dominated segment for 25 years. The packets had had limited rollout in Walmart chain before being offered more broadly to grocery channel at this week's show. Coming next will be cappuccino K-Cups and powders branded under Bailey's liqueur name, offering rare branded entry in cappuccino space.

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Hoplark's unique NA biz continues to grow in all kinds of directions but its double-dry hopped 0.0 line of "tea brewed like craft beer," which launched in early 2022, has seemingly taken on a life of its own. Positioned as an alternative NA beer with better-for-you stats at zero calories, carbs, sugar, gluten, and added flavors, co's lookin' to ramp up Hoplark 0.0 exclusively thru beer distribs in 2023 and beyond, SVP of biz development Johnny Damiano explained to CBN earlier this year. Sales reached a relatively modest 47K cases in 2022. Still just 36th largest NA "beer" family by $$ in Nielsen off-prem data. But this January was a "record month" and Hoplark 0.0 "has the potential to easily triple this year," said Johnny. Target is for 170% growth. Co's fresh off securing key chain distribution in core regions at Kroger, Sprouts, Albertsons/Safeway and Whole Foods "with more to come."

OH's Rhinegeist is taking a unique approach to its charitable platform by tying it to its new self-described "Easy Hop Ale" dubbed "Beer For Humans," co announced late last week. The beer will be available in "all-new 15-packs," which is "a first-time format for Rhinegeist," plus on draft and in 6pks, launching thruout co's distribution footprint in late Feb. And starting in Mar, Rhinegeist will rename its "Charitable Suds" program for various "charitable community engagement and fundraising efforts" as "Beer For Humans" too. "Integrating this value with a widely-distributed packaged beer will allow Rhinegeist to expand the impact of great humans doing great work in their communities by featuring and telling their stories," per release. Another instance of beer brands tying their names to specific causes like New Belgium Fat Tire and environmental sustainability or Michelob Ultra Pure Gold and organic farming initiatives, tho Beer For Humans is tackling initiatives across the board (on a smaller scale).

While small brewers in some states seek law changes that open new routes to market, others face efforts to make deep cuts into their biz and finances. Advocacy aimed at raising excise taxes or lowering thresholds for drunk-driving charges are not necessarily unusual. They often pop up in a handful of states each year. But the public health voices calling for more restrictive policies are getting louder in early 2023, many emboldened and deeply concerned by upticks in alcohol-related harm during the pandemic.