Wilmette, IL – September 19, 2011 -   Imbibe, a leading developer and marketer of beverages and beverage flavors located in Wilmette, IL, and Blue Beverages, a low-acid bottling company located in Haverstraw NY, today announced an exclusive partnership for the commercialization and production of low-acid, retort beverages.  Under the agreement, Imbibe will be responsible for all sales, marketing, product development, technical support and quality assurance related to products manufactured in the Blue Beverage facility. The Blue Beverage team will manage the daily bottling operations.

Capable of filling glass bottles and aluminum cans, the brand new, state-of-the-art, 200,000 square foot facility has the capacity and the flexibility to meet the growing demand for low acid beverages. 

“Imbibe is excited to partner with Blue Beverages,” said Andrew Rashkow, President and CEO of Imbibe. “We see tremendous opportunity in the low acid beverage segment, and have added senior scientists and the equipment needed to support this effort.  Having a fully functional pilot plant, Imbibe’s beverage scientists and process engineers can rapidly develop and test our retort formulations before transferring them to Blue’s production facility.  Together our companies can offer the market best-in-class product development and production for retort beverages.”

In November, Imbibe will be showcasing a range of retort beverages at the 2011 PLMA in Rosemont, IL – from RTD cappuccinos to meal replacement shakes to Mexican horchatas – that demonstrate the company’s new production capabilities as well as its product development expertise.

All products will be available with Control Brands and Private Label options. The Imbibe/BBG Partnership will also manage contract manufacturing opportunities.

To learn more, please visit imbibeinc.com.  Business inquiries should be directed to Andy Dratt, Executive Vice President at Imbibe.

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Contact: Andy Dratt, Executive Vice President

Office Phone 847-324-4411

Email: adratt@imbibeinc.com