BevNET Spotlight WILD Flavors dissects and directs upcoming consumer behaviors in favor of their clients' products. The WILD Team identifies emerging trends that support and drive innovative concepts and product development. WILD appraises the potential success or failure of formulations, packaging, marketing strategies and more. Contact us at www.wildflavors.com Highlights from our magazines: Courting Ethnic Customers Many retailers are thriving by creating environments that make ethnic customers feel comfortable by catering to their tastes and lifestyles.

Mor - 08/11/2008 Lightly carbonated, naturally fruit-flavored and nutrient-rich, mor satisfies thirst and revitalizes the mind and body, deliciously. It's rich in antioxidants, with a smart blend of vitamins and herbal extracts, and has absolutely no sugar, no caffeine, and no artificial flavors or colors.

Coke's formula, Pepsi's fine

FINANCIAL
Portland, Ore.-based Maletis Beverage and Bellevue-based Odom Corp. announced they have formed Odom-Maletis Beverage to combine beverage distribution services. • NutriPure Beverages, Inc. announced that it has completed its acquisition of XND Technologies. Steve Nickolas, Founder and CEO of XND Technologies, will remain on board as CEO of the subsidiary. • Celsius Holdings announced a strategic partnership Carl DeSantis, majority owner of CDS Ventures of South Florida for CDS to invest into Celsius Holdings. DeSantis, formerly served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rexall Sundown.

LAW AND POLICY
The Pepsi Bottling Group has been fined $65,000 for distributing drinks in New York state with illegible refund information on the bottles that prevented some consumers from redeeming the containers. Most of the fine will go to fund projects that promote recycling programs in schools and among the public. To read more, click here. • Forbes.com published an article chronicling the rise of public distaste for bottled water. Read it here.

NEW SKUs
CRD Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of MediaTechnics, announced its ability to private label 2oz and 3oz energy shots.

DISTRIBUTION
Reed's announced it has formed an enhanced partnership with Big Y Supermarkets. Under the partnership, Big Y has committed to begin carrying Reed's full product line throughout all of its 57 Big Y locations and one Fresh Acres location. Reed's also announced an expanded partnership with Earth Fare, a natural foods retailer based in North Carolina, which agreed to offer Reed’s full lines at the store’s 15 locations. • Innovative Beverage Group announced that it has signed on HBB of Missouri, LLC to distribute drank in the St. Louis area. • Panda Restaurant Group announced the renewal of a multiyear contract with PepsiCo Foodservice making Pepsi its exclusive beverage supplier in all 1,100 locations. • Skinny Water announced an agreement with Acme Markets. The retailer operates 130 supermarket locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. • ZICO LLC inked a deal with G. housen to distribute its coconut water throughout the state of Vermont, western Massachusetts, and southwestern New Hampshire. • ZizZazz energy mix announced an agreement with Acosta, Inc. to provide national distribution. • Purple Beverage Company announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with Sparks, Nevada-based Crown Beverages.

PROMOTIONS/APPEARANCES
Coca-Cola has revealed a corner of its long-time vaulted formula in a British marketing campaign, declaring that it contains “no added preservative or artificial flavors” and that the formula hasn’t changed in 122 years. The New York Times has the story. • The personal stories and achievements of seven "environmental champion" torchbearers selected by Coca-Cola for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay are the subject of a new documentary film premiering August 13 in Beijing. The movie makes its debut at 8:30 p.m. • Hat Trick Beverages sponsored weightlifter Melanie Roach is being touted as 'one of the athletes to watch' in the Beijing Olympic Games.