The Breeze With Beverage Digest

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 p

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 threat

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 separa

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 t

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 creat

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 restric

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 regu

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 do

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 analy

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 – fr

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 s

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 & b

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 ov

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 Monst

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 bra

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 bottl

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

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 da

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 Joh

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 well