La Croix marketer National Beverage reported flat revenues for its 2d qtr, with sales edging up 1% to $222.8 mil. The brands it groups as "Power+" - including La Croix and its Curate and NiCola extensions, Shasta sparkling waters, Rip It energy drinks and Everfresh juices - managed 1.4% volume growth . . . Rogo Distributors moved closer to shutting down its NA bev arm, filing letter with Conn labor dept that it would be putting 24 full- and part-time employees on paid leave over next 60 days before letting them go for good on Apr 30, Journal Inquirer reported. As reported, the East Hartford, Conn, unit of Allan S Goodman has been consolidating its activities around its alcoholic brands, with Mass-based Polar Beverage picking up some of orphaned NAs for abandoned territory (BBI, Jan 29). The cutbacks include sales mgr, 3 sales staffers and 20 packers.

LA-based Califia Farms has entered the burgeoning keto creamer segment, with entry made from almondmilk and coconut cream that contains 500 mg of beneficial MCT oils per serving. It will debut this month in half-liter cartons with a twist cap on DTC channels like Thrive Market and Amazon in Unsweetened and Unsweetened Vanilla flavors at SRP of $4.99. Whole Foods will pick it up in May and other retailers are expected to come aboard in Jun. The MCTs are derived from coconut cream. Unlike some entries in segment, it contains no sugar alcohols like erythritol, tho it does contain gums and stabilizers. This launch had been slated to debut at now-postponed Expo West, coming on heels of oatmilk creamer that debuted at Fancy Food Show in Jan and broke nationally last month on non-exclusive basis in Whole Foods chain, with Wakefern/Shop Rite, Raley's and HyVee also slated to come aboard.

Spotting void in market for food/bevcos trying to scrape together that modest seed or Series A round, Critical Mass Group's Dan Morad has teamed with SAC Capital vet Dan Rudin to launch $20 mil fund called Terpsi Capital that's looking to write checks mainly in $750K to $1.25 mil range. New fund based in Hermosa Beach, Calif, aims to draw upon insights gleaned from CMG activities in vetting new brands and helping to accelerate those chosen for CMG, with tilt toward Calif cos in its backyard. Tho Dan said he's unable to comment until more of funding is in the bank, Terpsi's name first came up publicly a few weeks ago in connection with $10 mil round landed by prebiotic play Olipop, which moves thru CMG (BBI, Jan 29). Terpsi was cited then as one of 2 new investors in mix, along with Doehler Ventures. So for this story we're going by what's publicly out there and glimpse we got of deck circulated by fund. Morad promised to flesh out vision as soon he's free to do so.

Boston angel network Branch Ventures Group said it's made investment in coconut plant-water-based Loco Coffee. This is its 9th investment, which typically run in $50-100K range, with portfolio that now includes hard seltzer marketer Willie's Superbrew, Cambridge Crops, Ocean Approved and Waku Healthy Tradition, a maker of plant-based tonics. Branch Ventures has focus on food/bev, foodtech and agtech segments, including those in prototype or beta stage, with primary focus on "investing in entrepreneurs raising under $1 million with the capacity to syndicate larger opportunities through other networks and venture firms," per website at BranchVentureGroup.com. Loco Coffee, which we profiled a year and a half ago (BBI, Nov 21 2018), melds cold-brewed coffee with coconut water or maple water. It participated in Branch Ventures' Branchfood holiday bash in Dec in downtown Boston that also drew likes of Keel Vodka, Gotham Greens, Waku and cannabis ice cream maker Cloud Creamery.

The latest financial retreat in once-frothy cannabis sector came from Canopy Growth, which will exit cultivation side of biz by closing 2 greenhouses at cost of 500 jobs and scrapping plans for a 3d. The greenhouses in Aldergrove and Delta, both in British Columbia, accounted for 3 mil sq ft of cultivation space but were left stranded not only by slower-than-anticipated growth of adult-use market but by new regs easing path to outdoor cultivation. As part of cutback, Canopy won't proceed with 3d greenhouse planned for Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Co expects that and other moves to result in $700-800 mil (Canadian dollars) in pretax charges for current qtr ending Mar 31.

