The soft-drink giant continues adding brands targeted for health-conscious consumers with the acquisition of Naked Juice Company, which says it has achieved annual sales of more than $150 mil. primarily through grassroots marketing and sales efforts. Azusa, Calif.-based Naked, which was controlled by North Castle Partners private equity firm, produces more than 25 juice and juice-smoothie Naked selections made from fruits and nutritional boosts and without sugars or preservatives. The deal, with terms not disclosed, comes the same month PepsiCo launched Fuelosophy, a milk-based product with vitamins A, B, C, D and E that is being sold in test markets including some Whole Foods stores (1"The Tan Sheet" Nov. 20, 2006, In Brief). PepsiCo says nearly all of Naked's beverages qualify for the "Smart Spot designation" it has made for its more than 250 "products that contribute to a healthier lifestyle."...

Royal Philips will make 43,000 medical ventilators by year-end for use in the US and make 2,500 more for the Strategic National Stockpile in a deal with the US government worth $646.7m. See what Philips’ CEO Frans van Houten said about it here.

Pharma manufacturing is operating well below normal levels in India, disrupted by labor absenteeism and supply chain issues amid the ongoing lock-down in the country, though the government is actively engaged in addressing bottlenecks. A speedy recovery is vital not just for domestic supplies.