2022 January

Welcome to our first issue of 2022, in which we present the Bottler of the Year: Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of McAlester, which has continued to post year-over-year growth of its non-carbonated and carbonated portfolios. Also featured in this issue is an analysis of the latest trends in the juice market, the growth of low- and no-alcohol beverage segments, as well as a feature on how supermarkets are adjusting to increasing competition from other retail channels, particularly eCommerce.

Cover Feature

2022 Bottler of the Year: Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of McAlester

Family-owned distributor grows its carb, non-carb businesses

Jessica Jacobsen

January 3, 2022

Legacy takes on a deeper meaning for Charles Rogers, CEO of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of McAlester, as the company looks to continue to grow its carbonated and non-carbonated businesses, a feat that not many bottlers can attest.

R&D Feature

Weight management coincides with healthier lifestyle

Suppliers aiding weight management through innovations in sugar reduction, functionality

Barbara Harfmann

December 27, 2021

Beverage trends including gluten free, non-GMO, plant-based and low- or no-sugar are resonating in the marketplace as consumers are looking for more than a “diet” to help them manage their weight.

Packaging Equipment

Flexibility vital for can filling and seaming equipment

Quality control, safety important on filling lines

Barbara Harfmann

December 30, 2021

Can fillers and seamers have adapted to handle the influx of SKUs flooding the beverage market to keep operations running smoothly.

Liftgates support rear-load delivery needs

Distribution

Liftgates continue to support rear-load delivery needs

Suppliers aid bulk-delivery models with upgrades to liftgates

Jeff Cioletti

December 28, 2021

By and large, the overall movement continues to be toward rear-load bulk delivery for beverage fleets. As such, liftgate innovations will remain in lockstep with this shift.

Channel Strategies

Supermarkets turbocharge investments into digital technology

Consumers become more digitally engaged

Lauren Sabetta

December 17, 2021

As consumers' shopping behaviors are changing, traditional grocery stores are seeking new ways to further engage consumers. For many grocery stores, the new path to differentiation is digital.

Novembal Novactive 28 non-spill sports cap by SmartSeal

Packaging Materials

Caps, closures provide protection, premiumization

Intelligent packaging to reach $46B by 2031

Barbara Harfmann

December 23, 2021

Tasked with protecting the contents of beverages, caps and closures also are seeing trends that impact sustainable measures as well as incorporating smart technology.

Operations

Reusable container systems help reduce companies’ carbon footprint

Plastic pallets helps reduce CO2 emission during transportation

Lauren Sabetta

December 22, 2021

By reducing the repeated need for single-use packaging, reusable containers not only help companies become more cost-efficient, but also helps combat climate change by further reducing companies’ carbon footprint.

Ingredient Spotlight

Classic flavors remain in favor with consumers, new beverages

Vanilla, chocolate and strawberry help bridge gap for new flavor trends

Jessica Jacobsen

December 21, 2021

Classic flavors such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry have enjoyed longevity throughout the beverage market even as new, exotic entrants look to challenge their status.

Category Focus

Juice manufacturers address consumer concerns with fortification

Calorie, sugar content challenges juice market

Jessica Jacobsen

December 20, 2021

As the juice and juice drinks category sees increasing competition from emerging beverage categories, beverage-makers, too, are looking to reimage this classic category.

Category Focus

Increased demand for no/low alcohol drinks brings opportunities

Consumers are becoming more familiar, accepting of no/low alcohol beverages

Lauren Sabetta

December 16, 2021

Driven by pandemic health concerns as well as shifts in consumers' attitudes toward drinking, low- and no-alcohol beverage options are of high interest to consumers, signaling an opportunity for new product development.

Beverage Beat

Beverage-makers see potential of NFT marketplace

NFT transactions up triple digits, Brandessence Market Research data shows

Jessica Jacobsen

December 14, 2021

As we enter 2022, it looks as though more business operations, including the beverage market, are “trying something new” with entries into the non-fungible token (NFT) market.

Operations Perspective

Flexibility key to vital beverage packaging environment

Real-time changes impact manufacturing, packaging lines

John Peter Koss

December 29, 2021

Flexibility requires many significant factors to be considered when designing and installing packaged production lines in a beverage manufacturing facility.

Between Drinks

No alcohol trend rising in prominence

A third of Gen Z consumers don’t drink alcohol

Barbara Harfmann

December 15, 2021

Trends indicate that no alcohol is trending not just in “Dry January” but throughout the year. As a result, beverage manufacturers are stocking shelves with plenty of non-alcohol beer, wine and spirits.

Last Drop

2022 presents significant opportunities for US-based wine brands

Sparkling wine gains share against table wine

Lauren Sabetta

December 13, 2021

Pent-up demand following pandemic lockdowns has served to increase sparkling wine’s growth, data shows. Meanwhile consumers are showing preference for U.S.-sourced wine varietals.

Beverage Industry Magazine

Cover Story

2022 Bottler of the Year: Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of McAlester

Features

Weight management coincides with healthier lifestyle

Flexibility vital for can filling and seaming equipment

Liftgates continue to support rear-load delivery needs

Supermarkets turbocharge investments into digital technology

Caps, closures provide protection, premiumization

Reusable container systems help reduce companies’ carbon footprint

Classic flavors remain in favor with consumers, new beverages

Juice manufacturers address consumer concerns with fortification

Increased demand for no/low alcohol drinks brings opportunities

Columns

Beverage-makers see potential of NFT marketplace

Flexibility key to vital beverage packaging environment

No alcohol trend rising in prominence

2022 presents significant opportunities for US-based wine brands

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