Direct-trade pioneer Rishi Tea & Botanicals, which since 1997 has amassed respected presence in loose teas and sachets, has entered RTD segment with canned sparklers that dial up culinary complexity of segment dominated so far by simple, straight-ahead recipes. Produced at a new brewery established in British Columbia, Rishi Sparkling Botanicals blend botanicals and high-end teas without added sugar, sweeteners or acidic preservatives, in subtly colored 12-oz cans sporting 1-year shelf life and priced at $3.99. Positioned as offering "real plants with real virtue," the new Rishi line offers flavors like Black Lemon, melding heirloom black tea with California-grown Meyer lemons and caramelized lima limone citrus fruit from Guatemala, or Dandelion Ginger, a twist on ginger beer that uses roasted dandelion root, an unusually pungent variety of ginger, red chili for further bite and high-mountain-grown Japanese green tea fermented with black koji (a beneficial mold). Also in mix is a quartet of caffeine-free entries: Grapefruit Quince, Patagonia Maqui, Schisandra Berry and Turmeric Saffron. Founder/prexy Joshua Kaiser termed new line a natural extension of co that over past coupla decades has carved out identity as "selector, importer and taste maker." Line is claimed to "honor ancient herbal wisdom and modern culinary technique." The new line just broke at organic co-ops in Southern Calif, including Erewhon, but co claims to have already enlisted distribution partners in LA, Seattle, Portland, SF, NY, Chicago, Austin, Denver and Milwaukee.

San Diego-based Suja has collaborated with Whole Foods to dial up the nutritional content of its cold-pressed juices with 7-flavor line called Elevated Nutrients launching this month exclusively at natural foods leader. Described with language like "chef-created" (that would be Culinary Institute of America-certified chief innovation officer Bryan Riblet) and "curated," new line attempts to offer consumers more clear nutritional value to offset the sugar intake they're increasingly leery of. Included in the new line are pair of green-tea-based Energized Focus entries, in Prickly Pear and Raspberry Lemon flavors, and a pair of Immunity entries, in Carrot Mango and Strawberry Guava flavors. Two detox entries are available in Citrus Bitters and Matcha Mint flavors, and there is a Hydrating Beauty entry in Blueberry Lychee to round out initial portfolio. On virtual booth sampling video posted on Instagram, sr brand mgr Bella Tumini explains that new line attempts to offer similar nutritional heft of Suja's shot line to consumers not seeking that degree of intensity. As example of recipes employed in line, Citrus Bitters includes vitamin C from acerola cherry, vitamin E from annatto, with 6 g of sugar per 12-oz bottle. Elevated Nutrients will carry slightly elevated price over core line, at $4.99. The launch sports new look being adopted across entire Suja line, including core juices, kombuchas and shots, that retains brightly colored palette of past but with more simple, straightforward focus on key ingredients, in synch with what consumers indicated in research that they want to know most.

Coconut water leader Vita Coco has undertaken thorough restage of its acquired Runa guayusa-fueled energy brand, consolidating entire line around 10-calorie entries and offering new graphic treatment that aims for greater shelf presence and dials up natural cues. Meanwhile, NY-based parent All Market has added 2 new flavors to growth-restoring Vita Coco Pressed subline as it promotes coconut-intensive flavor extension to its own brand. And it's carefully expanding reach of its Ever & Ever aluminum-bottle water brand. Vita Coco cmo Jane Prior outlined efforts during BBI visit to co's open-plan office in city's Flatiron District in lieu of booth visit at Expo West, where its hemp-infused coconut water was to make formal debut after appearing in mockup form on fringes of booth a year ago. Key development there is it's been picked up by Honickman's Canada Dry unit in Philadelphia, with up-&-down-street retailers the focus for now, as brand takes wait-&-see stance with inaugural DSD partner Big Geyser in NY in light of continued regulatory uncertainty there, Jane told us. Here's roundup: