The Breeze With Beverage Digest
Episodes
32 episodes
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 d...
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...
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 dyna...
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...
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 ...
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 J...
Episode 26: Serve & Volley - Focused Strategy Plays at Pepsi, Dr Pepper, and Coke
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'...
Episode 25: Coke Threads the Cane Sugar Needle. C-stores and Energy’s Unstoppable Rise. Plus, Prebiotic Pepsi?
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 ...
Episode 24: What's Next in Beverage M&A? Hints from PepsiCo-Poppi, Celsius-Alani Nu, and Spindrift-Gryphon. Banker Ross Colbert Joins Us
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. Th...
Episode 23: Sprite, Poppi, Alani Nu, BodyArmor. Unearthing Insights from BD's Fact Book 30th Edition
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...
Episode 22: Monster, Celsius, C4 and the Energy Drink Pioneer Who Fears No Challengers
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 e...
Episode 21: Unpacking Dr Pepper's Journey from Regional Obsession to National Star
Today, Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert & regular podcast contributor John Sicher discuss the remarkable journey of Dr Pepper – a brand that has thrived in today's demanding carbonated soft drink lan...
Episode 20: Five Story Lines for a Make or Break 2025
To kick off the new year, Duane and John talk beverage industry trends and expectations for 2025 - including pricing power, the energy category, and the US beverage bottling landscape. Duane Stanford is the Editor & Publisher o...
Episode 19: KDP’s Ghost Gambit, Bang Founder’s Ai Reboot, and the Big Energy Squeeze
Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert & regular podcast contributor John Sicher discuss a wild October in the energy drinks sector.Bang founder and former CEO Jack Owoc announced he is getting bac...
Episode 18: Who is Positioned to Win? An Industry Report Card
Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert & regular podcast contributor John Sicher dive into the most recent beverage category performance data to see what it tells them about brands, consumers, and the reta...
Episode 17: Prime, Gatorade, BodyArmor and the Sports Slump
After the rapid sales decline of Congo Brands' influencer-driven Prime Hydration this year, Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert John Sicher dig into the brand's boom-splat storyline to assess what this mean...
Episode 16: Poppi and Our "Gut Feeling" About Permissible Sodas
Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford chats with industry expert & The Breeze contributor John Sicher about the future of prebiotic sodas, how health and wellness soft drinks fit into the broader packaged beverage sector, an...
Episode 15: Twenty-year 'Startup' Monster Faces Energy Drink Turbulence
Is the energy drink market truly slowing down? In Episode 15 of The Breeze, industry expert John Sicher joins Beverage Digest Editor and Publisher Duane Stanford to analyze recent performance data showing rocky performance this year for the ene...
Episode 14: Keurig Dr Pepper’s Seismic Shift and What it Means for the Coke and Pepsi Systems
Beverage Digest’s Duane Stanford and The Breeze contributor John Sicher hash through the strategy and consequences behind Keurig Dr Pepper’s decision to take back Dr Pepper franchise territory from Reyes Coca-Cola in California and Nevada. Will...
Episode 13: Is Disney's Marvel the Answer for Coke?
In today's episode, industry expert John Sicher joins Beverage Digest Editor and Publisher Duane Stanford to explore the recent shift in Coca-Cola's and PepsiCo's soft drink marketing strategies, exemplified by platforms like Coke Creations. Wh...
Episode 12: Walmart, Dasani, Aquafina and the Changing Business of Bottled Water
In today's episode, industry expert John Sicher joins Beverage Digest Editor and Publisher Duane Stanford to explore the evolution of the purified bottled water category. As Coke and Pepsi shift their casepack water strategies away from DSD at ...
Episode 11: Five Big Beverage Bets for 2024
In today's episode, Beverage Digest Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford and industry expert John Sicher tackle five predictions for the upcoming year that range from alcohol to acquisitions. They dive into some of the year's most intriguing t...
Episode 10: The Most Intriguing Developments in Beverages
Duane Stanford and John Sicher recap and analyze the most intriguing and unexpected developments in beverages from 2023, including the great alcohol crossover, cannabis regulation, the creator economy, BodyArmor’s journey, Bang Energy's fall an...
Episode 9: What's Next for Coke and Pepsi Pricing?
In today's episode, industry expert John Sicher joins Beverage Digest Editor and Publisher Duane Stanford to break down Tuesday's Coca-Cola earnings report, and PepsiCo's results earlier this month. Industry insiders have been surprised by the ...
Episode 8: Why Pepsi and Coke Are Ditching Conventional Wisdom
PepsiCo's announced investment in online grocery delivery service Instacart begs a question: Isn’t PepsiCo essentially competing now against some of its most important retail customers? Take Walmart, for example, which is aggressively expanding...