Latest Insights

US Independent Pepsi Bottlers Offer Mixed Views of New PBNA Regional Structure

Bottlers: ‘PepsiCo is doing the right things.’ ‘Refranchising is inevitable.’ ‘A lot needs to change.’

July 12, 2019

BD asked executives within PepsiCo’s independent US bottling system for an assessment of the new PBNA to date. Here's what they had to say...

Beverage and Retailer Stock Price Performance: YTD 2019

National Beverage Shares Fall Fast Amid LaCroix Struggles. Otherwise Good Year for Beverage Stocks to Date

June 28, 2019

For the first half of this year, National Beverage was the worst performer among beverage stocks tracked quarterly by BD, with the company’s share declining almost -39%. By comparison, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose almost +14%. National Beverage has faced...

Report: Beverages Drive US Convenience Store Growth

June 28, 2019

Beverages were a major driver of convenience store sales growth in 2018, according to...

Aquafina to Test Cans for Still Water, Bubly to Drop PET for 16-oz Can

Plus, green PET Sprite bottles out at Coke European partners

June 28, 2019

PepsiCo is the latest beverage maker to announce plans to reduce the use of virgin PET for some of its most high-profile brands. Starting next year, single-serve versions of Bubly will be...

Q&A: PLNT Blend Co-Founder Dave Holmes.

SpikedSeltzer creator turns to CBD beverage market. Wants "bad actors" taken out by FDA. Advocates regulatory framework.

June 28, 2019

Dave Holmes created an alcohol beverage category by founding and developing SpikedSeltzer, which he sold to Anheuser-Busch in 2016. Now his ambition is focused on the burgeoning hemp-based CBD...

Exclusive Look at Gatorade's Coming Bolt24 Launch

Plus, Gatorade ‘Not Shying Away from CBD’ as Possible Ingredient

June 28, 2019

Gatorade SVP and GM Brett O’Brien gave BD an exclusive look this week at PepsiCo’s new Bolt24 hydration beverage (BD 5/21/19). The product will begin shipping in time for a July 10 launch tied to ABC’s ESPY athlete awards. Bolt24 is...

Soda Pricing Decelerated at Retail

Diets Outperform Regulars on Dollars, Volume

June 7, 2019

Carbonated soft drink pricing decelerated in the four weeks ending May 18...

Cannabis Watch: The FDA Begins Work to Regulate CBD Products

Public Hearing Takeaways and Next Steps

June 7, 2019

On May 31, the US Food & Drug Administration held its first public hearing on the regulation of cannabidiol, known more commonly as CBD. The ingredient is at the center of a burgeoning functional beverage category in the US and abroad. Here are the key takeaways from the FDA hearing...

Dairy Tied to Coke-Affiliated Fairlife Fires Employees for Alleged Animal Abuse

Activist Video Prompts Apologies, Evaluation and Product Pullbacks

June 7, 2019

On June 4, an animal rights group released an undercover video on Facebook and Vimeo showing animal abuse at a dairy farm affiliated with Fairlife, the Chicago-based maker of ultra-filtered milk and...

Former MillerCoors, Constellation Execs Invest in ‘Cuur’ For Alcohol Symptoms

Israeli Firm Closing in on US Launch

June 7, 2019

Israeli life-science startup Vital Technologies is close to launching a series of rapid recovery functional drink products that claim to relieve negative side effects from alcohol consumption. The company...