Spoiler: The PepsiCo-Backed ‘Retronasal Smell’ Technology Works
August 18, 2022
BD recently wrote about the U.S. launch of Air Up, the German maker of a refillable bottle that uses pods to flavor plain water by smell instead of taste. PepsiCo is an investor in the company, which describes its technology, based on a scientific concept called “retronasal smell,” this way: “The flavored air travels from your mouth up to your olfactory center, where it’s perceived as flavor.” From packaging to materials, Air Up embodies an assortment of beverage trends that resonate with Gen Z and Millennial consumers: Healthfulness, design, personalization, technology, and sustainability. To better understand the Air Up offering, BD bought and used the product, which the...
You’ll note an extreme focus on carbonated soft drink pricing in today’s newsletter. That’s because there is no shortage of news, and soft drinks remain a massive and profitable category for US manufacturers and retailers.
On page 7, bottlers discuss the recent Memorial Day holiday weekend and how soda consumers and retailers are responding to higher list prices and fewer “hot” promotional deals. BD shares what we learned from an informal survey. The news so far is positive, even if precarious.
On page 10, we publish our annual soft drink concentrate pricing review, which reflects the inflationary environment facing the industry and its stakeholders. Increases for major soda brands like Coca- Cola, PepsiCo, and Dr Pepper as high as...
First Look: Program Explores Potential Alternative to ‘One-Way’ Bottles
June 7, 2022
Since late last year, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages has run a pilot test in El Paso, Texas to determine whether the returnable glass bottle can work once again in the US. The reusable package remains a staple in some emerging Coca-Cola markets around world, providing affordability for consumers and flexibility for bottlers. BD visited El Paso this week to get an up-close look at the pilot project.
The return to restaurants in 2021, following pandemic lockdowns the year before, helped generate good news as you will see in today’s special issue and BD’s newly released Fact Book 27th Edition.
All major beverage categories, including carbonated soft drinks, posted...