With news that Muscle Milk has at last hit shelves in the United Kingdom, one wonders what those Brits have been drinking after workouts all this time. A pint of Boddingtons? A cup of Earl Whey?
Muscle Milk, available in a 330 mL bottle in Strawberry, Chocolate and Vanilla flavors, contains 20 grams of dairy protein and can be found in select Boots stores and Sainsbury’s Locals nationwide.
“Since we offer the product at such important local retail partners, we’re excited to provide our U.K. consumers with Muscle Milk Protein Ready-to-Drink as a way to support workout and training routines or active lifestyles,” Steve Norris, the U.K. general manager for CytoSport, the company that markets Muscle Milk, said in a release.
As one brand begins U.K. distribution, another continues to expand away from its British base. Little Miracles, based in London and giving the U.S. market a go, announced Friday that it has established a partnership with LA Distributing Company. The deal will bring the company’s full line or organic energy blends, including new flavor Lemongrass Tea & Ginger, throughout the greater Los Angeles region.
“We love the brand and the taste of Little Miracles, and are delighted to collaborate and introduce their four beautiful tea blends to the American marketplace,” Richard Medina, co-founder of LA Distributing, said in a release. “It’s exciting to be aligned and we’re committed to making it readily available to customers throughout L.A. who are thirsting for something new.”
After picking up a bottle of Little Miracles in Los Angeles, head north on the Pacific Coast Highway for a while and catch an A’s game at the Oakland Coliseum. If you finished your Little Miracles on the ride and need something to complement the bag of peanuts, fear not: you can pick up a can of Zevia at the ballpark.
On March 28, Zevia announced that six flavors from its line of zero-calorie soda will be sold at A’s concession stands throughout the 2014 season. The partnership will also include branded coolers, sampling for fans, in-game advertising, promotions and “special events.” If nothing else, the partnership combines two forward-thinking entities.
Don't you tell Eck how to pitch or what soda to drink.
Take a look at the history of the baseball franchise, even going back to its days in Philadelphia, and you’ll find a long line of trailblazers. There was the class of Connie Mack. The selfish brilliance of Reggie Jackson and Ricky Henderson. The free agency of Catfish Hunter. The mustache of Rollie Fingers. The windup of Dennis Eckersley. The numbers of Billy Beane.
When Paddy Spence, the CEO of Zevia, considers the history of the A’s, he sees a strong comparison in his own brand.
“This is every bit the Zevia story, as we’ve built the leading zero-calorie, naturally-sweetened soda brand, while our larger competitors stay in the bullpen,” Spence said in a release. “American families have made clear they want alternatives to artificial sweeteners.”
Other distribution news, ordered chronologically:
ASPIRE Beverages announced Friday that its products are now available nationwide at LifeCafes, which reside in 88 Life Time Fitness locations.
The Pulse Beverage Corporation, which markets Natural Cabana Lemonade and Coconut Waters, announced Thursday that the coconut waters will be available at 132 Fred Meyer stores across the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.
True Drinks, which markets AquaBall, has been one of the more active beverage companies in the industry when it comes to distribution. Regularly featured in the roundup, the company announced Thursday that ShopRite will stock AquaBall. Of ShopRite’s 250 grocery stores located in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, 50 operate under the PriceRite banner.
On Wednesday, KonaRed announced that through its partnership with Splash Beverage Group and its Nevada distributor, Southern Wine & Spirits, its beverages will be sold at 20 Speedee Mart locations throughout the state. The partnership marks the first direct-store delivery facilitated by Southern Wine & Spirits since the distributor began working with KonaRed five weeks ago, according to a company release.
POPwater announced Monday that it has expanded its distribution on the West Coast through a number of distributors. John Lenore & Co. will carry the beverage in San Diego. Geyser Beverage Company will do the same in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Energy Source Distribution Inc. will hold down the San Jose area. Superior Products Company will distribute POPwater in the Redding and Chico areas and Mussetter Distributing will handle greater Sacramento.
Alkalife TEN spring water announced Monday that its high-pH water will be available in 28 Whole Foods locations in the Southeast, including Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, the Carolinas and Tennessee.
Life Foods, in partnership with beverage strategist Power Brands, has begun selling its line of Kolé brain function beverages on Amazon. Kolé is available in three varieties: ALIVE, to increase mental focus and alertness, HAPPY, to enhance a positive mood, and DREAMS, to induce and maintain restful sleep and alleviate jet lag, according to the company.