GlobalConnect has announced the acquisition of Theft Detective, an automated video monitoring system designed for unattended retail environments. Theft Detective's patent-pending hardware integrates seamlessly with existing self-checkout kiosks, eliminating the need for expensive and disruptive system overhauls. It allows vending operators and their clients to identify and address theft "in a fraction of the time taken with traditional security cameras," said GlobalConnect. Theft Detective uses advanced AI to detect suspicious activity and provides instant notifications to operators or one-site security teams, minimising theft and associated losses. Jeff Whitacre, CEO of GlobalConnect, said: "We're excited to welcome Theft Detective to GlobalConnect's portfolio of vending and market technology products. This groundbreaking technology – automated micro market theft deterrence – perfectly aligns with our mission to empower vending operators with solutions that enhance efficiency and profitability." "Theft Detective will be a game-changer for unattended retail environments, providing much-needed security and automation, along with real savings." Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. #GlobalConnect #TheftDetective

Design agency Layer has introduced Pebble, a new coffee machine for Korean coffee brand Kanu. Designed to "perfect" the Americano, Pebble is the third coffee machine that the London-based firm has created for Kanu. Available in off-white and charcoal grey, Pebble features a soft-touch polymer with gloss and satin finishes. The machine design is said to enhance the Americano experience, presenting the cup on an elevated drip tray. This user-friendly design includes a tactile interface on the top, ensuring seamless operation. Benjamin Hubert, founder of Layer, said: “Coffee is one of life’s little joys, and with Pebble, we look to elevate that experience in an affordable way. By combining a visually desirable form with an intuitive UI, we have reimagined the coffee machine as a lifestyle accessory capable of creating the perfect Americano.” #Pebble #Kanu

King Kongin has unveiled three new flavours for its energy drink line-up: Peach Mango, Blue Raspberry and Watermelon Strawberry. The additions come with a redesigned packaging featuring vibrant colours, set to debut this summer. King Kongin's new flavours contain zero sugar, calories, carbs and artificial colours. Each drink packs 200mg of natural caffeine from tea and essential vitamins, catering to those seeking a boost of energy without compromising on taste or health benefits. Myra Dulac, CEO of King Kongin, said: “The new flavours in our energy drink line-up are designed to support [consumers] during busy days and for working out. You will love the new beverage redesign, flavour enhancements and the new flavours to give consumers the energy they need to fuel their fun.” #KingKongin #US

Stuart, a specialist in last-mile tech logistics, has announced a partnership with delivery orchestration platform Nash to optimise local delivery operations for merchants in restaurants, grocery, retail and e-commerce sectors across Europe. Nash’s dispatch strategies and automation technology will integrate with Stuart’s network of independent courier partners, offering businesses improved digital ordering and delivery management. The partnership aims to provide enhanced visibility and control over the entire delivery process, catering to both recurring and one-off deliveries while adapting to changing demand. Cornelia Raportaru, CEO of Stuart, said: “The capability to tailor delivery to suit the unique size, reach, and needs of any one business is key to achieving success and sustainable growth. We’re excited to be starting a new chapter with Nash, combining our logistics and technology abilities to improve the delivery experience for both businesses and consumers.” Mahmoud Ghulman, co-founder and CEO of Nash, added: “Partnering with Stuart, one of Europe's leading last-mile tech logistics specialists, is key as Nash powers last-mile orchestration for more merchants, marketplaces and platforms across the globe. Through this partnership, we can further build upon our mission to give every individual business the control and multi-modal capacity they need to optimise, automate, manage and scale their last-mile logistics." #Stuart #Nash #Europe

Unilever-owned spread brand Marmite has teamed up with Marks & Spencer to launch a cheddar cheese and Marmite skillet sandwich. The sandwich features soft, vitamin-D-enriched white bread, a Marmite cream cheese spread and Marks & Spencer’s British farmhouse cheddar cheese. Melissa Wimble, UK&I licensing manager at Unilever, said: “We have a track record of creating disruptive and delicious Marmite products with Marks & Spencer, and we can’t wait for shoppers to take a bite of the new cheddar cheese and Marmite skillet sandwich. Marks & Spencer sandwiches rate number one on quality, and this already popular at-home sandwich filling has been perfected to join the retailer’s lunchtime offering." “Within the food-to-go category, innovation and stand-out design are big drivers of trial, especially amongst younger consumers. We also know more people are looking for tasty and affordable vegetarian lunchtime options. As a result, we’re expecting this product to introduce a new generation to the simple joys of Marmite at any time of day.” The new sandwich is available in all Marks & Spencer stores nationwide for £2.00. #MarksandSpencer #Unilever #Marmite #UK

