Dean Foods shares, already under pressure as co’s fundamentals have eroded, took further dip to 6-year low yesterday after Goldman Sachs’ Judy Hong downgraded shares from neutral to sell. Analyst is concerned that weakening milk demand is offsetting benefits of lower milk costs, as consumers gravitate to dairy alternatives made from ingredients like almonds and oats. DF also is suffering from termination of contract by Food Lion. Of course, recall that Dean was strong player in dairy alternatives before spinning off WhiteWave Foods unit, which was subsequently acquired by rival Danone . . . Wakefern Food co-op has set Store Brand Sourcing event for May 17 as way of meeting with suppliers who might be offering “exciting new products,” per Shelby Report. Makers of bevs, produce, deli and other food and personal care categories are being charged $500 fee to participate in event at NJ Convention & Expo Center in Edison, NJ, managed by Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM)

One of 2 Australian cofounders of Balance Water is heading back to Oz as marketer of wildflower-infused spring water tilts its focus to market where brand is enjoying spurt of profitable growth. “We’re knocking the ball out of the park in Australia” while “trundling along” in US, said cofounder Martin Chalk, who will remain based in NY while his partner Peter Maher heads back to Sydney to build biz there and pursue opportunities elsewhere in Asia.

Balance, recall, has undertaken several course corrections over the years as it’s sought to build following for its unsweetened, unflavored bottled waters infused with beneficial outback-harvested wildflowers like bottlebrush and crowea, adopting look with aboriginal dot art before concluding it was too confusing and going with sleeker, more upscale look, and scaling back range of sku’s just to core Balance and a Cleanse extension. Main investor is Emil Capital, which also has interests in Sipp sparkling bevs and Cheribundi cherry drinks. As reported, exec overseeing Balance and Sipp, Steve Pear, recently exited company (BBI, Jan 24), and Chalk and Maher said Emil advisor Jim DePietro has been picking up some of the slack for now. Ever resourceful, Chalk and Maher rely for their graphics work on pair of underemployed Italian architects, Leonardo Lenchig and Ettore Concetti, operating as Graphic Opera, who reside in region that’s so heavily landmarked that architecture is no longer very possible.

Speaking over valedictory beers in NY recently as Maher prepared to head back, partners said brand has chance of overtaking Fiji and Pellegrino brands in less cluttered Australia market, stoking decision to invest 90% of available funds there. Among other initiatives, they’ll launch Vitaminwater-style in-your-face but urbane ads that play up Cleanse’s diuretic benefits by explaining, for instance, that “There’s a difference between taking a piss and taking the piss.” Efforts are being undertaken with marketing exec Katie Dallas, who in career has worked on campaigns for Vitaminwater, Ikea and Sainsbury’s.

Brand by no means is exiting US, staying with NY DSD partner Dora’s Naturals and in key retailers like Whole Foods, but exiting relationship with Acosta brokerage. It will adapt toned-down version of Aussie ads (perhaps, “Take the P train” in NY) but defer its grander ambitions for another 18-24 months, when it hopefully can attack market again with war chest accumulated in Australia.

With cold bevs now accounting for half of in-store sales, Starbucks has found a way to mimic the foam on a hot latte or cappuccino via technique it debuted called Cold Foam, created from aerated skim milk. It comes in 2 forms, Regular and Cascara, milk flavored with cascara syrup made from the naturally sweet coffee cherries . . . The innovation engine that is Coca-Cola’s Japanese operation has launched co’s first frozen drink, Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon, which boasts “sherbet-like texture” and is packed in squeezable pouches. The Independent reported that item has been 8 years in the making and will be sold in both frozen and unfrozen form, with a Fanta-branded entry to follow soon. Coke Japan is same unit that’s intro’ing co’s first alc bev, a shochu (BBI, Mar 8) . . . The approaching wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19 is sparking some line extension activity at bev marketers and retailers, including soda at Trader Joe’s chain. Harney & Son’s has re-released its Royal Wedding Tea, loose blend featuring Chinese Mutan white tea buds with almond, coconut and vanilla – “and an abundance of pink rosebuds and petals,” per Harney. And Trader Joe’s is riffing off the flavors announced for the royal wedding cake by launching a canned Lemon Elderflower Soda, a blend of cold-pressed lemon juice and essence of elderflower, same ingredient combo being harnessed by pastry chef Claire Ptak in accordance with Harry and Meghan’s request. Alongside Lemon Elderflower, Trader Joe’s has also offered another “springy” flavor, Rhubarb & Strawberry. They’re packed in 8.4-oz slim cans.

