Industry Issues
Generous Brands to acquire Health-Ade Kombucha
Generous Brands, a Butterfly portfolio company and a leader in premium refrigerated beverages offering the Bolthouse Farms, Evolution Fresh and SAMBAZON brands, announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Health-Ade, a leader and innovator in kombucha tea beverages, from private equity firms First Bev and Manna Tree Partners (Manna Tree), who will continue on as minority shareholders in Generous Brands.
Following the close of this transaction, Generous Brands will have four brands (Bolthouse Farms, Evolution Fresh, Health-Ade and SAMBAZON beverages) that span the juice, smoothie, kombucha, cold-pressed, protein, coffee and alternative soda categories. The portfolio will be distributed in a diverse set of channels and have nearly $1 billion in retail sales. Generous Brands also produces and sells premium refrigerated dressings under the Bolthouse Farms brand.
With significant owned manufacturing capabilities, a differentiated distribution network and a best-in-class commercial organization, Generous Brands is well-positioned to deliver growth and innovation for retailers and consumers alike for years to come, the company says.
“Consumers have entirely redefined the role of beverages and it’s reshaping the future. They have shifted from just prioritizing taste and exciting flavors to looking for beverages that are also enhanced with healthier ingredients and nutritional benefits,” said Steve Cornell, CEO of Generous Brands, in a statement. “With its purpose-led brand and products that are positioned at the intersection of delicious taste and modern health trends, Health-Ade fits perfectly into our platform and growth strategy. This exciting addition to the Generous Brands portfolio will accelerate our mission of inspiring more people to thrive through the power of vibrant nutrition.”
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in Q3 2025. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Welch’s appoints Cees Talma as CEO
Welch’s, Waltham, Mass., appointed Cees Talma as CEO. Talma succeeds Trevor Bynum, whose leadership for nearly seven years was instrumental in shaping the company’s transformative growth, it shares.
With more than 30 years of global leadership experience across the food, beverage, consumer goods, and health and wellness industries, Talma will guide Welch's into its next era of evolution. For the past 11 years, Talma has led mission-driven and family-owned companies, sharing Welch's purpose-led approach and ongoing commitment to quality, innovation and grower-owner success. This background, combined with his track record of aligning purpose with performance, makes him uniquely suited to lead Welch's historic legacy.
“This is an exciting time for Welch’s, and we're confident Cees will help accelerate our momentum in meaningful ways as we continue to focus on innovation,” said Tim Grow, Chairman of the Welch Board of Directors, in a statement. “He brings a fresh perspective, deep understanding of the consumer, and a shared passion for purpose that aligns perfectly with our vision for the future. We’re looking forward to what's to come under his strategic leadership.”
Reflecting on the appointment Talma stated: “I’m honored to join Welch’s as CEO and excited to help unlock its full potential by building on a legacy of trust, innovation, and growth. Together with our talented team and grower-owners, we’ll focus on accelerating performance, expanding into new opportunities, and writing the next great chapter of this iconic brand.”
Talma brings unique experience scaling both legacy brands and disruptive newcomers. Prior to Welch’s, he served as CEO of Nature’s Way, where he led transformative growth, innovation, and operational excellence. Before that, Talma held the role of CEO at Stasher, scaling the brand’s sustainability mission and product footprint. Talma also occupied senior roles at SC Johnson and Unilever, where he grew CPG Category disruptors, led acquisitions and implemented many innovative go-to market strategies.
Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York, announced a new five-year contract and enhanced sales agreement with Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer's) across California, Illinois and Pennsylvania on additional brands. “We are excited to deepen our relationship with Southern Glazer’s in California, Illinois and Pennsylvania,” said Matt Munn, president and chief operations officer at Frederick Wildman & Sons, in a statement. “Their reach in both on and off‑premise channels — from fine‑dining establishments to boutique wine shops — makes them a perfect fit for our curated wines and spirits.” Under this expanded agreement, Southern Glazer's will become the exclusive distributor for Frederick Wildman's full-ranging distinguished portfolio in both Northern and Southern California, Illinois and Pennsylvania. This agreement builds on the companies' longstanding collaboration in other U.S. markets, including with its fine wines in California, Illinois and Pennsylvania that are already represented by Southern Glazer's Signature Fine Wine & Spirits division.