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its first semi-annual coffee report for 2024. The report projects global coffee production for 2024/25 to increase by 7.1 million bags from the previous year to reach 176.2 million, driven mainly by Brazil's ongoing recovery and increased output from Indonesia. Due to increased supplies, global exports are anticipated to rise by 3.6 million bags to 123.1 million, driven primarily by robust shipments from Indonesia and Brazil. The USDA says that consumption is projected to increase by 3.1 million bags to 170.6 million, and ending stocks are expected to grow by 1.9 million bags to 25.8 million after declining for three consecutive years. Coffee production occurs predominantly in tropical countries, while consumption is concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in the European Union and the US. According to the USDA, Brazil's combined arabica and robusta harvest is expected to increase by 3.6 million bags, while Indonesia's output is projected to rise by nearly 2.8 million bags. Production in Vietnam, the world's second-largest coffee grower, was reported to be stable at 29 million bags, with over 95% of its total output remaining as robusta. Regional overview The report highlights Brazil's pivotal role as the world's largest coffee producer, with a forecasted arabica and robusta output of 69.9 million bags for the 2024/25 season. Despite Brazil's recovery, challenges such as high temperatures impacting cherry development have tempered expectations slightly from previous highs. Colombia, the second-largest arabica producer globally, is anticipated to produce 12.4 million bags of coffee, marking a slight increase but still below peak levels due to heightened infestations of the coffee cherry borer insect. The country has faced significant production fluctuations in recent years, stemming from weather extremes and economic factors affecting fertiliser use. Meanwhile, Vietnam, known for its robust robusta production, is expected to maintain stable output at 29.0 million bags. The report notes that while robusta remains resilient in Vietnam, adverse weather conditions, including delayed rainy seasons and above-average temperatures, have affected yields. Production in Central America and Mexico is projected to increase by 300,000 bags to reach 16.6 million bags, predominantly driven by arabica beans, which make up 95% of the total output. Nicaragua anticipates a substantial rise of nearly 300,000 bags to reach 2.7 million bags, while Mexico is expected to see a more modest gain of 30,000 bags, totalling 3.9 million bags. Meanwhile, production levels are expected to remain unchanged in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama. Bean exports for the region are forecasted to rise by 500,000 bags to 13.4 million bags, supported by slightly increased supplies and an anticipated reduction in stocks. Combined arabica and robusta harvest in Indonesia is projected to increase significantly by nearly 2.8 million bags, reaching 10.9 million bags. Robusta output is anticipated to recover by 2.7 million bags to reach 9.5 million bags, benefiting from favourable growing conditions in the lowland areas of Southern Sumatra and Java, where about 75% of the robusta coffee is cultivated. Last year, excessive rainfall during cherry development adversely affected the crop, leading to sub-optimal conditions for pollination. Meanwhile, arabica production is expected to see a slight rise to 1.4 million bags. With the anticipated higher production levels, exports are forecasted to increase by 2.2 million bags, totalling 6.5 million bags. India's combined arabica and robusta harvest is forecasted to decrease by 100,000 bags to 6.0 million. arabica output is expected to drop to 1.4 million bags due to poor pre-monsoon rains, while robusta production is projected to remain stable at 4.6 million bags under normal growing conditions. Consequently, bean exports are anticipated to decline slightly to 4.2 million bags. European Union imports are projected to increase by 2.0 million bags, reaching 47.5 million, driven by higher shipments from Brazil and Indonesia. In the calendar year 2023, the top suppliers were Brazil (36%), Vietnam (25%), Uganda (8%) and Honduras (7%). Ending stocks in the EU are expected to rise by 2.1 million bags, totalling 11.6 million. The US, which imports the second-largest amount of coffee beans, is forecasted to see an increase of 900,000 bags, reaching 24.5 million bags, due to rising consumption. In 2023, the main suppliers were Brazil (27%), Colombia (19%), Vietnam (11%) and Guatemala (6%). Ending stocks in the US are expected to remain unchanged at 5.7 million bags. #USDA #coffeeproduction

