When Jon Stewart and Bill O’Reilly faced off Saturday in a mock debate, the topic of whether the government should decide what size soda consumers should drink was brought up and summarily dismissed, but there are plenty of other folks — like New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg — who aren’t letting the issue go.

The just-passed law that Bloomberg pushed to help keep New Yorkers healthy by making it illegal to sell sodas larger than 16 oz. in many New York establishments will go into effect on March 12. And Bloomberg isn’t alone. A soda-tax measure was put on the ballot in Richmond, California, that would discourage consumers from drinking soda and collect money through a soda tax “for neighborhood gardens, recreation and other youth projects that would help fight childhood obesity,” BeyondChron.com reports.

Sick of being called a bad guy in the war against obesity, the American Beverage Association (and the soda giants it represents) today launched a "Calories Count" vending machine program that will start being distributed in the new year. The ABA's new initiative will help consumers identify lower-calorie sodas in vending machines by placing soda calorie counts right on the buttons of vending machines.Continue reading...

A major part of the logic behind the split-up of Kraft into snacks go-getter (and naming-challenged) Mondelēz International and its more tired North American grocery business is to create a "global snacking powerhouse" — and spur growth in the latter enterprise.

As Forbes noted, Kraft is moving from the New York Stock Exchange to NASDAQ with the move to spin off its North American business and rebrand its corporate parent: "Kraft is keeping its faster-growing global snacks business into a new company named Mondelēz International, ticker MDLZ, while its spun-off North American grocery business will keep the Kraft Foods name but trade under ticker KRFT. Both stocks will list on the Nasdaq when the breakup is complete, and the KFT symbol will be retired."

Now that Kraft Foods Group can begin selling shares with its own listing as an independent company after the market's close on Oct. 1st, it's time for Kraft to fulfill investor expectations as Mondelēz (which will debut on Oct. 3rd, with a defiant macron over its final 'ē') is considered to be the higher growth stock.Continue reading...

What is a beverage powerhouse to do when another company produces something that is going to eat into its market share? Attempt to crush it, of course.

Kraft introduced beverage drops called MiO last year, putting its marketing muscle behind a new water flavoring brand that created a new category and made the global snacks behemoth more than $100 million in the first half of 2012 alone, according to the Associated Press. So what is Coca-Cola going to do in the coming weeks? Launch Dasani Drops, described as "a zero-calorie liquid beverage enhancer that allows people to add a veritable burst of flavor to their water."

The latest product from Coca-Cola's water brand and PlantBottle innovator is more than just a tastier way to drink water (it's described as "naturally flavored with other natural flavors"). The drops empower consumers to decide just how much flavoring they’d like, encouraging user interaction and customization — which is why Kraft called their product "MiO" (mine in Italian).

Four different flavors of Dasani Drops — Strawberry Kiwi, Pink Lemonade, Pineapple Coconut and Mixed Berry — will roll out in early October with more fruit flavorings expected next year (MiO offers nine flavors). And Coca-Cola has big plans for Dasani Drops — "I think there's an opportunity beyond just flavored waters," said John Roddey, VP of Coca-Cola's water, tea and coffee business in North America.Continue reading...

Soda makers have continued to expand their offerings over the past few years, which has been a smart move for business since soft-drink sales in America fell yet again in 2011, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. That marks seven consecutive years where the numbers have spiraled downward.

While the market has slumped to 1996 levels, Coca-Cola continues to ride atop with Coke and Diet Coke topping third-place Pepsi, AJC notes. 

Beverage Digest has it that “volume for the carbonated drinks segment was down 1 percent in 2011,” which follows a “0.5 percent drop in 2010,” according to the paper. This sets industry volume back to where it was in 1996 at about 9.3 billion of 192-ounce cases.

Don’t shed a tear for the beverage giants, however. Non-carbonated drinks are doing just fine.Continue reading...

PepsiCo has fired another green shot over the bow in the ongoing cola wars with competitor Coca-Cola. The company is releasing five varieties of recyclable and compostable cups in the US, following up on its March announcement of the world's first plant-based bottle.

Coca-Cola, meanwhile, is promoting its PlantBottle eco-friendly packaging, while its recent introduction of recyclable display racks.Continue reading...

The Coca-Cola Company is stepping up its efforts as a global leader in sustainability.

It recently introduced its eco-friendly PlantBottle in the US, starting with its Odwalla and Dasani brands. And now, on the cusp of Earth Day, it's asking its US retailers to go green by using its environmentally friendly "Give It Back" racks.

The corrugated racks are designed to be easily recycled at retail outlets with onsite corrugate recycling capabilities, or bottlers can return them to a Coca-Cola facility for recycling via Coca-Cola delivery trucks.

OK, it may not sound sexy, but it's an industry first.

Coca-Cola's free-standing, 100% recyclable display racks are aimed at convenience and grocery stores, and helps the company "close the loop" on an eco-system that gets closer to its sustainability goals.Continue reading...

Chrysler to curb output because of Japan supply shortage.

Coca-Cola 'pips' PepsiCo with PlantBottle roll out in US to coincide with Earth Month.

Dish Network eyes Netflix in wake of acquisition of Blockbuster assets.

Fox News to end Glenn Beck’s show but retain alliance.

GE plans to build largest solar-panel plant in the world.

Google is revamping YouTube.Continue reading...

In this national TV spot, Coca-Cola introduces the US to its new nationally available PlantBottle for Dasani, billing it as"the first 100% recyclable beverage package made from up to 30% made from plants." Dasani was Coca-Cola's pilot brand to test the PlantBottle. It's also being joined by sister beverage brand Odwalla, as announced today — just in time for Earth Month.