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...

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 ...

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.

Electrolit, a sports drink brand produced by Mexico-based pharmaceutical company Grupo Pisa, has broken into a US sports drink market dominated by Gatorade, Powerade and Bodyarmor and is looking to expand its...

PepsiCo and Coca-Cola bottlers across the country report out-of-stocks on key Gatorade packages and flavors. Find out why...

Coke’s plan to re-enter the alcohol sector raised a key question: Who will distribute the beverage in the US?

Pepsi bottler Admiral Beverage has sued PepsiCo in a federal court in Wyoming. In the July 6 lawsuit, the bottler alleges that PepsiCo plans to “improperly terminate ," ...

Starting this weekend, Monster Beverages will be free to sell everything from soft drinks to bottled waters outside the Coke system anywhere in the world, including in the US. The contractual waypoint has set off speculation...

Carbonated soft drink demand in the US convenience retail channel grew during the week ending May 3 for the first time since early March, according to data from IRI. The data in the first table for the week ending May 3 is excerpted from a new CPG Demand Index produced by IRI. The data in the second table is excerpted from IRI’s companion CPG Inflation Tracker for the same week ending May 3...