Better Buzz Coffee Roasters, a California-based coffee chain, has launched a new range of Buzz Energy drinks. This marks Better Buzz's entry into the energy drink market and caters to consumers seeking caffeinated alternatives. The line includes ready-to-drink canned energy beverages and handcrafted mixed energy drinks. Each drink contains 110mg of caffeine, equivalent to a cup of brewed coffee. The handcrafted options include Burstin' Blue Raspberry, which offers a blend of blue raspberry, coconut and lime topped with popping candy; Always Sunny Citrus, features a mix of blood orange and vanilla topped with vanilla cold foam; and Prickly in Pink Mojito, a prickly pear mojito with lime and mint leaves. Meanwhile, the ready-to-drink cans come in Original, which the company describes as a "crisp and invigorating pick-me-up;" Berry Pomegranate, a combination of ripe berries and rich pomegranate; and Fruit Blast, a mix of tropical and fruity flavours. The coffee brand tested its energy drinks earlier this year at its new Phoenix location. Burstin' Blue Raspberry has emerged as the best-selling flavour. "We received great feedback from our guests in Phoenix about our Buzz Energy drinks," said Amanda Cameron, VP of marketing at Better Buzz. "Expanding these offerings, brandwide allows us to share these new, exciting flavours with all our guests so everyone can try a new Buzz this summer." The company plans to expand its product line later this year, introducing new flavours, sugar-free options, additional ready-to-drink beverages, and more. #BetterBuzzCoffeeRoasters #US

Peet's Coffee has expanded its portfolio with the launch of the Bright Collection, a new range of coffee blends. Available in two variants – Sun Catcher and Off the Grid – these blends offer vibrant, fruit-forward notes and a smooth texture. The Bright Collection offers a new coffee profile with a bright yet smooth taste. Peet's sourced and hand-roasted Sun Catcher and Off the Grid using beans from four regions: Brazil and Kenya for Sun Catcher, and Colombia and El Salvador for Off the Grid. Sun Catcher is a light roast blend that uses beans from Mount Kenya for vibrant citric notes, complemented by the "smooth nuttiness" Brazilian beans offer. It features flavours of strawberry jam, citrus and honeysuckle. Meanwhile, Off the Grid is a medium roast blend that uses beans from Colombia and El Salvador, offering fruit-forward notes and caramelised sweetness. It includes tastes of milk chocolate, almond butter and pear undertones. Jessica Buttimer, SVP of brand and DTC at Peet's Coffee, said: "We are thrilled to introduce the Bright Collection with a program unlike any we've done at Peet's. We're excited to make it possible for our customers to become Sun Catchers or go Off the Grid while relishing the exceptional taste of Peet's coffee." Bright Collection is available in 10.5oz bags or in K-cup format at Peet's coffee bars, grocery stores nationwide, on Amazon or at the brand's website. #Coffee #BrightCollection #US

Supreme, a diversified consumer goods supplier, has acquired the trade and assets of Clearly Drinks, a manufacturer of canned and bottled spring water and soft drinks, in a £15 million deal. The acquisition broadens Supreme's product portfolio, bringing the company's non-vape annualised sales to over £100 million – or £250 million including its vaping division. Clearly Drinks, based in Sunderland, UK, supplies approximately 70 customers nationwide, including major UK retailers such as Waitrose, Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Farm Foods. The company's portfolio includes still and sparkling spring water, energy drinks, vitamin-infused beverages, juices, coffee-based drinks, and mixers and tonics under brands like Perfectly Clear, Northumbria Spring and Revolution Waves. Sandy Chadha, CEO of Supreme, said: "We're delighted to welcome the Clearly Drinks team to the Supreme family. Their high-quality products and strong brand align perfectly with our strategy to diversify and grow. We look forward to supporting the team and expanding their brand presence across the UK retail space." The acquisition provides Supreme with a well-established operational footprint, including a 150,000-square-foot freehold site with three natural spring water boreholes capable of accessing up to 300 million litres of fresh spring water. The facility also features a new fully automated can line capable of producing 350 million canned drinks per year. For the year ended 31 December 2023, Clearly Drinks reported (unaudited) revenue of £22.4 million and Adjusted EBITDA of £3.0 million, with further growth anticipated for the year ending 31 December 2024. With the acquisition, Supreme sees opportunities to leverage its vertically integrated distribution platform and expand the Clearly Drinks brand across its established customer base of supermarkets, discounters, and online retailers. Supreme also plans to explore developing additional own-label products or licenses under well-recognised brands, replicating its success in the batteries and lighting categories. The acquisition will further support Supreme's efforts to expand its Sports Nutrition & Wellness division by facilitating the production of wellness and energy drinks. "The operational footprint of Clearly Drinks can benefit from Supreme's vertically integrated distribution platform, with the potential for the enlarged group to further develop sales, marketing and product innovation opportunities," the company said in a statement. The acquisition of Clearly Drinks follows Supreme's strategy to diversify its consumer goods portfolio beyond its core vaping business. The company's product range now spans batteries, lighting, sports nutrition, wellness and branded household goods.

