The speaker lineup for our Dec. 7 virtual Future Smarts conference is set. And it’s top-notch. We’ve recently confirmed our final addition, Henrik Jelert, who is EVP for ReadyRefresh at Nestle Waters North America. This direct-to-consumer unit has navigated higher demand for at- home beverage delivery and a slow-down in workplace consumption during the COVID-19 crisis. He and I will discuss challenges and opportunities, while looking ahead to what comes after the pandemic. We’ll also bring Molson Coors Beverage into the Future Smarts fold for the first time. . .

Earlier this month, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta announced a set of initiatives and related spending aimed at Hispanic businesses, consumers, communities and employees. Some of that work will pass through the relatively new Hispanic Business Unit of PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), which is now in its third year. In 2020, the company added a similar unit for PepsiCo Foods North America. BD reached out to Esperanza Teasdale, the VP and GM who leads the Hispanic Business Unit for beverages, reporting to PBNA CMO Greg Lyons. Teasdale discussed her team’s work to capture a greater share of the $2.6 trillion in annual spending in the US by Hispanic consumers. As she put it, that market would be equivalent to the eighth largest country in the world. The following has been edited for clarity and space:

Ball, North America’s largest aluminum can maker, estimates that shortages for the package in the US this year will top 10 billion cans, according to a Credit Suisse synopsis of the company’s Oct. 6 investor meeting. More details of what's at stake ...

For the second time in four years, PepsiCo and key bottling system executives met online instead of in person for an annual meeting to review the next year’s marketing and distribution plan. The following details of the meeting are based on information provided by multiple sources.

Coke’s plan to re-enter the alcohol sector raised a key question: Who will distribute the beverage in the US?