A big question for independent US Pepsi bottlers is whether they are in line to distribute two brands at the center of key PepsiCo-related deals this year. The newest deal is PepsiCo’s pending acquisition of prebiotic soda leader Poppi for $1.95 billion, announced on March 17 (BD sent an email news alert to subscribers). The other is the...

Beverage Digest hosted its annual Future Smarts conference last December in New York City. The day’s lineup of speakers included leaders from three of the largest US beverage companies — Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper. The executives sat for interviews on stage with Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford. Here are highlights as the speakers looked ahead to 2025...

President Donald Trump announced last week that he will impose a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel next month while closing “loopholes and exemptions” for all US trade partners. Exemptions will be eliminated...

Turn over a can or bottle of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in the US and you’ll find a new ingredient — stevia. The natural sweetener is now part of a formula that already included aspartame and acesulfame potassium. The new...

Policy comments by President-Elect Donald Trump and his proposed picks for cabinet and administrative posts have set off a barrage of speculation about potential impacts to the food and beverage industry. In a research note this week, RBC Capital Markets Beverage Analyst Nik Modi, who will speak at BD’s Future Smarts conference on Monday, summed up the industry consternation this way:...