Industry Issues
Flow completes separation of manufacturing operations
Flow announced the completion of a strategic transaction separating its brand and manufacturing operations. Cizzle Brands Corporation (CZZL), makers of Cwench Hydration, have acquired Flow’s manufacturing business, while Flow’s brand assets have been spun out into a new Flow entity (Flow Canada LLC) under the sole ownership of Rucker Investments.
Under the new structure, Flow will operate as a focused consumer brand organization, supported by a diversified manufacturing network.
“Separating the brand from day-to-day plant operations gives both businesses a clearer focus,” said Cliff Rucker, founder of Rucker Investments, in a statement. “Retaining a minority stake in the manufacturing operations keeps us meaningfully engaged while giving the Flow brand the independence, agility and resources needed to scale.
Backed by Rucker Investments and operating with a leaner structure, Flow will prioritize brand expansion across North America, stronger customer relationships and scalable production through multiple partners.
“This transaction represents a positive and deliberate step forward for Flow,” said Paul Dowdall, president of Flow. “By separating our manufacturing operations from our brand business, we are creating clarity, agility and a stronger foundation for long-term success.”
Flow Canada LLC will continue to oversee all brand, sales, marketing, sustainability, and customer relationships without interruption. The company remains committed to its mission of offering premium mineral spring water sourced from Canadian springs, with a continued focus on responsible packaging, product innovation, and customer experience.
Flow will continue to work closely with Cizzle Brands Corp. and add additional partners as needed. No jobs were eliminated as part of the transition.
Anheuser-Busch investing $30M in Jacksonville facilities
Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, announced a $30 million investment in its Jacksonville, Fla.-based brewery and can plant. The investment will go toward upgrading brewing and packaging equipment to fuel increased production of Michelob ULTRA.
This latest $30 million investment in its Jacksonville facilities is part of Anheuser-Busch’s ongoing Brewing Futures initiative, through which the company invested more than $300 million in its U.S. facilities in the past year to create and sustain U.S. manufacturing jobs. Building on more than 165 years of continuous investment in its people, breweries and communities, Anheuser-Busch’s Brewing Futures initiative supports American manufacturing through three key pillars:
- Creating and sustaining manufacturing jobs
- Advancing technical skills training
- Strengthening manufacturing career opportunities for veterans
Brendan Whitworth, CEO, Anheuser-Busch stated: “Investing in our Jacksonville facilities enables us to brew more of the highest-quality American beers that consumers love, including Michelob ULTRA, the No. 1 top-selling and fastest-growing beer in America. Investments like these are incredibly important because they help us to enhance our operations while also sustaining jobs and driving local economic growth in the communities where we operate.”
This investment will expand the Jacksonville Brewery’s capacity to produce fast-growing beers like Michelob ULTRA, including upgrades to bottling lines and brewing tanks. According to Chicago-based Circana, Michelob ULTRA is the No. 1 top-selling beer nationwide and the state of Florida. Nielsen also confirms the brand is No. 1 in bars and restaurants across the state.
Anheuser-Busch opened its Jacksonville Brewery in 1969 and its Metal Container Corporation (MCC) facility in 2016. The company has invested more than $100 million in its Jacksonville facilities since 2021, part of the nearly $2 billion it has invested in its 100 U.S. facilities over the past five years, it says.
In The News …
Roxberry, Columbus, Ohio, is expanding nationally, as it enters Walmart’s Modern Soda aisle. Roxberry now is available at 2,200 Walmart stores. Roxberry was created to solve a growing gap in the beverage aisle. While Modern Soda has transformed how adults shop for beverages themselves, kids have largely been left out, the company notes. Designed specifically with kids in mind, Roxberry comes in 7.5-ounce cans that are easy for little hands to hold and just the right amount of carbonation — light, bubbly, and refreshing., it says. Each ready-to-drink can is made with real fruits and vegetables, contains just 5 grams of sugar, and made without the artificial flavors, sweeteners, or dyes. Built on a coconut water base, Roxberry delivers hydration kids genuinely love, the company says. adds. Roxberry currently is available in four-packs of three playful fruity flavors: Pink Lava Strawberry Lemonade, Ocean Potion Fruit Punch and Galaxy Gulp Citrus. “The Modern Soda aisle has become a destination for parents, but until now, there hasn’t been something made just for their kids,” said Dan Haugen, Roxberry co-founder and chief operating officer, in a statement. “We created Roxberry so families wouldn’t have to compromise between what kids want and what parents feel good about. Launching in Walmart is a huge moment for us because it puts Roxberry right where families already shop, making those everyday choices a little easier and a lot more fun.”
