Singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding has acquired a significant stake in the premium British hard seltzer brand SERVED.

Ellie was introduced to Ryan and Dean Ginsberg, the co-founders of SERVED through mutual friends and says she “immediately fell in love with the brand – not only because it’s the best hard seltzer I’ve tasted by quite some margin, but also because this is a brand driven by care and respect for the natural world at this crucial point.”

“I’ve always enjoyed a social drink with friends, but I also lead a busy lifestyle and I am passionate about my health, fitness, and the environment. Served is a brand that allows me to have it all – a delicious and refreshing alcoholic drink without all the calories, sugar and bad stuff.”

Ellie, a global goodwill ambassador for the UN Environment Programme since 2017 adds, “We are going to take on some of the biggest brands on the planet, but do it our way. We refuse to compromise on quality nor the health of the natural world. We use ‘wonky fruit’ as an intervention on food waste, the most innovative ecological packaging materials we can think of and we will support habitats, people and animals on the frontline of the nature crisis. We will continue to be 100 % transparent. Oh, and we’ll do all this while having fun and building an awesome brand with awesome people.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Ellie as a co-owner of SERVED and excited to build a global brand alongside her. Ellie embodies everything that we stand for at SERVED, and she will be an integral part of the brand as we continue to grow” says Dean Ginsberg.

SERVED is already available in the UK with high-profile listings including Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Planet Organic and WHSmith – and will continue to expand its retail footprint alongside significant growth in key international markets including Ireland, France and Spain. Regarding their expansion, Ginsberg continued “we are excited to be working with such great partners who share our enthusiasm and vision for the brand, and we look forward to introducing SERVED to more people up and down the country and across Europe this summer.”

SERVED is crafted in Herefordshire, where Ellie grew up, by infusing sparkling spring water with wonky fruit and pairing this with their own ServedPureTM spirit. The result is a refreshing 4 % ABV plant-based, gluten-free hard seltzer with a crisp, fresh flavour, and a touch of natural sweetness. Designed for the modern health-conscious consumer, SERVED only contains 57 calories and zero sugar.

Committed to reducing food waste and environmental impact as much as possible, SERVED Hard Seltzers are packaged in fully recyclable cans, use wonky fruit that would have otherwise gone to waste, and contain no artificial additives or sweeteners. Committed to inspiring the industry as a whole todo better, 5 % of profits from each can sold are invested towards environmental projects and saving critically endangered species around the world.

Electrolit – the preferred, premium hydration beverage made from pharmaceutical quality grade ingredients – announced the launch of the Zero line in response to growing consumer demand for lower calorie, lower sugar functional beverages. Electrolit Zero will fill store shelves across the U.S. this month in three flavours: Berry Blast, Lemon Breeze and Fruit Punch Splash.

“Over the past year, consumers have increasingly looked at their health as a long-term investment, and they are calling for lower sugar, lower calorie options to achieve their hydration goals,” said Caridad Ochoa, Commercial Director with Electrolit. “We all know that hydration is critical to function at our best, and with our Zero line, we can reach a new set of health-minded consumers seeking premium hydration.”

Electrolit Zero will be available in three new flavours: Berry Blast, Lemon Breeze and Fruit Punch Splash. Manufactured with a slightly modified formula, Electrolit Zero will maintain the integrity and scientifically backed ingredients of the current line, with ingredients like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium glucose, and sodium lactate for fast, effective hydration.

Consumers will recognize Electrolit’s iconic square bottle and logo on the Zero bottles, with an added Zero label.

Electrolit continues to grow their national footprint and will extend their Zero line to select current retailers, including 7-11, HEB, AMPM, among others. Electrolit can also be purchased at Walmart, Kroger, and more, and through online channels.

