The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, announced the launch of Coca-Cola Flex powered by Freestyle, a new beverage dispenser that offers an enhanced guest experience while reducing operational complexity. The next-generation dispenser debuted at the 2023 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago.

Jay Pharoah, comedian and cast member of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” is teaming up with Pepsi Spire, the digital beverage fountain created by Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo, to inspire consumers to raise the flavor of their favorite Pepsi beverages with totally customizable creations, the company says.

Seattle-based Jones Soda Co. announced the official launch and expansion of its premium Jones Cane Sugar Soda fountain program.

Among the iconic, long-standing TV programs that Americans tune in to, one factor can be vital to their longevity: evolution. In “The Simpsons,” Lisa goes from always wanting a pony as a pet to being a vegetarian and a mini-activist, whereas Walter White went from being a desperate chemistry teacher to a drug lord in “Breaking Bad.”

Whether overcoming residuals from the economic recession or more immediate factors, the foodservice channel has faced its share of challenges in recent years.

Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc. launched a new portfolio of Pepsi Spire fountain beverage dispensers that allow consumers to craft more than 1,000 customized beverages with the touch of a button.

Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co. added three new models to its Coca-Cola Freestyle fountain equipment portfolio to help expand the number of locations suited for the technology, the company says. Like the full-size Freestyle machines, the new countertop units offer multiple beverage choices, including low- and zero-calorie options, and an interactive touchscreen experience but in a smaller unit size. The new Coca-Cola Freestyle countertop dispensers will be piloted by the end of the year, the company says.

 In the foodservice channel, 46.8 percent of companies are in the quick-service restaurant business, according to the 2012 Chain Restaurant Report published by Chain Store Publishing Corp.