Conditions are ripe for accelerated consolidation of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage distribution businesses in the US market, predicts Matt Hughes, a former Coca-Cola Venturing and Emerging Brands executive. That could mean even Coca-Cola and Pepsi franchise bottlers one day look to combine with beer distributors to add efficiency and boost...

This is one dynamic beverage industry.

Our lead story (pg. 3) uncovers how Olipop Cofounder Ben Goodwin intends to pursue $1 billion brand status — and he says he can do it without direct store delivery, at least for now. This digestive health drink, or gut soda as some refer to it, didn’t exist before six years ago. And Olipop helped spawn a formidable competitor in Poppi. Many alternative sodas have marketed themselves at the expense of traditional sodas. Olipop has been among the most successful so far. I’ll note, as well, that in an era when barriers to entry in non-alcoholic beverages are lower than ever, Olipop is a brand built on function, R&D, and efficacy. That’s worth watching.

The second story in today’s issue (pg. 6) features a conversation with former Coca-Cola Venturing and Emerging Brands executive Matt Hughes. He is a well-known and respected industry voice whose expertise bridges the gap between mainstream and emerging brands. Now with private equity firm Franchise Equity Partners, Hughes is tracking the winds of change within

Critical Convenience Channel Underperforms Category.

US carbonated soft drink dollar sales grew +4.0% during the first half of 2024 as volume sales declined -1.1%, according to BD data. The result represented a slight improvement from the first quarter of this year, when dollar sales grew +3.3% and volume sales

Plus, 4-Week Retail Data Shows Stable Pricing Growth Across Categories.

An informal BD survey of July 4 weekend holiday pricing revealed a more muted promotional environment for a key carbonated soft drink (CSD) package compared to 2023. BD reviewed...

Sports Drink Category Lackluster on Weak Gatorade, BodyArmor Performance.

Prime Hydration Rocket Ship Slows.

Sparkling Water Performance Strong, as Sparkling Ice, LaCroix, Polar Add Volume.

Category Green Sheets: CSDs, Energy, Sports, Water (Sparkling, Plain, Enhanced)

Carbonated soft drink (CSD) volume at US retail declined -1.5% during the first quarter of 2024, which was less than

Today’s special issue is a top-level view of that annual all-channel Fact Book report. The following pages cover major beverage companies, categories, trademarks, and brands. It’s your quick reference guide to how the biggest players are performing in both liquid refreshment beverages and carbonated soft drinks, and it provides a snapshot of the intense competition in the US beverage business.

For much more detail into the numbers, you’ll want to purchase the full Fact Book, available HERE. This deep report covers CSDs, packaged water, sports drinks, energy drinks, juice, and ready-to-drink coffee, and tea. It includes charts and tables breaking down last year’s results and trends. A comprehensive set of “Datasheets” in Excel format provides brand level detail, grouped by company and category.

This Fact Book and all-channel data is based on Beverage Digest’s evaluation, analysis, and estimates of information obtained both publicly and from confidential sources. The team has organized and maintains the data within a relational database. Our annual industry estimates are fine-tuned as we develop new information.

For nearly three decades, Beverage Digest’s Fact Book has become a trusted tool for the industry, and we are proud to bring you the following overview...

Coca-Cola’s volume share of the US carbonated soft drink (CSD) market at retail surpassed 40% in 2023, according to BD data. As shown in the table, market leader Coke gained nearly half...

Private label carbonated soft drink volume jumped +7.2% at US retail during the first nine months of this year, according to BD data, as persistent grocery inflation pressured price-sensitive consumers. Private label CSDs also gained a half-point of ...