The latest food and beverage industry news and trend analysis

British luxury cocoa grower and chocolatier Hotel Chocolat has announced a provocative addition to its beverage portfolio, unveiling a limited-edition drinking chocolate titled Fire & Ice.

The new variant combines the brand’s signature sugar-free cola with a blend of pineapple, mango, and peach, targeting the growing consumer demand for exotic fruit profiles within the UK carbonates category.

Revived heritage brand Slice Soda, now operating under the Suja Life umbrella, has announced a strategic expansion of its functional beverage line with the launch of two new flavours: Pacific Pop and Apple.

The dispute emerges nearly a year after Vue ended a 25-year partnership with Coca-Cola, opting instead for a new exclusive supply deal with rival PepsiCo that began in March 2025.

Spindrift Beverage Co., Inc. has announced a significant regulatory milestone, becoming the first and only beverage brand to verify its entire portfolio under the Non-Ultraprocessed Food (Non-UPF) Verified Standard.

The new SKU introduces a peach-forward profile to the functional beverage range, designed to capture the "mid-afternoon pick-me-up" occasion.

Soft drinks group Nichols is intensifying its expansion strategy within the functional beverage sector, announcing the launch of Vimto Energy Tropical Cooler.

The collaboration centres on the launch of a new limited-edition flavour, Monster Ultra Red, White and Blue Razz, which has debuted early at Casey’s and CEFCO locations ahead of a wider national rollout.