Available only as a powder shipped to your home in a plastic baggie as recently as last Jul, meal replacement brand Soylent now is entering Walmart chain. LA-based Rosa Foods said its brand will enter 450 of mass merch chain’s stores across US, another big step into retail after a test of bottled format in 7-Eleven stores in SoCal mushroomed into expansion to 2,500 locations. Walmart is picking up 3 flavors: Cacao, Vanilla Latte and Coffiest. As of this month, co said, brand is available in 14 states, including NY, where it’s ensconced at powerful Big Geyser DSD operation. Brand also was #1 grocery product on Amazon in Jan. “We are committed to making our offline experience as robust as our thriving online business and Walmart marks a significant step in bringing our product to new consumers across the country,” said svp sales Melody Conner, a Muscle Milk and Dry Soda sales vet. Soylent, recall, is one of a breed of so-called “frankendrinks” devised for techies and others too busy to eat a regular meal, offering 20% RDA of most vital nutrients per bottle. Co has turned largely to tech-oriented channels for its funding, saying it’s raised over $75 mil from Google Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Lerer Ventures and Y-Combinator.

“Crafty” is the word Coca-Cola is using to describe new look for its half-century-old Fresca brand, and word perhaps can be taken both ways. Co has restaged brand with “artisanal” look that seems to position it as a La Croix-style zero-calorie sparkling refresher – adopting Talking Rain strategy behind Sparkling Ice of getting sweetened, soda-like bev into the water aisle. So we have crafty as in “artisanal” and as in agile positioning. New upscale look “hits the sweet spot somewhere between a soda and a flavored sparkling water,” Coke said, announcing first tweak to 3-flavor line in a decade. “The new artisanal look will also be featured in point-of-sale advertising, and targeted sampling in Millennial hotspots like co-working spaces and college campuses. Fresca, a go-to cocktail mixer for decades, is also exploring partnerships with liquor brands,” KO explained yesterday in describing new strategy. That seems to be right out of playbook of La Croix, which has proved a millennial darling. Elsewhere, KO describes makeover as “crafty new look.”

“Fresca hasn’t said anything to consumers since 2008, and our awareness with younger consumers is very low,” said Ryan Hughes, associate brand manager for Sprite and citrus brands. “We felt it was time for a refresh after about a decade of silence.” Front panel accurately describes line as “sparkling flavored soda.” It contains zero calories thanks to sweetener blend of aspartame and ace-K that seems relegated to fine print of ingredient list. “Estd 1966,” notes can copy, offering vibe of heritage brand. Brand is available in Original Citrus, Peach Citrus and Black Cherry Citrus flavors.

CSD volume rose 1.6% (vs -0.4% for 12 wks) last 4 wks thru Apr 7 in Nielsen all-channel data reported by Morgan Stanley’s Dara Mohsenian. Bev results in this period were “partially aided” by Easter holiday timing, noted Dara. Avg prices slipped to slight decrease of -0.1% in latest period. Coca-Cola CSD gains accelerated to 5.1% (up from +1.9% for 12 wks) on avg price decrease of 0.4% last 4 wks. PepsiCo CSD volume was off 3.7% on modest avg price increase of 0.9% for 4 wks. Dr Pepper Snapple volume improved to 3.6% gain (up from +1.9% for 12 wks) on avg price drop of 0.5% last 4 wks. With assist from avg price drop of 5.9% over last 4 wks, private-label CSDs swung up to 1.2% gain vs 4.6% drop for 12 wks.

Monster Outperforms Energy drink volume increased 4.3% on avg 0.3% price discount last 4 wks in all-channel. That matched category trends over 12 wks. Monster Energy volume was up 11% on modest 0.3% price increase last 4 wks. Red Bull eked out 1.3% gain on flat pricing for 4 wks. Rockstar struggles continued: off 6.6% for 4 wks even with small (-0.3%) avg price drop. PepsiCo energy brands (mainly Amp) still down double-digits: -15.6% even with avg price cut of 3.8% last 4 wks. A steep price hike (+15.3%) sank private-label energy brands by 22.5% for 4 wks.

