There’s a question Pam Stewart has consistently fielded from friends and family in recent years about her work at Coca-Cola: When is Costco’s iconic $1.50 hot dog combo going to include Coke again? Stewart, who is chief customer officer for retail within Coca-Cola’s North America Operating Unit, answered that question this year when her team won back Costco pouring rights from PepsiCo after a dozen years. “I finally get an A on the report card after so many years of hard toiling,” she said in an interview with BD. Stewart gets an A from more than just family and friends. During her 25-year career in the Coca-Cola system, Stewart has earned a reputation as an agile leader and strong collaborator who is a rising star within Coca-Cola. Her experience across the Coca-Cola System, including at Coca-Cola Enterprises, spans finance, sales, operations, and general management. She also serves on the board of directors for snack company Utz Brands. Before her career at Coca-Cola, Stewart spent several years in the telecommunications industry. BD spoke to Stewart to get her view of the current retail customer environment in the US. /p>

The following interview has been condensed and edited for clarity: