“Energy So LOUD You Can’t Sleep” - is the slogan for Loud energy drink. Available in two variants: Classic Mix and Sitrus Stunner, both are lightly carbonated with natural ingredients. Steve Rifkind, founder of the successful Loud Records hip hop label, has launched Loud Beverage Corp with backing from Universal Music Group. Rifkind plans to put his street marketing expertise to work: “We will launch this product market by market, in the manner of breaking records. In addition to traditional beverage marketing, we use radio, DJs, mix tapes, club nights and promotions with non-traditional entertainment and lifestyle accounts. This company’s rich musical history has its roots in marketing, and that’s the same approach we are taking with Loud Energy Drinks.” “The key strengths of the product are taste, packaging and marketing,” explained Rifkind. A third flavour (Grapple Sauce) is in production and a fourth ‘the sugar free Pomberry Zero’ is completing formulation.

Spanish producers and health conscious consumers are showing growing interest in 100% fruit juice beverages or smoothies being promoted for their health giving credentials. Invo Europe SL pioneered smoothies in Spain in 2003, followed by Sunny Delight España and Hero España SA with Fruit Simple and Solo Fruta. Invo has now expanded with a fifth variant, 4 Oranges, in both 25cl and 75cl bottles.

Arrowhead Water Products Ltd is pleased to report its consolidated financial and operating results for the fiscal year ended 30 September 2007. Highlights include: Gross profit increased to $3,581,557 from $3,336,976 Revenue increased to $8,996,269 from $8,834,432 Cash flow from operations decreased to $992,742 from $1,065,185 Sales to retail distributors increased from $5,830,319 to $6,541,639 Incurred a loss from operations for the year of $498,867 prior to loss on sales of assets or impairments. Arrowhead is engaged in the production, distribution and sale of large format (15 litre and 18.9 litre) bottles of drinking water in Western Canada. Arrowhead's primary distribution channels include the Western Canadian retail and wholesale grocery market (currently 71% of total revenues). Over the past year, the company continued to position itself to grow the new 15 litre channel. The 15 litre business has increased the company's revenues and bottled water volumes. The new 15 litre bottles are currently being produced from the company's plant in Edmonton, and are a lighter, crushable and blue box disposable PET bottle. The single-use bottle is 100% recyclable and compatible with any water cooler. The company advises that, as noted in the Financial Statements and MD&A, it has been working to increase profitability as its primary business goal. As a result of tightening cost controls and other costs, Arrowhead has found it necessary to cease to provide products to one of its major retail accounts in Western Canada. This will allow the company to better service its other major retail and wholesale customers, while expanding its new 15 litre bottle business. *About Arrowhead Water* Arrowhead Water is Canada's largest Canadian-owned, publicly traded water company which is engaged in the production, sale and distribution of large format (15 and 18.9 litre) bottled drinking water. Arrowhead produces and delivers bottles of reverse osmosis, distilled and natural spring water to the Western Canadian retail and wholesale market. Arrowhead remains committed to continually improve its level of service to its customers and to provide positive returns to its shareholders. For complete disclosure of Arrowhead's September 30, 2007 year-end financial results and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"), please go to <<1>">www.sedar.com]<1> and view documents listed under Arrowhead Water Products Ltd. <1>: http://www.sedar.com

Orlando, Florida based NBI Juiceworks describes its SunShower range as “Nature’s perfect blend of taste and nutrition”. First launched in 2007 in berry, mango, açaí, pomegranate, cranberry and grape apple flavours, it has now added Stamina and Turbo-G superfood variants. SunShower juices are sweetened with Sucralose and enhanced with natural flavours derived from FDA approved natural food sources. The fruit is first steamed and then pure pressed through a series of screens where it is cold filled for maximum taste as well as nutrition retention. The result is an 8oz bottle filled with 100% juice, equal two servings of fruit, worth 90 calories and with a 70 day shelf life. Its latest launch, Turbo-G, is an energy boosting juice that contains green tea extract, glucosamine, guarana, golden root, ginseng, goji and grape seed extract. Founder, Chairman and CEO Chris New explains: “Turbo-G was developed to keep you performing at your best. The mind and body need powerful nutrients and this drink proves that a functional 100% juice can be extremely nutritious and also delicious.”

Beauty beverages in Asia, especially in Japan, are becoming more common. The 'beauties' include products such as Coca-Cola’s Minute Maid Beautia with gamma-tocopherol, and Meiji Dairies’ VAAM, a beauty jelly drink with amino acids, both of which appeared last year. However, there is still room for innovation, with the use of new ingredients and novel positionings. In Japan, Lotte introduced Beni (Red), a healthy beauty drink for women, made with six year old red Korean ginseng, as well as extracts of hibiscus, dates, safflowers, Chinese wolfberries, longan, firethorn, satsuma orange peel and ginger. According to the company, Korean red ginseng is said to be a time honoured ingredient for health support, helping consumers feel stronger and more energised. This product is positioned for women in their 30s who feel less strong with age, which is a novel positioning for a beauty drink. What is more, the company says that this beverage will also warm up the body from the inside.

