Let me catch you up on what we’re planning for this year’s Future Smarts conference on Dec. 16 in New York City.
Just this week we announced that Coca-Cola President and CFO John Murphy has joined our program. The 36-year Coke veteran has a massive job overseeing the financial strategy for a global company with a $270 billion market cap. That’s not all. The Global Ventures operating segment that reports to Murphy is responsible for scaling globally Coke’s Costa Coffee business, as well as the company’s almost decade-long strategic partnership with Monster Beverage.
Speaking of Monster Beverage, the company is headed for a changing of the guard in the coming years, as you’ll read in today’s newsletter starting on page 3. The evolution of Coca-Cola’s relationship with Monster will be one to watch. At Future Smarts, I’ll certainly ask Murphy for his view on this important relationship and the future of the energy drinks category.
In fact, Swire Coca-Cola CEO Rob Gehring, who will soon leave to join Monster as chief growth officer, is a past Future Smarts speaker from 2021. That illustrates our priority to host the brightest leaders who are in a position to shape the future of the beverage industry.
Already announced so far for this year’s Future Smarts is Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling CEO Bill O’Brien, and former Boston Beer CEO Dave Burwick. As we...
Meanwhile, CEO Troy Taylor Sees Possible New Horizon in Alcohol
May 8, 2024
Bottler Embraces Role as Tester of Product and Packaging Innovation
Plus: Parcel Delivery Effort Seeks Profitability Down to Six-Pack
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida has come a long way since Troy Taylor leveraged his relationships and expertise as an advisor to Coca-Cola to win franchise bottling territory under Coca-Cola’s massive refranchising effort a decade ago. What started as central Florida territory anchored by Tampa/St. Petersburg has expanded to the entire...
Company Has ‘One Leader,” Gamgort Says of Leadership Transition to Cofer
May 8, 2024
Among Priorities, Cofer Looks to Add Scale to Owned DSD Network.
Gamgort Offers View of Dr Pepper Territories Handled by Coke and Pepsi.
In RTD Coffee, Execs See Chance to ‘Carve Out a Space.’
Full Ownership Not Requirement in Partnership Deals.
Distribution of Athletic Possible?
Plus: Dr Pepper Reaches Milestone in 2023.
Keurig Dr Pepper has a new leader. The company’s board promoted COO Tim Cofer to CEO on April 26 as planned and appointed him to the board. He succeeds...
Executives Responding to Weakness Among Lower-Income Consumers
May 8, 2024
Coca-Cola Writes Down Value of BodyArmor as Fairlife Soars.
PepsiCo: Away-From-Home Outpaced At-Home Sales in First-Quarter.
Monster’s Sacks May Leave CEO Post in 2025. U.S. Price Hike Announced.
Consumer resilience was the theme from Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper executives for the US market during their first-quarter earnings reports. That’s despite two years of persistent grocery...
Trade Show Highlights Poppi, Sparkling Ice, Lemon Perfect, and More
April 4, 2024
New York direct store distributor Big Geyser is known for helping turn aspiring non-alcoholic brands into stars by incubating them up and down the street in one of the most competitive beverage markets in the world. Brands handled by Big Geyser often graduate to the national distribution systems of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, or Keurig Dr Pepper. Notable examples include Vitaminwater and Smartwater, BodyArmor, and Monster Energy. Even more impressive recently is Big Geyser’s ability to hold onto hot brands even after they sign national distribution deals. Recent examples are...
Plus, Company to ‘Aggressively’ Pursue Immediate Consumption Expansion
March 20, 2024
Year-One Progress for C4 Energy Noted. La Colombe RTD Coffee Gets Refresh.
KDP’S Alcohol Related Product Sales Surpass $500M at Retail.
Keurig Dr Pepper hosted an investor update yesterday in New York. The event featured the first in-person investor presentation by COO Tim Cofer, who will take over as...
PepsiCo Moves Blue Cloud from Alcohol Distribution to Brand Licensing
March 7, 2024
PepsiCo Unit Renamed Blue Cloud National.
Hard Mtn Dew Producer Boston Beer, Lipton Hard Iced Tea Maker FIFCO to Retain Roles.
In May, Boston Beer will begin expanding Hard Mtn Dew to 50 states using its beer distribution network, the brewer said last week. As BD reported last week in an exclusive news alert, PepsiCo is shifting its...
The US energy drink category at retail grew dollar sales by +12% in 2023 as volume jumped +5.1%, according to BD data. As shown in the Green Sheet with this story, market leaders...
Hard Mtn Dew Producer Boston Beer, Lipton Hard Iced Tea Maker FIFCO to Retain Roles
February 27, 2024
PepsiCo is shifting its alcohol business strategy from distribution to brand licensing as the company looks to expand Hard Mtn Dew and Lipton Hard Iced Tea nationally at a faster pace, PepsiCo has confirmed to BD. Blue Cloud Distribution will be renamed...
Independent Pepsi Bottlers Take Wait-And-See Approach On New Leader
January 31, 2024
PepsiCo Beverages North America CEO Kirk Tanner will retire from PepsiCo at the end of this week after 32 years to join fast-food chain Wendy’s as its new CEO. Tanner has led...