Strategy Embraces Sector’s High-Octane Genesis and Rockstar’s ‘In-Your-Face’ Past
May 15, 2026
Celsius Energy went from being an underdog to the No. 3 energy drink in the US with a simple formula: broaden the base. Rather than competing for the traditional male energy drink consumer through testosterone-fueled marketing, Celsius Energy built its brand around flavor and a wellness-oriented identity that gave women and professionals who had never bought an energy drink permission to enter the category. Now, with the acquisition of Rockstar Energy from PepsiCo last year, parent company Celsius Holdings is tapping back into the category's roots to access the adrenaline and attitude that built the energy drink sector. “We’ve always been an in-your-face brand,” Celsius Holdings CMO Rishi Daing said of Rockstar, for which he is spearheading a marketing reset. “But we became a little too polished in recent years, maybe a little too sophisticated. Our consumers probably weren't finding that as relevant anymore.” Last month, Celsius Holdings launched a new “Live Loud” brand identity and marketing campaign, playing off Celsius Energy’s “Live. Fit. Go” brand positioning. The new Rockstar positioning comes with an aggressive push into music, action sports, and motorsports. Daing said...
Launch Plan Announced for 'Gatorlyte Longer Lasting' Brand Variant
April 23, 2026
The last time PepsiCo overhauled its Gatorade strategy, Indra Nooyi was chairman and CEO. Back in 2009, amid the Great Recession, Nooyi attributed a slump in Gatorade sales to the fact that couch potato consumers, who “didn’t really have a right to exist in the Gatorade world,” had turned to other beverages, including tap water. The brand’s solution at the time was...
Wish List Includes Close Ties to Bottlers, Quick Decision Making, Total Beverage Innovation
March 25, 2026
Coca-Cola bottlers in the US are broadly optimistic about incoming Coca-Cola CEO Henrique Braun, expressing confidence that his ground-level understanding of local markets and emphasis on consumer and digital...
Company Takes Second BodyArmor Impairment Charge on 2021 Acquisition
February 17, 2026
Coke Execs See Progress in BodyArmor-Powerade ‘Dual Strategy’
2025 Sports Drink Category and Brand Performance at US Retail: Green Sheet
Coca-Cola is folding its BodyArmor Sports Nutrition unit, which includes Powerade, into a new Advanced Hydration unit to encompass Vitaminwater and Smartwater, as BD first reported in a Feb. 5 email news alert. BodyArmor and Powerade have operated...