About Electrolit
Electrolit manufactures a scientifically formulated premium hydration beverage that replenishes the body after physical activity, intense heat, hangovers, or sickness. Formulated with magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium glucose, and sodium lactate plus six ions for electrolyte absorption, Electrolit aids in recovery of the hydro electrolytic imbalance, fulfilling metabolic and hydration needs. Available in nine delicious flavors, Electrolit is currently offered in national, grocery, convenience and online channels across the U.S., including Walmart, Kroger, HEB, 7-11 and more. Electrolit is manufactured and owned by Pisa Pharmaceuticals, the largest pharmaceutical company in Mexico and Latin America.

A Perfect Match Between Two Brands Shaking Up the Sparkling Water Category

SodaStream, the world’s leading sparkling water brand¹, announces the upcoming launch of bubly drops, marking the first partnership for SodaStream in North America since joining PepsiCo. The new collaboration brings the beloved bubly^™ brand’s bright flavours and bold personality to the SodaStream platform, enabling consumers to create their ideal customized beverages at home.

bubly drops will officially be available starting January 2021, but consumers can get their hands on an early release of the product beginning November 1st as part of a limited edition SodaStream Sparkling Water Maker Kit available at SodaStream.com and select online retailers. bubly drops for SodaStream contain no calories or sweeteners and will launch in six refreshing flavours bubly fans know and love: grapefruitbubly^™, blackberrybubly^™, limebubly^™, strawberrybubly^™, mangobubly^™, and cherrybubly^™.

“bubly drops are the perfect extension to our flavour offerings, tapping into one of the most rapidly growing segments of the sparkling beverage market: unsweetened flavoured sparkling water,” said Eyal Shohat, CEO of SodaStream. “The launch of bubly drops for SodaStream marks an exciting partnership between our two brands and reinforces our commitment to bringing consumers their preferred beverage choices that are better for them and better for the planet.”

“We’ve developed an incredible fan base, and by continuing to lean into the bubly brand’s playful personality, have quickly become one of the largest sparkling water brands in the category,” said Stacy Taffet, Vice President Water Portfolio for PepsiCo. “We are thrilled to join forces with SodaStream and bring our delicious flavour offerings to their incredible at home platform. In doing so, bubly will be the first sparkling water brand to ever be available in these two formats.”

bubly drops for SodaStream were developed through a collaborative effort between the PepsiCo and SodaStream research and development teams to ensure the amazing, high-quality taste consumers expect from bubly.

SodaStream and bubly share brand values rooted in playfulness and social good. With the launch of bubly drops for SodaStream, the two brands will offer consumers a fun, healthy and sustainable sparkling water option.

About bubly

bubly is shaking up the sparkling water category with refreshing and delicious flavours, an upbeat and playful sense of humor, all while keeping it real with no artificial flavours, no sweeteners, and no calories. Each flavor of bubly sparkling water features bright, bold packaging, unique smiles for every flavour, and comes with its own witty greeting on the tab and personal messages on the can for maximum enjoyment and smiles. bubly sparkling water is available in fourteen bright flavours: cherrybubly, orangebubly, mangobubly, pineapplebubly, limebubly, applebubly,  watermelonbubly, blackberrybubly, grapefruitbubly, strawberrybubly, raspberrybubly, peachbubly, cranberrybubly and lemonbubly. no calories. no sweeteners. all smiles.^™

¹Total global volumes taken from GlobalData’s Global Packaged Water Report 2018, compared with SodaStream company information.

Fever-Tree launched Soda Collection, a brand-new range of delicious flavoured sodas, expertly crafted from the finest naturally sourced ingredients.

Each soda is low in calories and uses no artificial colours, sweeteners or preservatives, making them perfect for creating delicious yet simple spritz drinks.

Raspberry & Rose

Raspberry and Rose Soda is made with delicately perfumed Damask rose petals combined with the juicy sweetness of late-harvest raspberries to create a unique and delicious soda that’s perfect for mixing with pink gin or premium vodka for a refreshing summer spritz.

White Grape & Apricot

Wonderfully tart white grapes and sweet apricots from Italy are balanced with the subtle floral notes of French verbena oil to create White Grape & Apricot Soda.