Boost Juice Bars, the Australian juice and smoothie phenomenon has introduced Hotties to the UK this winter - low fat, nutritious hot drinks to warm consumers from head to toe! An alternative to caffeine loaded coffees and fat filled hot chocolates. Hotties are 98% fat free and contain no preservatives, artificial flavours or colours. Australian customers have already found favour with To Chai 4, a low fat blend of exotic spices, and Choc Mint Mania, a low fat minty twist on traditional hot chocolate. One can also add a Booster shot to Hotties, replacing a morning coffee with a To Chai 4 plus an invigorating Energiser PLUS Booster. As an alternative to the Hottie, Immunity booster offers antioxidants and super foods to help strengthen the immune system against coughs and colds.

*Due to great consumer demand, Redux Beverages today announced that its world-famous energy drink, Cocaine, has been relaunched and is now available at retail locations across the country – as well as online at <<1>.">www.drinkcocaine.com]<1>. * Redux Beverages had voluntarily pulled the Cocaine product from shelves, and renamed it in June of 2007 due to FDA concerns about the product’s marketing tagline. The relaunched Cocaine energy drink ingredients and flavour remain the same as the original and popular energy drink. “Retailers and consumers were begging us to get the drink back on the shelves,” said Redux Founder, Jamey Kirby. “Since the FDA warning letter last April, we've been working closely with them to adjust the marketing of the drink, and now the rebellious and fun Cocaine brand is out of rehab and back on shelves.” The relaunched Cocaine energy drink comes in a red 8.4oz can and will be available in several markets across the US as well as in Europe. Cocaine is available in three flavors: Original, Cut and Free. The Original version is a red, cinnamon-based energy drink that packs three and a half times the amount of caffeine of its leading competitor (280 milligrams). Other ingredients include: 750 milligrams of taurine, 100 milligrams of inositol, B vitamins, 50 milligrams of L-Carnitine, 250 milligrams of D-Ribose, and 25 milligrams of guarana. The Cut version of Cocaine has the cinnamon flavour removed, while the Free version is sugar-free. To celebrate the relaunch, Redux Beverages has introduced a social network website dedicated to the Cocaine drink. At www.drinkcocaine.com/social, fans can upload user-created content, communicate with other people who love Cocaine energy drink, view videos and blogs and more. The site will also be home to all contests and giveaways for the product, including its first special package for Valentine’s Day. <1>: http://www.drinkcocaine.com

Ceres, known for its natural fruit juices and nectars and international flavours, has introduced a regional blend in Taiwan. Formulated with sargassum, also known as brown algae, this has previously been seen in skin and hair care ranges. The juice also contains organic medlar, an acidic fruit consumed with cheese or used to make jelly or wine. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine are known to use powdered sargassum to be drunk as tea in order to help remove excess phlegm.

Thailand's leading producer of beer and spirits, Thai Beverage (ThaiBev), has completed its THB420 million ($13.4 million) acquisition of the Wrangyer energy drink and Black Up ready to drink (RTD) coffee business from Wrangyer Beverage Co. The acquisition was made through ThaiBev’s Maharas Agri Co subsidiary, and represents a major advance by the group into the non-alcoholic sector. ThaiBev already produces still and carbonated bottled water under its dominant Chang brand. Wrangyer was launched a decade ago, and is now one of Thailand’s top three energy drink brands. The Wrangyer Beverage factory in Nakhon Pathom province has a capacity of almost 400 million units a year. “The acquisition of these well-known brands expands our range of non-alcoholic beverages and strengthens our overall position as a leading beverage player in Thailand,” said ThaiBev’s President, Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi. ThaiBev’s sales rose 3% to THB71.3 billion ($41.4 million) in the first nine months of 2007. The growth came from a THB547 million ($17.4 million) increase in spirit sales and a THB1.6 billion ($51.5 million) increase in sales of beer and water. Gross profit rose 4% to THB21.32 billion ($679.7 million).

