Keurig Dr Pepper has agreed to acquire the sales and distribution rights of Swire 7Up Dr Pepper of Pasco, Washington, which covers territory in Franklin and Benton counties on the Columbia River; brands being moved also include A&W, Sunkist, Schweppes, Cactus Cooler soda, Deja Blue bottled water and Venom energy drink

The table at right shows volume and dollar sales as well as pricing for selected non-carbonated beverage categories at U.S. retail for the first nine months of 2018. The data covers supermarkets, c-stores, drug chains, mass merchandisers including Walmart, plus some dollar/club stores and the military channel. Pricing grew in all five non-carb categories tracked by BD, with ready-to-drink tea increasing most. Bottled water pricing grew only slightly. Bottled water, sports drinks and

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

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.