Italian Blood Orange

Juicy blood oranges from Sicily meet an iconic herbal blend to create Italian Blood Orange Soda. This complex and sophisticated mixer pairs perfectly with Italian liqueurs, bitters and premium vodka.

Mexican Lime

Mexican Lime Soda is made with Tahiti lime from Mexico’s fertile groves in addition to pressed oil extract from the wonderfully floral Japanese yuzu to create a low-calorie soda that’s perfect for mixing with premium vodka or tequila for a mouth-wateringly zesty summer spritz.

The range is available throughout the UK across pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels from March 2020 before launching in retail in the run-up to Easter 2020.

ZoCal popsicles, sorbet and ice cream will change what it means to eat healthy

ZoCal, the California-based frozen desserts company that has created the world’s first zero and ultra-low calories desserts, announced the release of its premier line of frozen treats, including the first-ever zero calorie Popsicle and Sorbet bars.

ZoCal is a treat like no other in its commitment to use real, high quality ingredients such as whole milk, real fruit, and the rare sugar allulose. The result is desserts with:

• NO/Ultra-Low calories
• NO Sugar or sugar alcohols
• NO fat
• NO cholesterol
• Good source of Vitamin C and E
• ZoCal Sorbet

Each five-pack of ZoCal sorbet bars comes individually wrapped in a reusable glass jar. These bars are unbelievably smooth and also boast zero calories. Like all ZoCal products the sorbet bars have no Sugar or sugar alcohols. They are made with real fruit and only have 1g net carb per serving. MSRP: $5.99 for a jar of 5 bars.

Available flavors are:

• Strawberry Lemonade
• Blueberry Acai
• Orange Creamsicle
• Passion Fruit
• Zocal Ice Cream

ZoCal Ice Cream is made with real whole milk, natural ingredients, no Sugar or sugar alcohols. The result is real ice cream that ranges from 60-80 calories for the entire pint. MSRP: $6.49 per pint.

Available flavors are:

• Cotton Candy
• Key-Lime Pit
• Burnt Caramel
• Cookies and Cream
• Banana Cream
• Mint Chip
• Strawberry
• Vanilla Bean
• ZoCal Popsicles

ZoCal Popsicles come in six all-natural flavors. With zero net calories, the act of eating them actually burns calories. MSRP: $6.49 for a box of 5.

Available flavors are:

• Cherry Hibiscus
• Lemonade
• Fruit Punch
• Orange
• Strawberry Guava Lemonade
• Passion Fruit

About ZoCal™
ZoCal™ is the first to the market line of zero-calorie and extremely low calorie desserts. ZoCal™ was founded by award-winning food scientist, Dr. Jareer Abu-Ali. After spending over twenty years working with some of the world’s largest food companies, he launched ZoCal as a company that would take the negative health implications out of desserts while retaining all its delicious indulgences.

Sugar reduction remains a central topic in the media and among consumers and opportunities for reducing sugar intake are taking a number of directions as companies address evolving concerns and demands.

Strategies for reducing sugar intake feature a combination of sugar reduction, sugar substitution and moving beyond sweetness to alternative tastes. These methods are often supported by a combination of functional formulations and blends, next generation sweeteners and other technological developments.

In an Innova Market Insights survey, sugar reduction is a popular option for the three in five US consumers in an Innova Market Insights survey who would rather cut back on sugar than consume artificial sweeteners. Sugar-related claims continue to grow and increasingly take on more prominent on-pack positionings.

In the US, for example, 8 % of all new food and beverage launches tracked by Innova Market Insights in 2018 featured a sugar reduction claim. Claims of no added sugar were most prominent, accounting for 42 % of all sugar-related claims, ahead of sugar-free (36 %) and low sugar (27 %). Although the low sugar claim is smallest in terms of its share of launches, it is also the fastest growing with an NPD CAGR of 17 % over the 2014 to 2018 period.