Natural fruit-flavoured spring water brand, Perfectly Clear, has introduced Dino Water – a new range of sugar-free children’s drinks. Available in two flavours, Orange & Mango and Blackcurrant, the new beverages include multi-vitamins and were crafted to encourage children to get more vitamins into their diets. Offering a healthy, functional alternative to sugary drinks and fruit cordials, Dino Water is designed to encourage children aged 3-8 years old to drink more water. These beverages are produced by soft drinks manufacturer, Clearly Drinks, using locally sourced spring water, drawn directly from the two boreholes at the Clear Drinks site entrance and filtered through the limestone rock of the Northumbrian Cheviots. Mark Robinson, marketing manager for Clearly Drinks, said: “Every parent knows how difficult it can be to ensure their child is staying hydrated and consuming enough water. Children are often too busy exploring the world around them to stop and rehydrate. This is why we wanted to create our new Dino Water range for families. Dino Water is bursting with sugar-free flavour, has all the health benefits of water, plus extra multi-vitamins, and two eye-catching dinosaur characters on the bottles that will help motivate little ones to drink.” Robinson continued: “We are...very excited to launch this new Perfectly Clear product in time for the summer when children will need to stay hydrated more than ever". Dino Water will be available in 100% recyclable PET bottles, retailing at £2 per four-pack, and will be available in UK retailers from July. #PerfectlyClear #ClearlyDrinks #UK

Bubble tea beverage brand Chatime has appointed Carlos Antonius to the newly created role of global chief executive. In his new role, Antonius will oversee Chatime and its 1, 500 locations worldwide, aiming to drive the Chatime business to achieve its strategic plan, which includes operating 2,500 locations globally by 2027. Anotnius has served as the CEO of Chatime Australia since 2015, where he led the repositioning of the Chatime brand in Australia, enabling it to be the ‘largest’ brand in the category with 200 Australian locations. The new CEO has more than 30 years of experience across retail and franchise business sectors, both nationally and internationally. His previous roles include business development director of chicken restaurant Nando's and the same position at gelato brand Gelatissimo, where he led international development. New CEO Antonius said: "I'm honoured to have the opportunity to lead Chatime into the next phase of growth, and I look forward to executing our growth strategy and collaborating with the board, our leadership team and our partners to realise our brand's full potential". #Chatime

Primo Water Corporation has appointed Robbert Rietbroek as its chief executive officer and member of the board of directors, effective 1 January 2024. The appointment marks the end of an extensive CEO search following Tom Harrington’s decision to retire earlier this year. Rietbroek is currently the senior vice president and general manager for Quaker Foods North America, a division of PepsiCo. Additionally, he served as the CEO of PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand from 2015 to 2018. Jerry Fowden, chairman of Primo Water’s board, said: “The board’s search committee worked diligently and thoroughly throughout the CEO search process, and we are confident that Robbert is the right person to take Primo Water into its next stage of growth. Robbert has spent the last two decades developing a unique skillset that will enable him to excel in his new role as CEO of Primo Water.” He continued: “He is an outstanding leader with a commitment to excellence and a proven builder and leader of high-performance teams, and I look forward to watching Robbert lead the company in the years ahead. Robbert has a strong track record of execution, and the board looks forward to working with him to build on our momentum as well as to help guide Primo Water’s ongoing transformation into a leading pure-play water company in North America.” Rietbroek commented: “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Primo Water and its talented team of associates into the future. As CEO, I look forward to meeting the needs of our customers and supporting our dedicated associates as we deliver on our strategic priorities, and drive both long-term growth and value creation for our shareowners.” “Water is the source of life, and I am eager to provide hydration solutions that help inspire healthier lives, healthier communities and a healthier planet.”