Coca-Cola
Fanta Launches Dark Cherry Flavor With Xbox Gaming Partnership
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners expands its "Wanta Fanta" campaign with a new limited-edition Dark Cherry flavor combining apple and cherry, available in 330ml cans and eight-pack multipacks. Across the full Fanta range, limited-edition packaging features characters from five Xbox gaming franchises: Call of Duty, Halo, World of Warcraft, Forza Horizon 6 and Diablo. On-pack QR codes offer consumers the chance to win gaming rewards including exclusive in-game content, merchandise and gaming experiences. The promotion runs through June 10, supported by outdoor advertising, paid social media, influencer partnerships and experiential events.
Coca-Cola Consolidated Plans $35 Million Glass Bottling Expansion
Coca-Cola Consolidated announced a $35 million investment to add a glass bottle production line at its Indianapolis facility on West 25th Street. Construction is set to begin in late 2026. The expansion will make Indianapolis one of only three Coca-Cola Consolidated facilities in the United States to bottle beverages in glass. In operation since the late 1960s, the site currently accommodates four production lines.
Coca-Cola Reports 3% Volume Growth In Q1 2026
Coca-Cola’s unit case volume growth of 3% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 is an improvement on the 1% growth recorded in each of the two prior quarters. Asia Pacific led with 5% growth, followed by North America at 4%. CEO Henrique Braun cited strong performance across trademark Coca-Cola, Fanta, Fresca, Bodyarmor, Powerade, Dasani, Smartwater and Minute Maid, along with cherry-flavored innovation launches and mini cans. Net income rose 18% to $3.9 billion and sales increased 12% to $12.5 billion. CFO John Murphy said the company remains on track to meet its fiscal 2026 guidance of 4-5% organic sales growth.
Diet Coke Shortage In India, But Pakistan Unlikely To Follow
Diet Coke became largely unavailable across India in mid-April, due to a combination of delayed aluminum can shipments from the Gulf, disrupted by the US-Iran war, a 20% rise in global aluminum prices and growing domestic demand. Diet Coke is sold only in cans in India, and local can production became more expensive because of an energy shortage. In Pakistan, Diet Coke is sold in plastic bottles as well as cans, and domestic manufacturer Pakistan Aluminium Beverage Can Limited has excess production capacity.
Keurig Dr Pepper
KDP Highlights Innovation As Sales Rise 8%
Keurig Dr Pepper reported Q1 sales of almost $4 billion, up 8% year-on-year, driven by net price gains of 5.5% and volume/mix growth of 2.6%. In carbonated soft drinks, Canada Dry Fruit Splash Strawberry launched nationally in February and Dr Pepper Creamy Coconut relaunched as a limited-time offering, targeting interest in “dirty sodas”. Dr Pepper Zero Sugar continued double-digit growth and the energy portfolio, which includes Ghost, C4, Bloom and Black Rifle, now exceeds $1 billion in combined annual sales. Net income fell nearly 48%, largely on costs associated with the completed acquisition of JDE Peet’s. KDP plans to split into two standalone businesses, Beverage Co. and Global Coffee Co., by early next year, subject to market conditions.
Monster
Monster Energy Headlines UCI Mountain Bike World Cup In South Korea
Monster Energy was the headline partner of the 2026 UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup in South Korea from April 30 to May 2, the first official UCI Downhill World Cup held in Asia in 25 years. In the Elite Men Downhill final, Monster Energy rider Amaury Pierron finished third despite crashing near the finish line. In the UCI Cross-Country Olympic World Cup, Monster Energy's Luca Martin took second place and teammate Charlie Aldridge finished third. The 2026 season continues at Loudenvielle, France, from May 28 to 31.
Other Companies
US Brand The Cycle Launches Phase-Based Drinks For Women
US brand The Cycle’s range of four functional beverages, Pre-Period Comfort, Period Comfort, Peri Comfort and Meno Comfort, are formulated to cover different stages of the menstrual and menopausal cycle. Each is made with sea buckthorn and phase-specific botanicals. All four are non-sparkling, caffeine-free, contain zero added sugar, and have no artificial colors, sweeteners or preservatives. They launched in 12oz cans at Sprouts Farmers Market stores in the US this month. The brand was founded in Los Angeles by Anastasia Sarta, a former Snapchat product director.
Atlantic Grupa Takes Minority Stake In Waterdrop
Croatian FMCG company Atlantic Grupa invested €11 million for a minority stake in Vienna-based hydration brand Waterdrop, which makes sugar-free flavored water cubes from fruit and plant extracts. Waterdrop reported annual revenue of approximately €150 million and operates around 50 retail stores across Europe, the US, Australia and Japan. Atlantic Grupa now has a seat on Waterdrop’s investment committee and builds on an existing distribution partnership in Austria, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. Atlantic Grupa said the deal aligns with consumer trends such as premiumization, sustainability, functional hydration and lower sugar consumption.
New Sparkling Coffee Drink Esspo Launches At Whole Foods Nationwide
Esspo, a new RTD sparkling coffee beverage, is designed as an afternoon alternative to milky coffee drinks. Inspired by the espresso tonic, the drink is formulated with carbonated water, cold brew coffee extract, blue agave nectar, L-theanine, monk fruit extract and natural flavors. Each can delivers 120 mg of caffeine and 45 calories. Flavors include vanilla, cherry vanilla and sweet lemon. Esspo launched in approximately 530 Whole Foods Market locations nationwide in April, after an initial direct-to-consumer rollout, and the brand plans expansion into natural channels and further into conventional grocery.
Purity Soft Drinks Rebrands Around Its Lead Product Juice Burst
Purity Soft Drinks in the UK will rename itself The Juice Burst Drinks Co. in the coming months, aligning corporate identity with its best-performing brand. The transition will include refreshed brand positioning and a planned relaunch of Juice Burst with new packaging rolling out in summer 2026, backed by a consumer campaign beginning in September. It will prioritize distribution gains across retail and wholesale and accelerate its presence in the convenience channel.
Ethos Global Launches FANTOME Energy Drink In India
Indian business house Ethos Global launched FANTOME, an energy drink containing caffeine and B-vitamins, available in low sugar and zero sugar variants. Group Chairman Ankit Khandelwal described the product as reflecting a lifestyle and mindset aimed at consumers who are "constantly striving, creating, and pushing boundaries." FANTOME is positioned toward activities including studying, gaming, working out and professional pursuits and is available across retail and online platforms in India, with the company aiming to tap into India’s expanding energy drink market.
UK’s Neutonic Raises $6 Million To Triple Revenue Through Retail Expansion
UK-based functional drinks producer Neutonic is targeting revenue of more than $25 million in 2026, up from $8 million in 2025, through retail expansion in the UK, the US and a new market entry in Australia. Neutonic raised $6 million for a $60 million valuation to fund the push. In the UK, Neutonic is entering 500 Sainsbury’s stores through a meal deal offering. In the US, it plans to expand into Hy-Vee supermarkets in May and Schnucks in August. Backers in the funding round include Grenade founder Alan Barratt and athlete Ross Edgley. The brand, which sells nootropic-infused natural energy drinks and supplements, launched on Amazon in 2023. Co-founders James Smith and Chris Williamson remain majority shareholders.
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