RYZE Superfoods, Boston, announced its debut at Target, marking the company’s first national retail launch. Following significant momentum across direct-to-consumer and Amazon, RYZE is expanding into retail with a curated lineup developed specifically for Target guests. This launch comes at a pivotal moment for the category. Entering Target nationwide positions RYZE to meet that demand at scale and bring functional coffee to a broader mainstream audience, it says. At launch, Target will offer a broad assortment of RYZE products, including three Target-exclusive Coffee Latte flavors: Vanilla Latte, Mocha Latte, and Caramel Latte, alongside core items such as Mushroom Coffee Bags in Dark Roast and Medium Roast and the brand’s new Mushroom Coffee Sticks in Dark Roast and Medium Roast, a Target-exclusive format made with RYZE’s existing roasts. “Expanding into Target signals an important milestone for RYZE,” said Andrée Werner, co-founder of RYZE, in a statement. “Consumers are becoming much more intentional about what they drink, looking for options that support energy and wellness without compromising on taste. Target allows us to meet that demand at scale and bring our approach to coffee to an entirely new audience.”
Cove Soda,Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, announced the appointment of Bryan Crowley as CEO and Board Member. He is joined by Craig Olikiewicz as chief commercial officer and Joe Lee as chief operating officer, forming a seasoned leadership team to guide Cove's expansion across North America. Crowley brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across food, beverage, and consumer brands, spanning early-stage innovators and global category leaders. Most recently, he served as CEO and Board Member of G FUEL. He previously partnered with serial beverage entrepreneur Lance Collins to launch and lead Casa Azul Spirits and ZenWTR. His appointment marks Cove’s evolution from breakout functional soda brand to scaled category contender, it says. “Functional soda has moved from an emerging trend to a high-growth category that demands creative brand building and disciplined execution,” Crowley said in a statement. “Founders John and Ryan MacLellan have built a great-tasting product and an authentic brand with real consumer love. The opportunity now is to scale that foundation thoughtfully and build a business designed for longevity.” Founded in 2017 by two brothers at a local farmers market, Cove Soda has built a devoted following through its fresh approach to functional beverages. Today, Cove is the leading functional soda brand in Canada and is entering the U.S. market, it shares.
Naked Life, an entity of Molson Coors Beverage Co., Chicago, has expanded its U.S. retail presence with a national launch in more than 800 Target stores nationwide. Crafted with real botanicals, zero alcohol, and zero sugar, Naked Life delivers a true-to-cocktail experience, the company says. This milestone marks a significant step in the brand’s U.S. expansion, increasing access to premium non-alcohol ready-to-drink cocktails for consumers. Target is selling two of the brand’s best-selling flavors ― Cosmopolitan and Margarita ― each crafted with real botanicals and deliver a true-to-cocktail experience without alcohol or sugar, and only 5 calories. For a limited time, a four-pack will be available for $8.49, giving shoppers an easy, premium way to explore full-flavored non-alcoholic options. “As legal drinking age Gen Z and millennials incorporate non-alc cocktails into their evolving drinking habits, they're looking for options that feel elevated and true to the classics,” said Tracey Bien Schenck, senior director of marketing at Naked Life, in a statement. “This launch with Target allows us to meet consumers exactly where they shop, introduce Naked Life to more households across the U.S, and give everyone the chance to be part of the cheers.”
The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, announced a series of leadership changes designed to bring the business closer to consumers and enable faster technology adoption across the enterprise, unlocking future growth. All appointments take effect March 31. As announced Dec. 11, 2025, Henrique Braun, currently executive vice president and chief operating officer, will become CEO effective March 31, succeeding James Quincey, who will continue as executive chairman of the Board. “We believe our ongoing growth depends on understanding consumers even more deeply,” Braun said in a statement. “We are evolving our operating organization structure and elevating digital leadership so we can move faster and work smarter across all markets.” To unify digital, data and operational excellence across the company, Coca-Cola is creating the new role of chief digital officer. Sedef Salingan Sahin, who currently serves as president of the company’s Eurasia and Middle East operating unit, will take on this new position, reporting to Braun. Digital strategy efforts for the company, currently overseen by John Murphy in his capacity as president and chief financial officer (CFO), will transition to Sahin. In addition, customer and commercial leadership responsibilities will transfer from Murphy to Manolo Arroyo, who currently serves as executive vice president and chief marketing officer. Arroyo will become executive vice president and chief marketing and customer commercial officer. Murphy will continue to serve as president and CFO. The company is also creating two new market groupings reporting into Braun that are designed to enhance focus on markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. President of India and Southwest Asia operating unit and Emerging Large Markets Lead – Markets in India; Southwest Asia; Greater China and Mongolia; and Japan and South Korea will now be overseen by Sanket Ray. He also will continue to serve in his current role as president of the INSWA operating unit. President of Eurasia and Middle East operating unit and Emerging Multi-Markets Lead – Eurasia and Middle East; ASEAN and South Pacific; and Africa markets will now be overseen by Claudia Lorenzo, who will also serve as president of the EME operating unit.