The sudden October sales decline of National Beverage’s LaCroix sparkling water brand (BD Email Alert 11/13/18) appears to have continued into November. According to IRI data published this week by analysts at Susquehanna Financial Group, National Beverage’s sparkling water volume (made up of mostly LaCroix) declined -7.1% as dollar sales fell -1.2% during the four weeks ending Nov. 18. That followed a volume decline of -6.9% and a dollar decline of -2.7% during the four weeks ending Nov. 3, according to Nielsen data published more than two weeks ago by Wells Fargo. Prior to these declines, National sparkling water dollar sales had grown +6.3% in the four weeks ending Oct. 21, according

BD has learned from multiple sources that the Honickman Group is negotiating for PepsiCo-owned bottling territory in New Jersey and Philadelphia. Honickman already operates a swath of Pepsi territory in New Jersey, south of Trenton, including Burlington, Pennsauken, Camden and Gloucester. The proposed refranchising could give Honickman control over the rest of New Jersey, as well as metro Philadelphia to the southwest. The territories in question are operated by Pepsi Beverages Company (PBC), the PepsiCo-owned bottling unit that covers

Without ceremony, Keurig Dr Pepper CEO Bob Gamgort shed light on the future of Allied Brands Vita Coco, High Brew and Neuro during the company’s Nov. 7 earnings conference call. Distribution agreements with all three have not changed, he said. “The Allied Brand portfolio has settled out nicely in a fairly short period of time,” Gamgort said, referring also to the additions of Evian, Peet’s Iced Espressos, and Forto Coffee Shots distribution deals, and the acquisitions of Big Red and Core water. Allied Brands represent about 5% of KDP sales and profit, Gamgort has said.

Lemon Lemon and Izze Fusions, launched in early 2017 as part of PepsiCo’s “Next Gen” CSD push, have been mostly phased out of the U.S. market. Both sodas were formulated with a stevia/sugar blend and less than 70-calories per 12-oz can. Lemon Lemon, a sparkling lemonade, contains 6% lemon juice. Izze Fusions contained 5% juice. Lemon Lemon reached almost 435,000 cases in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2017, according to retail data. While not discontinued, the brand dropped to almost 30,000 cases during the third quarter of this year. However, Lemon Lemon is gaining momentum overseas, according to a source