EXPO EAST: Green-Tea Soda Maker Steaz Sets Better-for-You Energy Entry As 1st of planned series of extensions into other bev segments, Healthy Beverage Co is prepping the Feb 07 launch of Steaz Energy, in same Rexam 12-oz

Some Marketers Getting Scorched by Can Price Hikes Sometimes-steep can price increases have sent a flurry of consternation thru the bev marketer ranks

BEV DROPLETS: Fuze Wins Paradise Rd. Pole-Mounting Contest; New AriZona Pom Energy Spotted Paradise Road strip leading north to Las Vegas Convention Center always becomes battleground among energy drink producers vying to gain mindshare of NACS show visitors, with marketers strapping giant-size cardboard can cutouts to every pole and fence they can manage. Fuze seemed to be clear winner this yr, with ubiquitous displays for its canned NOS energy drink, and some for glass-bottle Fuze line, far outnumbering rivals

Jones Soda Launches VitaminWater Challenger on Platform Provided by 24C Acquisition Jones Soda is wasting no time exploiting its acquisition

NACS: Get the Freek Out of Here! Monster Wins Injunction vs Natl Bev Knockoff National Beverage

Coca-Cola Finally Unveils Enviga Cal-Burner; H2Odwalla, Full Throttle Blue Demon, Vault Red Blitz Also on View It

Anheuser-Busch Eyes Icelandic Water as Potential Addition to Non-Alc Portfolio Anheuser-Busch is distributing Icelandic Glacial bottled water at its company-owned distributorships in quiet test that potentially could lead to brand being adopted more broadly thru A-B network as next NA brand after Monster energy drink and its siblings from Hansen Beverage. A-B wholesalers said spring-water brand imported from Iceland was picked up by branch operations in Southern Calif about 2 weeks ago and has since been taken up by all the brewer

DISTRIBUTION: Javo Nails 2 Deals, Broadening 7-Eleven Presence San Diego-based Javo Beverage Co announced 2 deals that will boost availability of its fountain-dispensed specialty iced coffees and lattes. Javo brands, currently available in 500 7-Eleven stores, now will be available at undisclosed # of additional stores in Northeast. Javo flavors sold at 7-Eleven include Mocha Latte, French Vanilla Latte, Colombian Iced Coffee, Hazelnut Iced Coffee and Colombian Decaf Iced Coffee. Javo also said it signed deal with food service distributor Shamrock Foods to expand into Southwest states including Ariz, NM, Tex, Colo, Wyo, Neb and Kan.