With consumer confidence trending lower, as measured by both the Conference Board and the University of Michigan, concerns over the affordability of ready-to-drink beverages is intensifying. Today’s newsletter captures the tension between consumers protecting their budgets and beverage companies protecting their margins.
The lead story on page 3 checks in with Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper bottlers to see how they are coping with rising commodity prices, softening pricing growth, and weakening volume performance. BD informally surveyed bottlers in May. Almost two months later, how are bottlers faring and feeling? The short answer: ...
12-Pack Can Deals in Chicago 40 Cents Higher Than 2025
July 8, 2026
BD annually surveys Fourth of July holiday promotions for three grocery chains in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami for an informal look at how the deal environment for soft drinks and other beverage categories is ...
Margin Pressure Mounts for Distributors as Aluminum Pain Persists
July 8, 2026
A follow-up informal survey of US soda bottlers finds a cautiously improved mood on fuel costs and deepening concern about aluminum costs since an earlier survey in May. BD reached out to bottlers amid the elevated US inflation rate and the uncertainty of a war with Iran, which drove up global oil prices. Several operators across the Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper bottling systems now say...
Sports Drink Category at Retail Grows in Q1 as Volume, Dollars Rise [Green Sheet]
June 17, 2026
The US sports drink category grew at retail in the first quarter of 2026, with volume up +5.4% and dollar sales up +6.2%, according to BD data. PepsiCo portfolio grew volume at...
Trademark Dr Pepper Gained Share in 39 of 41 metros, Topping Pepsi in 11
June 17, 2026
Coca-Cola's US carbonated soft drink portfolio held the leading retail volume share last year in 36 of 41 metro markets tracked by BD. The data includes all major retail channels and does not include the fountain channel. Coke’s CSD portfolio made its largest gain in...
Beyond Environment, Program Now a Competitive Advantage, Bottler Says
June 17, 2026
Nackard Pepsi, the Flagstaff-based beverage distributor that has served Northern Arizona for more than 80 years and three generations, has turned its empty return truck trips from the Grand Canyon into a recycling operation now serving roughly 40 customers across the region. The program has become a competitive advantage with accounts that have no other recycling option, particularly on the..
Resealable C-store Bottle Launched for Pepsi, Dew in Select Markets
June 4, 2026
PepsiCo is betting on a new 13-oz PET bottle priced below $2 to reach consumers who are walking past the cold vault to better afford higher prices for gas and groceries. The company is rolling out the smaller bottle across five of its biggest sparkling brands. We dive deep in a Q&A with PepsiCo's US Sparkling Chief JP Bittencourt.