News Briefs for September 8, 2011
September 8, 2011• With Whole Foods pulling fast-rising Skinnygirl Margarita from its shelves and two class action suits filed in California against brand owner Beam Global in recent days, Beam and Skinnygirl creator Bethenny Frankel have said they plan to change the brand’s packaging from its current “all-natural” label to say “natural flavoring.” Both Whole Foods’ action and the lawsuits are in response to Skinnygirl’s use of a synthetic preservative called sodium benzoate, which is recognized as a potential carcinogen. While they’re changing Skinnygirl’s labeling, Beam and Frankel—who remains involved with the low-calorie brand as part of her agreement with Beam, which acquired Skinnygirl earlier this year—put out a joint statement regarding the lawsuits that says, in part, “This litigation is frivolous. We will defend our case vigorously and we are fully confident we will prevail.”
• California’s DFV Wines has expanded its Gnarly Head wine range with the U.S. launch of Authentic Red, a Zinfandel-based red wine. Priced at $11.99 a 750-ml., Gnarly Head Authentic Red is sourced from Lodi, CA, a region known for its untrellised, mature vines that, according to DFV, produce richer and more concentrated fruit flavored wines. The new addition joins Gnarly Head’s existing lineup, which features Old Vine Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Pinot Grigio varietals. Last year, the brand grew roughly 20% by volume, surpassing the 500,000-case mark, according to Impact Databank.
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