PB & Whey Proten Bites from EB Performance LLC, Deerfield Beach, Fla. is a miniature protein bar packed with organic peanut butter, whey protein, organic agave syrup and B-Vitamins. The bars are all-natural and preservative- and gluten-free. They’re also compliant for collegiate athletics and are being utilized by major collegiate athletic programs.  They are in national distribution: with a suggested retail price of $1.69 for 1.25 oz.; 3 for $5.

Arizona Beverages and tennis superstar Andy Roddick have teamed up to create Hypotonic Performance Sports Drink. Hypotonic Performance’s formula increases the rate of fluid absorption by the body’s cells, the company says. The sports drink is fortified with calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamins A and E and amino acids. Hypotonic Performance is packaged in 20-oz PET bottles with graphics depicting Andy Roddick on the label. The drink initially launched in New York, Florida and Chicago.

Annie’s Homemade, the California-based maker of all natural and organic prepared pasta dishes, is taken a dive into the cereal bowl.  Three products are offered including Annie’s Honey Bunnies Toasted Whole Grain Oat Breakfast Cereal. It’s 75% organic and 100% all natural, and provides 9 grams whole grains (a good source of fiber). A perfect accompaniment to organic milk. 

Smucker Quality Beverages Inc.’s R.W. Knudsen Family partnered with The Berenstain Bears for the launch of Sensible Sippers Organic Juice Boxes. Sensible Sippers are 100%  organic and come in Berenstain Bears characters, such as Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear. The Fruit Punch, Banana, Apple and Mixed Berry flavors are 50% juice and 50% water, reducing the amount of sugar intake in each serving.

The Healthy Beverage Co. has relaunched its Steaz Green Tea Soda line with new flavors and packaging. The Diet Steaz Sparkling Green Tea line is organic and fair trade certified. Available in Blueberry-Pomegranate, Orange, Raspberry and Black Cherry, Diet Steaz contains organic Ceylon green tea and is lightly sweetened with organic cane juice that amounts to 9 grams of sugar per serving.

Sips and Nibbles

Beer Festival Toasted
The Great American Beer Festival (GABF), an event produced by the Colorado-based Brewers Association (BA), was honored recently with a 2007 Tourism Star Award by the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Tourism Star Awards recognize outstanding contributions to Denver’s travel industry. The GABF is the largest and most prestigious judged beer event in America. In 2007, more than 46,000 people attended the GABF, a record breaking attendance and for the first time all the sessions were sold out! There were 1,884 beers from 408 breweries across the nation on tap over a three-day period.

New CEO at Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola Co. said recently that  President/COO Muhtar Kent will succeed Neville Isdell as chief executive on July 1. Isdell will remain chairman until April 2009. Kent first joined Coca-Cola in 1978 and held a variety of roles. In 1999, he left to take a CEO post with a European company, but he returned to Coca-Cola in May 2005. He was named president of Coca-Cola International in January 2006 and appointed president and chief operating officer in December 2006.

Personal Doves
During the holiday season, Mars Snackfood US introduced My Dove Chocolate — a personalized gift-giving option for chocolate lovers. Potential purchasers can simply log on to a company Website for made-to-order messages inscribed inside the foil wrappings for special occasions ranging from wedding favors to birthdays. Customers can personalize up to four unique messages with three lines of 17 characters each per order.

Barry Callebaut Sells Brach’s Unit
Farley’s & Sathers Candy Co. Inc. has acquired Dallas-based sugar candy manufacturer Brach’s from Barry Callebaut. Brach’s garners annual gross sales of approximately $270 million, with the majority of sales from sugar candy. The Brach’s sale allows Barry Callebaut to pursue its core chocolate business, said the company.