Industry Issues
Coca-Cola names Henrique Braun as next CEO
The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, announced that its board of directors has elected Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Henrique Braun as CEO, effective March 31, 2026. Braun will succeed James Quincey, who will transition to Executive Chairman after serving as CEO for nine years.
The board also plans to nominate Braun, 57, to stand for election as a director at the company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareowners.
Quincey, 60, will step down as CEO after a highly successful tenure, the company says. He has led the transformation of the business as a total beverage company, driven by a focus on staying closely connected to consumers. Under his leadership, the company has added more than 10 additional billion-dollar brands, it adds.
Quincey has reshaped the company’s strategy and operating model to create a more agile, networked company, including a focus on digital transformation and modernized marketing, the company notes. He also led the company through the COVID-19 pandemic.
As CEO, Braun will focus on opportunities to build on this strong foundation. His priorities include seeking the best growth opportunities worldwide; driving the company to get even closer to consumer needs; and leveraging technology as an enabler of business performance and growth.
“James Quincey is a transformative leader,” said David Weinberg, Coca-Cola’s lead independent director, in a statement. “James set and executed a strategy that has built Coca-Cola’s status as a global leader. James will continue to be very active in the business through his role as Executive Chairman. We are confident that Henrique Braun will build on the company’s existing strengths to unlock more growth opportunities and increase the power of the incredible Coca-Cola system.”
Braun added: “I’m honored to take on this new role and have tremendous appreciation for everything James has done to lead the company. I will focus on continuing the momentum we’ve built with our system. We’ll work to unlock future growth in partnership with our bottlers. I’m excited about the future of our business and see huge opportunities in a fast-changing global market.”
DrinkPAK announces expansion to Philadelphia area
DrinkPAK, Santa Clarita, Calif., is expanding and investing $350 million in the construction of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Bellwether District of South Philadelphia.
The 1.4 million-square-foot beverage plant is strategically located along the Delaware River, providing easy access to the Port of Philadelphia and I-95. This location will give DrinkPAK’s customers prime access to the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and the upper Midwest, continuing the company’s commitment to supporting the largest and fastest growing brands in the world, it says.
The high-acid facility, referred to as “DP3”, is expected to open early 2027. The plant will manufacture energy drinks, sodas, teas, juices, waters, protein beverages, seltzers, beer, wine and spirits in all can sizes and packaging formats. The four ultra-high-speed filling lines will produce as many as 3,000 cans a minute each. The facility also will include an automated variety repacking line to produce multi-flavor cartons and trays at speeds as fast as 2,000 cans a minute.
“We are beyond thrilled to plant our next flag in Philadelphia,” said Nate Patena, CEO of DrinkPAK, in a statement. “DrinkPAK now features the three largest can manufacturing facilities in North America, with nearly 5 million square feet stretching from coast to coast. This is the next step in our commitment to providing our customers with the most capable, flexible, and highest capacity plants in the world.”
The project is set to generate 175 full-time job opportunities in the Philadelphia region by 2028, marking a significant contribution to the local economy. DrinkPAK is committed to hiring the best talent in the industry, with roles available in production, batching, quality control, maintenance, engineering and warehousing. DrinkPAK is dedicated to offering industry-leading compensation, comprehensive benefits, and formalized training to its employees, it says.
In The News …
Jones Soda Co., Seattle, announced the hiring of proven executives Darcey Macken and Eric Schnabel to serve as chief operating officer and chief marketing officer, respectively. The company also announced that is increased its revolving credit facility from $5 million to $10 million. Macken is a veteran consumer packaged goods executive with more than two decades of leadership experience across high-growth, innovation-driven food and beverage companies. Prior to joining, Macken was CEO of Planterra Foods, where she established the OZO plant-based protein brand, renovated a large-scale manufacturing facility, and launched more than 20 products across 12 countries. Schnabel brings three decades of experience in advertising, in-house marketing and digital thought leadership. Prior to joining Jones, Schnabel led in-house marketing teams for Kohler Co. and served as a fractional CMO for a variety of businesses. Schnabel spent 10 years at Meta where he co-founded The Creative Shop, a team that pioneered digital marketing across all of the social media giant's platforms.