Refresco, Rotterdam, Netherlands, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Telemark Kildevann Holding AS (TKV), a leading Norwegian beverage manufacturer. The transaction, which was previously announced on May 30, has now closed following customary regulatory approvals and completion conditions. The acquisition marks another milestone for Refresco as it continues to expand its footprint. With facilities in Fyresdal and Aurskog, Norway, TKV is well-known for its production of soft drinks and high-quality spring and mineral waters, supplying both retail and branded customers in Norway and Sweden, the company says. Refresco CEO Hans Roelofs, stated: “We are pleased to welcome our new colleagues of Telemark Kildevann to Refresco. This acquisition is another step forward in our Buy & Build strategy and underlines our commitment to further complement our existing operations across Europe. We look forward to working with the team and continuing to deliver high-quality beverage solutions to customers.” Following completion of the acquisition, TKV will now be fully integrated into Refresco’s operational platform.
TalkShopLive, Nashville, Tenn., announced a new platform capability to enable consumers to purchase beer, wine and spirits from their favorite brands, celebrities and creators who host livestreams on TalkShopLive. Recognizing the complex regulatory landscape governing alcohol sales, TalkShopLive’s platform will require sellers to adhere to comprehensive compliance features to become verified alcohol brands on TalkShopLive. All alcohol products purchased through the TalkShopLive platform will be age verified at point of purchase and delivery to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws. “We’ve had great success partnering with top talent, from Paris Hilton and Dolly Parton to Jimmy Fallon and Cynthia Erivo, to be a go-to stop on their media tours when launching new products, books or music,” said Bryan Moore, CEO and co-founder of TalkShopLive. “With the prevalence of celebrity-driven wine and spirits brands today, we knew we had to find a solution to make our patented livestream eCommerce platform usable for alcohol brands. We’re proud to be able to offer this to our talent and brand partners as a safe and legal way for their fans to get their hands on exciting new wine and spirits launches.” TalkShopLive continues to grow its platform every day, partnering with talent on books, music, beauty products, housewares and more, with guests from celebrity mega stars like Martha Stewart, Paris Hilton, Kevin Hart, Cher, Paul McCartney, and Dolly Parton, to influencers and creators such as Charli D’Amelio, Nick Eh 30 and Dude Perfect.
Cascadia Managing Brands, Ramsey, N.J., announced it has signed an exclusive brand management agreement with The House of Cha, creators of authentic South Asian Masala Chai in a premium, ready-to-drink (RTD) format for the U.S. market. Crafted with real South Asian spices, black tea, and finished with creamy oat milk, The House of Cha’s single-flavor launch product — Traditional Masala Chai with Oat Milk — delivers a bold, culturally rooted experience in a modern, shelf-stable format. “This is one of the most authentic, delicious masala chai products I’ve tasted,” said Bill Sipper, managing partner at Cascadia Managing Brands. “We love the taste and the packaging: clean, bold, and unforgettable. We can absolutely get behind this.” The House of Cha is now available for national distribution and retail placement.
NACS (the National Association of Convenience Stores), Alexandria, Va., announced that Frank Gleeson, former president and CEO of Aramark Northern Europe and 2018-2019 NACS Chairman of the Board, will serve as its new president and CEO beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Gleeson will succeed current NACS President and CEO Henry Armour and be only the fourth CEO in the organization’s 64-year history; all four came to the position from the convenience and fuel retailing industry. Armour has served as NACS president and CEO since July 2005. Following his tenure as CEO, Armour will provide support to Gleeson and continue to lead international activities at NACS for several years. “I am honored to follow the successes of Henry Armour and excited to lead NACS, which has a stellar reputation both in the United States and around the world,” Gleeson said in a statement. “Henry has been a driving force behind making NACS into a truly global organization with members in over 50 countries, as well as developing its executive education offer, its leadership in moving the industry forward with new technology solutions like TruAge and THRIVR, and its advocacy on issues critical to our industry. I look forward to building upon these successes and the great culture that Henry has led at NACS and throughout the industry.”