Danish consumers can look forward to a new organic milk from Arla Foods with 40% less fat than semi-skimmed milk. Organic Harmonie Mille milk, launched on the Danish market, contains just 0.9% fat. “The new milk will help to further reduce the Danes’ intake of fat from milk,” says Jakob Nørgaard – responsible for milk at Consumer Nordic. “Since the launch of mini milk in 2001, many Danes have changed their milk drinking habits. Some, however, avoid mini milk because of the taste. Consequently, we wanted to develop a product with the same taste as semi-skimmed milk, but with less fat. Harmonie Mille is the result.” He regards the new milk as an excellent fat reduced alternative for families who go in for organic products and a healthy diet. As well as being a healthy choice for parents, the milk is also a good transition product for three year old children, who, according to the Danish health authorities’ recommendations, should switch from semi-skimmed milk to reduced fat milk products at that age. Besides offering a fat reduced alternative, Harmonie Mille is the outcome of Arla Foods’ ongoing work to develop new quality products for the organic market, a segment that is seeing strong growth. Over the past year, sales of organic milk in Denmark have increased by 7%.

This story was featured as part of an 'On-farm processing' special report in dairy innovation magazine issue 15. In Colorado in the USA, husband and wife Les and Sherrill Hardesty started Cozy Cow Dairy about three years ago as an opportunity to create a learning experience for urban consumer customers. Les says with only about 1% of the US population engaged in agricultural production our consumers are several generations removed from agriculture. “Cozy Cow offers an educational experience coupled with quality fresh dairy products, produced and processed on the farm - from the cow to the consumer. Our farm setting is becoming more urban on a daily basis with housing development and population increases. People want to enjoy the view of the Colorado Mountains and the sunshine, just as our dairy cows have for years. “Education of the consumer for the benefit of the entire dairy industry was the primary principle for the start of Cozy Cow Dairy. “As animal agriculture practices become the focus of consumers, it is important that we take some time to tell the story of all of the positive attributes that agriculture does for our communities. We were also very excited about the opportunity to offer fresh, wholesome dairy products that were produced and processed on the farm. Locally produced products, that consumers know where they are coming from. Making the rigth choices “Selection of the product line was fairly simple. Fluid milk for the bottle would produce excess cream that could be transformed into ice cream. A premium ice cream offered to the visitors after a farm tour would only enhance their learning experience. Our product line includes milk (both white and flavoured), ice cream (sold as cones and in small take home packages) and cheese (curds and an aged Cheddar). “Help came from many places. A general knowledge of the industry and having milked cows for 20 years, gave us the basic understanding of handling and packaging a perishable product. Dairy equipment companies helped with the design and layout of the facility. A consultant was engaged to help with the final formulations and practices employed to ensure that we had quality products to offer our consumers. “In keeping with our goal of education we felt it was necessary to market the products on the farm where they are produced. We have a retail store on site that sells our products. It is a short drive outside of town to purchase Cozy Cow products, but the consumer knows that they are getting quality at a reasonable price. They are more than happy to go the extra mile and support a local family farm. Unique challenges “Any new business venture comes with a unique set of challenges. Governmental regulations were the first obstacle. A non traditional use of the property caused some concern to the officials. Processing of dairy products and the surrounding health department regulations, testing and quality control techniques are burdensome but absolutely necessary. “There have been an awesome amount of rewards to starting our new dairy venture. The kids (both young and young at heart) that come to tour and learn about the dairy industry continue to be the strength to continue to work toward perfection. You cannot put a monetary value on a smile or a first encounter with an animal for some of the guests. “Seeing a great quality product that you produced with your own hands bring satisfaction to a consumer is unbelievably satisfying. And finally, to watch a business that you have built with a labour of love grow makes you sleep well at night. It is very gratifying to know that through your efforts you are making a difference that is impacting on the entire dairy industry around the world. Even with a small family dairy farm in Colorado, when we sell another unit of milk, ice cream or cheese, we affect the global consumption of dairy; by satisfying a consumer with quality nutritious dairy experience and help to create or maintain a life long consumer of dairy.”

*Greek Gods, a US company founded in 2003 by three friends to produce authentic Greek style products, has launched Greek Gods Baklava Pagoto Ice Krema. * The new product combines a honey cream base with a mixture of walnuts, almonds and cinnamon. Using organic milk, Greek Gods Pagoto Ice Krema is made the traditional Greek way, using wholesome ingredients and mastic resin. Mastic (also know as Chios Tears) comes from mastic trees grown in six villages (Mastichochoria) in the south of the small Greek island of Chios and is known for its health properties. People in the Mediterranean region have used mastic as a medicine for gastrointestinal ailments for several thousand years. Greek Gods has also introduced a reduced fat vanilla cinnamon orange yogurt. It is made with fresh pasteurised milk and cream to produce a velvety smooth and creamy textured yogurt, infused with vanilla and the subtle hint of cinnamon and orange zest. It is claimed to have all the smoothness and creaminess of traditional Greek yogurt but with less than half the fat and is packed in 170g tubs.