Sports Slammed as Prices Bump Up It was rough month for sports drinks. Volume dropped 8.1% (vs -2.6% for 12 wks) as avg prices rose to +2.9% last 4 wks. Gatorade (PEP) volume was off 7.7% (down from -2.6% for 12 wks) as avg price went from slight increase to +1% last 4 wks. Powerade (KO) volume dropped 12%, more than double its 12-wk decline rate, as avg prices reached +3.9% last 4 wks. With double-digit price hike (+13%), private-label brand decline reached -41.6% for 4 wks. (It’s possible unseasonably cool and rainy weather in parts of US had impact.)

Water Growth Decelerates Bottled water volume increased 2.9% in all-channel last 4 wks on avg price decrease of 1.5%. That’s down from +5.2% volume growth over 12 wks and +5.6% for 52 wks. Nestle fell from +2.3% to -0.7% last 4 wks on avg price drop of 1.3%. Coca-Cola bottled water volume decline doubled to -1.6% on avg price decrease of 0.3% last 4 wks. PepsiCo slid down from a slight gain to -2.2% volume drop on avg price gain of 1.6% for 4 wks. Private-label growth slowed but still outperformed, with 7.1% gain with avg price decrease of 2.8% last 4 wks.

After 13-month search for new ceo, Celsius Holdings has settled on the guy who’s been sitting in that chair all along: cfo and interim ceo John Fieldly. Fieldly, a 6-year CELH vet who’s still just 38, won permanent nod after overseeing innovation push and global expansion behind fitness bev line that’s yielded strong growth in all key channels: fitness, retail, online and overseas. In 2017 sales soared 60% to $36.2 mil, with concluding qtr seeing 92% bump in N Amer sales. “We credit a good portion of this to John’s vision, continuous innovation, operational expertise and steadfastness in delivering quantifiable results, as well as to the tremendous traction our products are gaining with health-minded consumers,” said chmn William Milmoe. In the 13 months Fieldly has held the ceo spot, CELH shares have risen by nearly 60% and 3 more analysts have begun coverage. John steps into role vacated in early 2017 by prior ceo Gerry David, whose abrupt retirement was never fully explained, tho difficult commute to Boca Raton, Fla, hq and some strategic differences have been mentioned by insiders.

Co had “scanned the globe” in seeking ceo, John told us in brief conversation this morning. Tho John didn’t go there, BBI has heard that co was a day or 2 away from hiring former Talking Rain ceo Kevin Klock for job last fall before sexual harassment suit vs exec surfaced and CELH decided to continue search. (It’s not clear whether that suit is moving forward – BBI, Apr 9.) With the “interim” removed from his title, Fieldly said he’s not planning any significant changes in direction, with co sticking to strategic plan that has solid team putting brand on brisk growth trajectory in N Amer, Europe and now China. So he’ll “stay the course.” John said co will now undertake search for new cfo.

Asked what prime lesson was from his 13 months in hot seat as interim ceo, Fieldly thought for a moment, then replied, “Remaining focused. There are so many distractions on a daily basis” from a co with nearly 50 employees now and production on 3 continents. “You’ve got to prioritize and rely on your team.”

Join us for the 2023 Beer INSIGHTS Spring Conference at the Four Seasons, Chicago, including an evening welcome reception on May 17 and a full day program May 18. Just added: OMAC Beverage Advisers' managing partners John O'Connor and Sean McLaren who will provide an overview of fast-changing deal landscape. So far, the program also includes: Mark Anthony Brands new chief commercial officer David Barnett, IRI Worldwide exec veep Scott Scanlon, Stone Brewing ceo Maria Stipp, Allagash Brewing director of sales Naomi Neville. You'll also hear from Beer Marketer's INSIGHTS prexy Benj Steinman. More speakers to be announced. Join us for a jam-packed day of exclusive insight, candid conversations and plenty of networking opportunities.

After shrouding its ad in secrecy, it was Blue Moon that stole the show in a surprise ending to Molson Coors' Super Bowl spot. In multiple ways, MC drove conversation both before and during the Big Game. And even if it caused some confusion for folks unfamiliar with co's portfolio, MC managed to market 3 beer brands in a span of 30-seconds, packing a punch that the ad trades mostly seemed to admire.