Rivera Addresses North America Bottlers, Shares Vision for ‘Moonshot’
December 1, 2020
Franchise bottlers for Coca-Cola’s North America Operating Unit recently met virtually to review innovation and system execution plans for 2021. Those plans will center on growing the base business, relaunching innovation that was disrupted in 2020, and introducing “purposeful” innovation, according to multiple sources who attended...
PepsiCo Executive Calls Decision ‘Confusing’ Given Progress
November 17, 2020
Updated: Bang Energy has cancelled its master distribution deal with PepsiCo without cause, according to a termination letter released by Bang this morning. PepsiCo's SVP of Energy Integration Eric Hanson spoke to BD about the termination in an exclusive interview ...
Top Leaders From Coke, PepsiCo, KDP and Nestle Among Presenters
November 10, 2020
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. . .
CEO Says Efficiency Beats Ownership When It Comes To DSD System
November 2, 2020
As BD has reported on extensively, Keurig Dr Pepper has made a series of moves this year in its direct-store-delivery system that hinted of a broader strategy at play. In June, KDP bought back production and distribution rights for RC Cola, A&W Root Beer, Sunkist, 7Up, Snapple and Big Red from Indiana-based Royal Crown Bottling of Evansville. At about the same time, KDP transferred ...
Trump Best on Free-Enterprise, Biden Best on Pandemic, Bottlers Say
November 2, 2020
Tomorrow, voters will go to the polls to elect the next President of the United States. Beverage bottlers will watch the results as closely as anyone, to assess the potential impact to the industry’s bottom line during the next four years. With that in mind, BD asked bottling system executives to answer a simple question: “Who do you hope wins the presidency, and why?”...
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 ...
Talks Acquisition Strategy, Can Shortage, Hard Seltzer Opportunity
October 13, 2020
Until the COVID-19 pandemic, European-based private label and contract manufacturer Refresco had been on an acquisition tear since purchasing Cott’s North American soft drink operations in January of 2018. Deals last year stretched from Arizona to ...
In the Q&A below, Goist discusses in greater detail Refresco’s acquisition outlook. BD also asks about can shortages and the hard seltzer category. But first, some background and context.
Sports Drink to Challenge Gatorade, Bodyarmor With RTD Offering
October 13, 2020
BioSteel, the Canopy Growth-backed upstart looking to break into the US ready-to- drink sports hydration category, will announce today a distribution deal with ...