Sugar reduction can be achieved in a number of ways, including removing or reducing the amount of added sugar, replacing part of the sugar formulation with non-nutritive sweeteners and/or using innovative processing technologies, such as “aeration” to increase perceived sweetness, slow straining milk to remove sugar prior to yogurt making, or using enzymes to convert simple sugars to fibers in juices.

Interest in sugar substitution has also driven the rising use of sweeteners, particularly non-nutritive ones derived from nature, such as stevia, monk fruit and thaumatin. Allulose, which also occurs naturally in small quantities in a variety of sweet foods such as figs, can also be manufactured synthetically.

The April 2019 announcement by the FDA that allulose did not have to be included in total and added sugar counts in US nutritional labeling has also cleared the way for much higher levels of use and a potential move mainstream. Levels of patent activity indicate current interest in the use of allulose, rising 42 % in 2018 over 2017, while global NPD in food and beverages featuring the ingredient had an average annual growth of 45 % over the 2014 to 2018 period, although from a low base.

Companies are also looking at alternative ingredients such as coffee cherries as a potential stealth reducer of sugar in foods containing chocolate. Upcycled coffee cherries can be used to reduce the amount of sugar in finished products by emulating flavor in highlighting the cocoa notes, so that less cocoa powder is needed.

Another approach to sugar reduction is to use alternative flavor notes, such as bitter, sour or spicy, exploiting interest in novel and unconventional flavors to reduce the demand for sweetness overall. Interest in botanicals and their health benefits is also rising and may likewise encourage consumers to move away from more sugar laden foods; the use of botanical flavors for food and drinks NPD is expanding and can be seen across a whole range of different categories.

JuiceInnov8, a Bangkok based deeptech startup in food biotechnology space, has closed a pre-Series A funding led by 500 Startups (500 Durians and 500 Tuktuks), making the total amount raised (including Seed Round and grants) at USD 1.2 M to date.

As the first venture-backed food-biotech startup in Asia, the company is now on the verge to reinvent global beverage industry with a better & healthier juice that has less sugar & lower calories. By working with leading food & beverage manufacturers worldwide, JuiceInnov8 develops sugar reduction technology platform with natural & non-GM (non-genetically modified) microbes and proprietary sugar conversion process through biotechnology. The technology allows sugar & calories reduction in juice to near zero while preserving its original 100 % juice content and key nutrients.

Proceed from this round will help JuiceInnov8 expand its core scientist & engineering team and help accelerate the development from pilot to commercial scale. The company is now working closely with leading brands & suppliers in the food & beverage supply chain in multiple regions around the globe.

Many people love real sugar just as it is – with the calories it contains naturally. In light of the ongoing nutritional debate, others would prefer it without calories. That already exists: The start-up “Savanna Ingredients” from Elsdorf near Cologne (Germany) is producing initial quantities of real sugar without calories named allulose. Managing Director Dr. Timo Koch: “Natural sugar without calories occurs in nature – but only in very small quantities to date. We have gained access to this way of nature and developed a method for producing real sugar without calories from sugar beets on a large scale – in other words, the ability to produce it for many people.”

Savanna Ingredients will soon apply for its approval as a foodstuff in Europe. Production capacities for the functional carbohydrates are currently being expanded at the site in Elsdorf. Its taste and functional characteristics make allulose suitable for many different applications like beverage, bakery, etc.

Savanna Ingredients GmbH is a start-up that was founded from the Innovation Centre of the sugar producer Pfeifer & Langen. Savanna develops so-called functional carbohydrates, i.e.: new types of sugar with specific characteristics. Another Savanna product is cellobiose. It can be used to replace lactose by people who are lactose intolerant. At the same time, cellobiose – also a natural sugar – has half the calories of sugar.

The Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture is funding the Savanna Ingredients research project in the framework of the national reduction strategy for fat, salt and sugar. As well as Savanna and the associated company Pfeifer & Langen GmbH & Co. KG, other companies and universities (RWTH Aachen, Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe) are involved.