Montclair, N.J.-based Misunderstood Brands, the innovation-driven spirits company behind Misunderstood Whiskey Co. and OATRAGEOUS, announced a strategic production partnership with Lofted Spirits, marking a significant step in the company's nationwide expansion and acceleration of new product development. As Misunderstood’s footprint grows across key national and regional retailers, the company is preparing for substantial expansion in 2026, it says. Partnering with Lofted Spirits enables Misunderstood to scale more efficiently, innovate more aggressively, and bring new category-pushing products to market with the support of one of the most advanced distilling ecosystems in the country, it adds. Lofted Spirits, parent company of Bardstown Bourbon Co. and Green River Distillery, emerged as the ideal partner thanks to its industry-leading manufacturing platform, deep technical expertise, and commitment to supporting next-generation brands, the company says. Under the new partnership, the Bardstown Bourbon Co. distillery will become the primary production hub for Misunderstood Brands across multiple product lines. “Lofted’s support validates everything we've been building,” said JD Recobs and Chris Buglisi, co-founders of Misunderstood Brands, in a statement. “This partnership gives us the scale, the speed, and the world-class production backbone to meet the demand we’re seeing nationwide while continuing to push into new categories with the creativity our consumers expect from us. With this momentum, we’re strategically preparing for the next stage of growth as we move into 2026.”
Odyssey Functional Energy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is available at more than 90 CIBO Express locations across eight major U.S. airports through a new partnership with OTG, the leading airport retail operator. This expansion marks a significant milestone in Odyssey's strategy to grow into a true national brand, bringing clean, functional energy to millions of travelers on the go, the company says. “We’re thrilled to partner with CIBO Express to bring Odyssey to high-traffic airports nationwide,” said Scott Frohman, CEO and founder of Odyssey Functional Energy, in a statement. “This partnership allows us to connect with travelers where they need energy most, helping them power through busy journeys while experiencing a next-generation approach to functional beverages.” Odyssey is available at the following airports: LaGuardia Airport (New York); John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York); Newark Liberty International Airport (Newark, N.J.); George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Houston); Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (Washington, D.C.); Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (Minneapolis); Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Chicago); and Philadelphia International Airport (Philadelphia).
Once Upon a Coconut (OUAC), Orlando, Fla., announced a strategic partnership with L.A. Libations (LAL), Manhattan Beach, Calif., a leading beverage incubator and accelerator for national growth to expand retail presence. The partnership combines OUAC’s innovative and mission-driven brand with LAL’s proven expertise in beverage incubation, strategic retail leadership and distribution expansion. With LAL’s support, OUAC is strengthening its national footprint, including a national launch in all 2,300-plus Albertsons stores beginning March 1, 2026. The brand also is seeing continued growth in Sprouts Farmers Market, with LAL supporting its presence across the retailer. Together, the companies will strengthen retailer relationships, broaden OUAC's direct store delivery (DSD) footprint, and execute long-term investment strategies designed to scale the brand nationwide. “This partnership is about more than distribution, it's about unlocking the full potential of Once Upon a Coconut,” said John Chiorando, CEO of Once Upon a Coconut, in a statement. “With L.A. Libations by our side, we're taking the next big step toward making our brand a household name, while staying true to our mission of offering better-for-you hydration and giving back to communities everywhere.”
San Diego-based PopSips, the spiked prebiotic soda brand, announced a statewide retail expansion across H-E-B stores in Texas. Known for its feel-good ingredients, elevated taste, and a buzz you'll remember, PopSips continues to accelerate the rise of alcohol options made with better ingredients as it scales distribution in Texas with Dynamo Distribution and top-tier beer distribution partners across states nationwide, the company says. In less than a year since its national debut with Target, PopSips has expanded into 10 states and was on track to exceed 1,000 retail placements by 2025 year-end. “Texas is becoming a major market for PopSips with this H-E-B rollout,” said Garrett Olsen, co-founder and CEO of PopSips, in a statement. “Gen Z and millennials care about taste, quality, and what their drinks are made of. PopSips exists for people who want all three.” Andy Kuklock, co-founder and CMO of PopSips, added: “We are excited that more people across Texas now have a better-for-you option in the alcohol aisle with PopSips. People want better options without giving up the parts of drinking they enjoy most. That’s why we made PopSips.”