Coca-Cola’s leadership change. PepsiCo’s post-activist playbook. KDP’s upcoming strategic re-organization. The commoditization of bottled and sparkling water. MAHA’s regulatory shakeup. Refocusing the consumer on sports drinks. As we start 2026, Duane Stanford and John Sicher dive into the hottest industry inflection points.

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Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert John Sicher are joined by Tim Harms, CEO of fountain soft drink deal negotiator Enliven, to break down the mystery behind exclusive beverage supply deals at restaurants. How are these deals constructed? How do brand portfolios influence decision making? They also explore what drives consumers in the fountain and food service channel: customization, modern beverages like Poppi, digital ordering, and more.

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Alcohol is under pressure—from shifting consumption trends and rising health concerns to a loss of marketing relevance. In today's Episode, RBC Capital Markets analyst Nik Modi joins Duane Stanford (Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher) and John Sicher (Industry Expert, Consultant) to unpack the causes behind the persistent sales decline across beer, wine, and spirits. Are the problems cyclical (the economy) or structural (people are simply drinking less)? What lessons can alcohol brands learn from soda’s decline and reckoning? What does this mean for companies like Coke and PepsiCo and their bottlers, which are looking for growth in the alcoholic beverage sector. And how will functionality, occasion-based marketing, and cross-category consolidation fit into the future? Modi makes a bold prediction on the latter.

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Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert & regular podcast contributor John Sicher discuss the avalanche of news from the past few weeks – from PepsiCo's and Keurig Dr Pepper’s strategic shifts to Coca-Cola's potential sale of Costa Coffee. This episode unpacks the strategies at play that could create new focus within the U.S. beverage industry. Discover how these industry giants are navigating market changes and what it means for the future of beverages.

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Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert & regular podcast contributor John Sicher tackle three big topics today. Duane and John ponder new sugary Coke innovation coaxed by President Donald Trump. They also assess convenience store traffic and what it means for the seemingly unstoppable rise of the U.S. energy drink category. And finally, Pepsi announced a new prebiotic cola, right after acquiring Poppi.

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Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert & regular podcast contributor John Sicher are joined by Ross Colbert - Managing Director of food & beverage investment banking for Carter Morse & Goodrich. They discuss M&A strategy, acquisitions, and changing business models for 2025 and beyond.

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Beverage industry veterans Duane Stanford and John Sicher analyze the latest trends revealed in the Beverage Digest Fact Book, discussing the surprising rise of Sprite over Pepsi and the continued dominance of functional beverages.

• Non-alcoholic beers gaining mainstream acceptance as daytime alternatives to diet sodas
• THC beverages operating in regulatory "Wild West" environment likely to face increased scrutiny
• Sprite overtakes Pepsi to become America's third-ranked carbonated soft drink
• PepsiCo has a long-term strategy as a "total beverage company" too
• Functional refreshment drives growth in "gut sodas" like Poppy and Olipop
• Energy drinks remain strong despite economic pressures due to functionality and flavor variety
• Liquid refreshment beverage market shows bifurcated growth—water and energy drinks up
• Sports drinks category puzzlingly weak despite functional benefits and strong brands
• Coca-Cola implementing unified "sandwich strategy" with Body Armor and Powerade
• Economic pressures and potential tariff impacts creating uncertain environment for beverage industry

Visit our website to learn more about the Beverage Digest Fact Book, the Keurig Dr Pepper System Map Book, and subscribe to our digital newsletter for exclusive industry insights.

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Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert & regular podcast contributor John Sicher discuss Rodney Sacks’ announced retirement as CEO of Monster Beverage. When Rodney Sacks and Hilton Schlosberg spotted the emerging energy drink trend in the early 2000s, few could have predicted they'd build a $53 billion global empire. Yet that's exactly what they did with Monster Energy, creating a brand that now rivals corporate giants like Ford and DuPont in market value.

The announcement of Sacks' upcoming retirement as Co-CEO (transitioning to chairman until 2026) marks a pivotal moment in beverage industry history. His legacy? Transforming a small juice company into a dominant force commanding 35% of the US energy drink market, with 35 brands sold in 159 countries and $7.5 billion in annual revenue.

As leadership transitions to Schlosberg amid a flurry of industry consolidation (Celsius acquiring Alani Nu, Ghost Energy joining Keurig Dr Pepper), Monster's future success will depend on maintaining the competitive edge and strategic discipline that defined the Sacks era while adapting to an increasingly crowded marketplace.

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