Keurig Dr Pepper executives are capitalizing on what they describe as fragmentation in the energy drink category by leveraging brands like Runa and Adrenaline Shoc, said CEO Bob Gamgort. "We see white space in energy," he said.

GT's Living Foods has no plans to change the recipe or production process of its kombucha, despite the onslaught of competition, says founder George Thomas Dave. Dave is diversifying the company with brands like Dreamcatcher and CocoKefir, and insists the firm is "not for sale."

Although its coffee shots are now in 50,000 stores, Forto was still a fledgling startup when founder Neel Premkumar brought the drinks to an open call for the US military, which resulted in the company's first big distribution deal. Within four years after it was founded, the business has quintupled in size, he says.

Several brands are jumping into the Mother's Day celebration by sharing wisdom with families, including Reed's Ginger Beer, which launched its inaugural fully-integrated push called "They Fooled Your Mom" to dispel the myth that ginger ale settles upset tummies. Tropicana also is rolling out its Mother's Day Sunrise Support campaign where associates are available to answer questions related to brunch preparations on the 1-800-2TROPMOM hotline.

A new study by media firm UM finds that only 4% of internet users believe influencers, a mainstay of digital marketing, and only 8% believe what they see on social media. The Wave study, now in its tenth year, tracked 56,000 active users in 81 countries, and also found non-interactive sites like Netflix, YouTube and Spotify gaining in popularity.

Tyson's plans for a plant-based meat line, Nestle's distribution changes and Mondelez's potential foray into CBD-infused snacks caught SmartBrief readers' attention this week. This year's James Beard Award winners and Walmart's use of demographics to guide merchandising strategies also proved popular.

Now you can follow the ABA on Twitter! We keep you updated daily on the latest beverage industry news and bring you the information you need. Follow us today @Ameribev.