Podcast
The Breeze With Beverage Digest
Hosted by Beverage Digest · EN
Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford talks shop: news of the day, interesting competitive trends, new products and categories. He brings you into the kinds of conversations that we have here every day at Beverage Digest. To dissect what’s happening, connect dots, and ask the most important question: “What does this mean?”
29episodes
Episodes
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Episode 32: Less Volume, More Dollars: The Paradox Reshaping the Beverage Industry
3w ago00:45:44Tap to summarizeJohn Sicher turns the tables on Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford to interview him about Beverage Digest’s newly-released Fact Book 31st Edition.They trade notes on what the data says about where U.S. beverage demand is actually going.They dig into:• Why total LRB volume turns negative, why energy keeps winning, and why per capita CSD per capita consumption is the number that industry insiders should we watching most closely. • How Fuze Tea’s staying power in Spain is a reminder that so-called “failed” U.S. brands can thrive globally• Inflation, premium trade-offs, and why volume can fall while dollars rise • The case for tap water and refillables as a hidden volume competitor • Carbonated soft drink volume decline vs revenue growth management reality • Zero sugar soda growth as a proxy for shifting artificial sweetener sentiment • Why prebiotic soda and “modern soda” create a gateway back to fizz • Energy drinks as a new, distinct use case in QSRs and why chains like McDonald’s want beverage traffic • Cola share erosion, more options, and the challenge of rebuilding demand • Sports drink growth stalling and the need to re-explain “better than water” If you're interested in Beverage Digest’s newly-released statistical yearbook of the U.S. packaged beverage industry, visit https://www.beverage-digest.com/factbook to buy and download immediately.Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.
Transcribe →Episode 31: Can Big CPG Companies Close the Innovation Gap? The Case for Cultural Momentum Over Brand Equity
Mar 1100:41:21Tap to summarizeIn today's episode of The Breeze, Duane Stanford and John Sicher bring in RBC Capital Markets analyst Nik Modi to unpack why big beverage companies struggle to create disruptive innovation in-house. And when big companies acquire disruptive new brands, why are the results so mixed? Duane, John, and Nik use Coca-Cola's acquisitions of BodyArmor and Fairlife as case studies to explore distribution speed, culture, incentives, and how organizing around occasions can restore relevance.• BodyArmor’s write-downs and sports drinks losing hero status• The three pillars of deals and why manageability breaks• Distribution pace versus market-by-market velocity• Cultural momentum beats brand equity• Founder retention and the Church & Dwight model• Dual engines for core and emerging brands• Organizing around occasions, not categories• Fairlife’s independence, protein timing, and tech moat• PepsiCo–Poppi risks and keeping operational fit• AI, data, and faster concept-to-shelf cyclesText us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.
Transcribe →Episode 30: Making Sense of State SNAP Soda Bans. How Should Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper Respond?
Jan 2700:33:56Tap to summarizeIn today's Episode, Duane Stanford (Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher) and John Sicher (Industry Expert, Consultant) take a data-driven look at how new SNAP restrictions on soda and energy drinks will alter consumer behavior, retailer dynamics, and beverage brand strategy in the coming year. They weigh the policy’s equity questions, the sweetener debate, and the near-term playbook for affordability and channel shifts.• States adopting waivers and their SNAP participation rates• Inclusion of zero sugar and artificial sweeteners in bans• Price inflation impact and equity concerns for low-income households• RBC and Numerator data on cutbacks, switching, and store choice• Channel exposure across grocery, mass, dollar, club, and convenience• The Possible rise of private label and value packs• Affordability tactics: smaller packages and sharper price points• Policy test requirements and uncertain long-term outcomesText us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.
Transcribe →Episode 29: State of Play Going Into 2026
Jan 600:38:34Summary readyCoca-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.Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.
SummaryEpisode 28: Soft Drink Fountain Food Fight and What it Means for Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper
Nov 1300:41:18Tap to summarizeBeverage 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.Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.
Transcribe →Episode 27: Alcohol is in Crisis. RBC's Nik Modi Knows Why
Oct 600:49:00Tap to summarizeAlcohol 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.Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.
Transcribe →Episode 26: Serve & Volley - Focused Strategy Plays at Pepsi, Dr Pepper, and Coke
Sep 1200:52:15Tap to summarizeBeverage 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.Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.
Transcribe →Episode 25: Coke Threads the Cane Sugar Needle. C-stores and Energy’s Unstoppable Rise. Plus, Prebiotic Pepsi?
Aug 100:42:04Tap to summarizeBeverage 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.Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.
Transcribe →Episode 24: What's Next in Beverage M&A? Hints from PepsiCo-Poppi, Celsius-Alani Nu, and Spindrift-Gryphon. Banker Ross Colbert Joins Us
Jun 2700:46:56Tap to summarizeBeverage 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.Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.
Transcribe →Episode 23: Sprite, Poppi, Alani Nu, BodyArmor. Unearthing Insights from BD's Fact Book 30th Edition
May 15, 202500:46:14Tap to summarizeBeverage 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 industryVisit 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.Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.
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