Consumers cut back on ready-to-drink coffee at US retail during the first nine months of this year, according to BD data. The category, led by a joint venture between PepsiCo and Starbucks, declined by volume (-2.6%) and dollars (-3.2%), as shown in the Coffee Green Sheet with this story. Pricing for the category was down slightly by -0.6%. PepsiCo’s Starbucks portfolio posted a -9.1% volume sales decline as dollar sales dropped -6.3% as pricing rose +2.7%. Frappuccino, which accounted for more than a ...

Policy comments by President-Elect Donald Trump and his proposed picks for cabinet and administrative posts have set off a barrage of speculation about potential impacts to the food and beverage industry. In a research note this week, RBC Capital Markets Beverage Analyst Nik Modi, who will speak at BD’s Future Smarts conference on Monday, summed up the industry consternation this way:...

We’ll close out the year on Monday with our annual Future Smarts conference in New York City. And I can’t wait to see what comes out of the program we've assembled.

I love the conversation we generate during the course of the day, with discussion threads that weave through the speaker sessions. Points from an earlier session often find their way into a later interview as dots are connected. The impact of consumer stress on industry growth, practical implications of technologies such as Ai, the competition for soft drink market share, and expectations for the new presidential administration will be some of those threads.

We’ll start the day with executives from Coca-Cola, Keurig Dr Pepper, and PepsiCo before convening our annual analyst panel to riff on what they’ve heard that morning. Bottlers from both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo will layer in their perspectives. And we will fold in a wholesaler’s view of the retail landscape with UNFI’s CEO. Olipop’s co-founder will provide some emerging brand and category spice. And Boston Beer’s former CEO will stir the pot in the best of ways with a view across beer and non-alcoholic beverages.

Future Smarts attendees will head into 2025 with a complete view of the most urgent industry topics, as voiced by smart industry insiders. It’s great to get a helping of clarity right before we all wrap up a busy 2024.

Like last year, we’ll host a welcome reception on Sunday for all registered attendees. I love that the evening is so anchoring, helping to deepen industry relationships on a human level — mine included.

If you can’t join us, rest assured we’ll share some slices of the Future Smarts pie in our newsletter next year. In the meantime, enjoy your families this holiday season. The team at Beverage Digest wishes you all the very best.

The US sports drink category at retail declined by both volume and dollar sales at retail during the first nine months of this year, according to BD data. As shown in the Green Sheet with this story, category volume fell...

Meanwhile, PepsiCo’s Muscle Milk Refocuses Within Growing Category.

Bernstein Analyst Callum Elliot recently dug into Coca-Cola’s Fairlife dairy business as it generates billions of dollars in earnings charges from earn outs related to...

Green Sheet: 1H Sports Drinks, Bottled Water, and Sparkling Water Retail Performance.

After a trailblazing 2023, influencer-driven sports drink Prime Hydration has moved into a sales decline at US retail for the