Tomorrow marks the start of a new presidential administration, which will bring a new set of policy priorities with implications for the US beverage industry. As with all administrations, there will be industry alignment on some priorities, and uncertainty when it comes to others. President Donald Trump, for example, relaxed truck driver restrictions that eased the burden for beverage distributors, while also posing aluminum tariffs that increased costs for some manufacturers. Looking ahead, BD reached out to...
While Boxed Water is Better represents a small fraction of the packaged water category, the company has captured an outsized share of social media and celebrity attention since its founding in 2009. That’s in large part due to the purified water brand’s strikingly plain carton within a premium water category dominated by sculpted plastic bottles. With a package made mostly of paper, Boxed Water has helped drive the consumer conversation around packaging sustainability, an issue that will only grow in impact and importance during this decade. We spoke to Boxed Water’s Chief Marketing Officer Robert Koenen about growth prospects and how the company is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic...
Will Monster Beverage diversify into hard seltzers? The question has swirled since mid-2019, when CEO Rodney Sachs told investors he would consider an entry into the category. The next best chance for an answer to the question comes Thursday, when Monster executives host an annual business update webcast for investors. And there is fresh evidence ...
Coca-Cola now says it will eliminate a net 2,200 jobs as part of a global reorganization announced in August. The eliminated positions include previously announced voluntary separations and a wave of involuntary separations starting last week, according to the company. Some employees in ...
With the global COVID-19 pandemic continuing to spread, Beverage Digest held the first ever virtual version of its annual Future Smarts conference. The Dec. 7 live streamed event featured 11 speakers, including executives from Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper, Nestlé Waters and Molson Coors Beverage. Speakers from Coca-Cola United, Kitu Life, Lemon Perfect, and PureCircle offered insights on everything from distribution to consumer trends. Much of the day’s conversation...
On Dec. 7, an emergency arbitrator ordered Bang Energy owner Vital Pharmaceuticals to stop actions to take distribution back from PepsiCo. VPX must “cease any and all actions” to sell to PepsiCo’s Bang customers, distribute products in PepsiCo’s Bang territories, or “take back” territories or customers from PepsiCo, the arbitrator wrote...
Cuts Include 1,200 US Positions at Corporate, North America Units
December 17, 2020
Coca-Cola has informed employees internally of a wave of new job cuts this week in support of a global restructuring program announced in August. The eliminated positions include previously announced voluntary separations and now involuntary separations started this week, according to a
Bang Ordered to ‘Cease’ Activity in PepsiCo Distribution Territory
December 8, 2020
An emergency arbitrator has ordered Bang Energy for now to stop actions to take distribution back from PepsiCo. The interim ruling filed today also orders Bang owner Vita Pharmaceuticals to abide by the terms of its distribution agreement with PepsiCo during the contract’s three-year notice period...The full court document is available for Beverage Digest subscribers HERE.
Pepsico Has Said It Remains the Exclusive Distributor of Bang in the US.
December 4, 2020
Following Bang Energy’s termination of its 10-year distribution deal with PepsiCo and subsequent lawsuit, BD requested interviews with Bang Founder and CEO John H. “Jack” Owoc and other company officials. Owoc, on behalf of Bang Energy, agreed to answer written questions by email.
Given the high interest in the sudden dispute between Bang, one of the most important energy brands to emerge in recent years, and PepsiCo, a multinational food and beverage company, Bang’s emailed responses to BD’s questions have been included below in full, unedited.
Coca-Cola posted third-quarter volume declines in most markets, according to a BD review of regulatory filings. The company’s expansive exposure to ...