Industry Pushing Back; Seeks Federal Solution During Grace Period
November 19, 2025
Legal Expert Doesn’t Expect Pending Ban to Kill Fast-Growing Hemp THC Sector
The agreement to open the US government last week included a potential beverage industry casualty — hemp-based THC drinks. As part of the deal, Congress and President Donald Trump closed a loophole embedded in the 2018 agriculture act that previously legalized hemp farming. Last week’s law will effectively ban hemp-based THC drinks a year from now, following a grace period. The loophole in the 2018 act has unintentionally led to the proliferation of ready-to-drink canned beverages infused with psychoactive hemp-based THC, mostly by way of a cannabinoid called Delta-9. Manufacturers have...
KDP Eases Investor Concern Over Coffee Deal and Plans to Split Company
November 5, 2025
The third quarter earnings season brought a series of critical progress reports from Keurig Dr Pepper, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola at a time of global consumer volatility. The period also comes as KDP prepares for a massive strategic change and PepsiCo faces activist investor pressure. The following are key takeaways from the companies’ reports...
Plan Includes Company-Owned and Independent U.S. Bottling
November 5, 2025
PepsiCo Beverages North America is moving distribution of Bubly sparkling water from direct store delivery to warehouse delivery, BD has learned. PBNA confirmed the...
Rolling Updates on 2026 Coke, PepsiCo, KDP Innovation and More.
Hello from the NACS show in Chicago. Food and beverage manufacturers are sharing their latest innovation to convenience store operators from around the country as buyers look toward shelf sets early next year. Beverage Digest is at the show to provide rolling innovation updates for subscribers by email alert and here at Beverage Digest.com...
During today’s third-quarter investor conference call with Wall Street analysts, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta addressed pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management for PepsiCo to refranchise the company’s North American beverage bottling and distribution system. “We’re going..
RTD Coffee and Tea Categories Post Volume and Dollar Declines
September 17, 2025
La Colombe RTD Coffee Now Bigger Than Dunkin’ Brands on Volume Basis
Lipton, Arizona, Snapple RTD Teas Fall
The US protein shake category grew at retail during the first half of this year, as growth in Fairlife Core Power outpaced the category and market leader ...
Sports and Energy Drink Mixes Approach $2B in Retail Sales
September 17, 2025
Jel Sert’s Pure Kick Alkaline Sticks to Launch in November
Meanwhile, Sports Powder Leader Liquid I.V. Launches Energy Hybrid
Unilever-owned Liquid I.V. electrolyte powders and Nestlé-owned Nuun dissolvable tablets have fueled growing consumer uptake of single-serve beverage enhancers in recent years. Powdered sports and energy drink mixes — which can include...
Jefferies Consumer Survey Finds Affordability Pressure Stronger Than Desire to Cutback
September 17, 2025
Bernstein Report Concludes Mixed Bag of Cyclical and Structural Concerns at Play
In a new report, beverage analysts at Jefferies conclude alcohol moderation among US consumers has less to do with changing habits than with changing wallets. In a survey of ...
Celsius Now Owns Rockstar. Alani Nu Moves to Pepsi Trucks. Daing Named CMO
September 8, 2025
PepsiCo Hands Over Energy Strategy to Celsius Holdings
Celsius Now Owns Rockstar. Alani Nu Moves to Pepsi Trucks. Daing Named CMO.
Q&A: US Beverage CEO Krishnan Discusses Deal Rationale
Celsius Holdings announced this morning that former PepsiCo and Mark Anthony Brands marketer Rishi Daing has been hired as CMO. This comes a little more than a week after Celsius Holdings and PepsiCo announced...
PepsiCo Rebuffed Peltz. Will They Do the Same Now?
September 8, 2025
Independent Pepsi Bottlers Want Path to Long-term Security
But Win For Elliott Doesn’t Have to Include Bottler Refranchising
Twelve years ago, activist investor Nelson Peltz and his Trian Fund Management accumulated a $1.3 billion stake in PepsiCo and publicly pressed the company to hive off its beverage business to improve lackluster performance. Today, PepsiCo finds itself in a...