The Breeze With Beverage Digest

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Latest episode

Sep 2026

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About the show

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?”

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36 recent

October 15, 2026Episode 3642 min

Episode 36: Should Soda Bottlers Sell Alcohol? And can they?

Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert John Sicher dig into whether Coke and Pepsi bottlers should get serious about distributing alcohol, and why the three-tier system makes it far harder than it seems to “just put it on the truck.” Along the way, they unpack PepsiCo’s Blue Cloud experiment and Coke’s licensing-first strategy. They also take a few minutes to assess whether Coca-Cola’s new prebiotic versions of Coke Zero, Sprite Zero, and Fresca are a scalable path to growth. • post-COVID crossover rush between non-alcoholic and alcohol companies • why declining volumes make bottlers crave more truck tonnage • the trade-offs between bottler upside and franchisor distraction risk • how the three-tier system and state-by-state rules limit vertical integration • what PepsiCo’s Blue Cloud tried to do and why regulators pushed back • why Coke’s licensing model avoids distribution warfare • how prebiotic soda creates “permission to drink” and whether the segment has the staying power of energy drinks • the “jelly bean rule” context for functional claims in soft drinks Visit our website to learn more about our products and subscribe to our newsletter: www.beverage digest.com. Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.

September 3, 2026Episode 3549 min

Episode 35: Future Proofing Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper

What happens to the U.S. beverage industry when the big categories can’t count on easy growth, and pricing becomes the only lever left to pull? Are the major companies positioning themselves for future growth? In this episode of The Breeze, Duane and John zoom out to a big strategic question for Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper. If liquid refreshment beverages are flat to down, how do these companies avoid missing the next energy drink-style wave, whether it’s gut health, hemp-derived THC beverages, or something no one sees yet? Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.

July 30, 2026Episode 3436 min

Episode 34: The Hidden Cost of SNAP Soda Cuts on Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper

Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert John Sicher uncover the hidden impact of SNAP soda restrictions in the U.S. as these policies threaten consumer behavior across the carbonated soft drink market. From court challenges to SNAP eligibility cuts, they also explore what SNAP sales data reveals so far, why diet soda gets lumped in to restrictions, and how the industry is responding. In this episode: • Federal judge blocks SNAP soft drink restrictions in five states while other waivers stand • Consumer survey signals potential pullback in carbonated soft drink purchasing • CSD category vulnerability after decades of volume decline and reliance on pricing power • Stigma risk as policy headlines shape how all shoppers think about soft drinks • Industry response that treats the impact as quantifiable and politically sensitive • Debate over paternalism, fairness, and selective targeting in public assistance rules • Question of why diet and zero-sugar drinks are included in restrictions • Circana read that CSD incidence drops in SNAP trips while sports and energy tick up •Patchwork rollout across states, health improvement questions, and legal durability • Compounding effect of fewer households qualifying for SNAP benefits. Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.

June 12, 2026Episode 3342 min

Episode 33: The Beverage Consumer Reality Check

Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert John Sicher bring Wall Street beverage analyst Kaumil Gajrawala of Jefferies into the room to separate consumer reality from consumer headlines. They pressure-test what “value” really means across today’s beverage aisle and dig into why energy drinks keep winning, how Coke’s price/mix strategy works, and where protein and non-alcoholic beer could steal the next occasion. Also: • How Jefferies tracks consumer health using delinquencies, auto loans, and payment data • Why “the consumer is weak” becomes an easy excuse for poor portfolio performance • Value equation vs affordability, and why breaking trust on price is hard to fix • The ladder behind energy drink growth: new consumers, new occasions, foodservice, and innovation • Why energy looks cheaper versus coffee over the last five years • Why carbonated soft drinks handle price-per-ounce variation better than most categories • What revenue growth management changes mean for Coca-Cola and bottlers...and more. Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.

April 30, 2026Episode 3245 min

Episode 32: Less Volume, More Dollars: The Paradox Reshaping the Beverage Industry

John 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.

March 11, 2026Episode 3141 min

Episode 31: Can Big CPG Companies Close the Innovation Gap? The Case for Cultural Momentum Over Brand Equity

In 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 cycles Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.

January 27, 2026Episode 3033 min

Episode 30: Making Sense of State SNAP Soda Bans. How Should Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper Respond?

In 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 outcomes Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.

January 6, 2026Episode 2938 min

Episode 29: State of Play Going Into 2026

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. Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.

November 13, 2025Episode 2841 min

Episode 28: Soft Drink Fountain Food Fight and What it Means for Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper

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. Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.

October 6, 2025Episode 2749 min

Episode 27: Alcohol is in Crisis. RBC's Nik Modi Knows Why

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. Text us thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions.