Coca-Cola’s North America Operating Unit hosted executives and associates from its franchised bottling system in Las Vegas recently to discuss marketing, commercial and sales plans for 2025. The theme for the meeting was, “Above and Beyond,” as the system looks to...

Private label carbonated soft drink (CSD) volume declined -2.3% at US retail during the first six months of this year, according to BD data shown the Green Sheet with this story. While private label products make up...

Conditions are ripe for accelerated consolidation of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage distribution businesses in the US market, predicts Matt Hughes, a former Coca-Cola Venturing and Emerging Brands executive. That could mean even Coca-Cola and Pepsi franchise bottlers one day look to combine with beer distributors to add efficiency and boost...

This is one dynamic beverage industry.

Our lead story (pg. 3) uncovers how Olipop Cofounder Ben Goodwin intends to pursue $1 billion brand status — and he says he can do it without direct store delivery, at least for now. This digestive health drink, or gut soda as some refer to it, didn’t exist before six years ago. And Olipop helped spawn a formidable competitor in Poppi. Many alternative sodas have marketed themselves at the expense of traditional sodas. Olipop has been among the most successful so far. I’ll note, as well, that in an era when barriers to entry in non-alcoholic beverages are lower than ever, Olipop is a brand built on function, R&D, and efficacy. That’s worth watching.

The second story in today’s issue (pg. 6) features a conversation with former Coca-Cola Venturing and Emerging Brands executive Matt Hughes. He is a well-known and respected industry voice whose expertise bridges the gap between mainstream and emerging brands. Now with private equity firm Franchise Equity Partners, Hughes is tracking the winds of change within

Critical Convenience Channel Underperforms Category.

US carbonated soft drink dollar sales grew +4.0% during the first half of 2024 as volume sales declined -1.1%, according to BD data. The result represented a slight improvement from the first quarter of this year, when dollar sales grew +3.3% and volume sales

Plus, 4-Week Retail Data Shows Stable Pricing Growth Across Categories.

An informal BD survey of July 4 weekend holiday pricing revealed a more muted promotional environment for a key carbonated soft drink (CSD) package compared to 2023. BD reviewed...

Sports Drink Category Lackluster on Weak Gatorade, BodyArmor Performance.

Prime Hydration Rocket Ship Slows.

Sparkling Water Performance Strong, as Sparkling Ice, LaCroix, Polar Add Volume.

Category Green Sheets: CSDs, Energy, Sports, Water (Sparkling, Plain, Enhanced)

Carbonated soft drink (CSD) volume at US retail declined -1.5% during the first quarter of 2024, which was less than