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The Weekly Sip is Food Dive’s column focused on breaking news in the fast-changing and growing beverage sector. From first product lines to big investments and controversial topics, this column aims to quench your thirst for developments in the category.
BodyArmor Launches 'Dude Perfect' Drink
Coca-Cola collaborates with BodyArmor. YouTube group Dude Perfect is releasing a new drink.
Earlier this year, BodyArmor became Dude Perfect’s “Official Sports Drink,” but now the two sides are teaming up to create new flavors and bottles. This is the first time in BodyArmor’s history that the brand has co-created a product with one of its partners.
The new limited edition product, called Perfect Pop, is described as a nostalgic and refreshing flavor inspired by the classic cherry and berry ice pops popular with kids. It features real ingredients and flavors found in other BodyArmor drinks.
BodyArmor says the five members of Dude Perfect helped them taste test, create the label, and develop a marketing strategy. Perfect Pop will be available in stores and online at select retailers through the end of August.
“It was a natural fit to collaborate with them on the new BODYARMOR Perfect Pop,” Tom Gargiulo, chief marketing officer for BodyArmor Sports Nutrition, told Food Dive in an email. “We’re excited to reach new fans and consumers and help them stay hydrated for a limited time.”
Dude Perfect first became famous for his basketball trick shots, but over time he grew into an online entertainment powerhouse with over 60 million YouTube subscribers. In April, he received over $100 million in investment from a private equity firm. According to CNBCIt plans to open retail stores and a streaming platform, and possibly even a theme park.
The partnership with BodyArmor and now the drink with Dude Perfect creates a huge customer base for the hydration brand, especially among younger consumers. The sports drink brand has been aggressively launching new products in the past year to attract new consumers. rapid rehydration and zero sugar.
—Christopher Dohring
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Provided by Generous Brands
Evolution Fresh aims to evolve into a healthier soda brand.
Evolution Fresh enters the carbonated soft drink market with a healthier alternative.
The new products from the cold-pressed juice maker have the bold, sweet flavors consumers associate with soda, but with healthier ingredients. Available in Orange Squeeze, Strawberry Vanilla, Lemon Lime, Tropical Mango, and Berry Burst flavors, each soda is made with organic, real-squeezed fruit.
Evolution Fresh Real Fruit Soda has 5g of sugar and less than 45 calories per can. It claims to support digestive and immune health by including probiotics, prebiotic fiber, and antioxidant vitamin C. It is also USDA organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher.
“What sets Evolution Fresh Real Fruit Soda apart from other functional soda brands is that we use organic, real-squeezed fruit—and you can see, smell and taste the difference,” said Phil Kuy, chief revenue officer for Evolution Fresh’s parent company, Generous Brands. “We look forward to bringing additional innovation to the market as we continue to lead the way in meeting evolving consumer demands and driving growth in the premium refrigerated beverage category.”
Evolution Fresh Real Fruit Soda is available in 12-ounce cans nationwide and is sold in produce sections because it needs to be refrigerated to maintain its flavor and original taste.
U.S. soft drink sales this year are expected to reach $110 billion. According to StatistaThis gives Evolution and similar brands the opportunity to attract consumers who love soft drinks but want to improve what they eat and drink.
that much The healthy soda category has been driven by upstarts like Olipop and Poppi in recent years, which have thrived on the benefits of being low in calories and sugar, and adding functional ingredients like prebiotics and fiber that consumers are in demand for.
—Christopher Dohring
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Courtesy of Fieldwork Brewing Co.
Outdoor activities create a storm of cool curiosity.
As more and more consumers say they want to drink less, breweries are expanding their product portfolios to meet demand for beers that are completely free of distillate.
Fieldwork Brewing has launched five non-alcoholic beverages to capture the variety of situations in which consumers might want a dry alternative beverage.
Headliner NA IPA has a “balanced bitterness” and notes of white grapefruit, passion fruit, and pine needles. Day Money NA Grapefruit Blonde, according to the brewer, has a malt profile and light hops. Hop Water, a more hoppy alternative, also has tropical citrus notes. Supertonics, an adaptogen-infused sparkling beverage, comes in three flavors: Cucumber, Melon + Juniper, and Passion Fruit + Orange Bitter. Encore NA Hazy IPA, which has yet to be released, features citrus and strata hops.
Headquartered in Berkeley, California, Fieldwork debuted in 2015 with a range of beers, from hazy IPAs to citrus-flavored offerings.
Barry Braden, the brand’s co-founder and CEO, said in a press release that non-alcoholic offerings served in the brand’s taprooms grew 140% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period a year ago, which prompted the company to create a new line of beverages.
“These statistics tell us that these new offerings will resonate with our existing customers and appeal to sophisticated consumers looking for more options,” Braden said.
With breweries becoming much more competitive than they were in the early 2010s, companies are pivoting their innovation pipelines to capture the momentum of big brands like Athletic Brewing, which has helped fuel interest in non-alcoholic IPAs.
—Chris Casey
