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...

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 ...

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. . .

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 ...

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?”...