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With the year that Modern Soda busted into the popular consciousness coming to a close, we know at least one thing: Poppi sold first. 

That leaves 2026 sure to be the year that beverage watchers are eyeing Poppi rival Olipop with even closer scrutiny, wondering how long the race for #1 in next gen sodas can remain neck-and-neck as Poppi starts to use the Pepsi DSD system to reach an ever-widening set of accounts, with access to promotions that are backed by one of the world’s biggest companies. 

Still, Olipop holds a good hand, and it knows it.

Insiders can access the full analysis and expert commentary.

Hemp-derived THC beverages have moved from fringe curiosity to one of the most disruptive forces in the beverage landscape. In What We Learned from the Hemp THC Drinks Boom, Brightfield Group unpacks how a category that barely registered a few years ago is now reshaping how consumers think about relaxation, socializing, and alcohol itself.

Insiders can read the full report on Nombase.

The Coca-Cola Co. North America sports division CEO Federico Muyshondt will be leaving the company in early 2026 after four years on the job. 

Become an Insider for all of the details.

The countdown to a federal ban on hemp THC drinks (outside of adult-use channels) is still very much on, but over the past week, all the action has been at state-level, with New Jersey (blue) and Ohio (red) each responding in wildly different ways. 

Insiders can access the full story.

Inputs are higher, selection is strained – it’s all SNAFU for the CPG supply chain.

But strategic sourcing can make a world of difference and lay the foundation for operational resilience. At BevNET Live L. A., Agrowgate partners David Van Wees and Tim Near discussed how every dollar saved on the bottom line has the same impact as $10 to $20 in top-line sales, and how optimized procurement can keep a business healthy and thriving even in trying times.

Insiders can watch the full session on BevNET.

Here’s a look at leading headlines from around the beverage industry. Insiders get access to the full story.

1. Beyond the Shelf, Farmers Fear Hemp Regulations
2. GoodBelly, Cheribundi Parent NextFoods Closes $10M Funding Round
3. How Soda’s Resurgence is Helping Bring Flavor, Focus to Sparkling Water
4. PepsiCo, Walmart Face Class Action After Unsealing of Dismissed FTC Suit
5. How Beverage Investors Find The Next Big Thing

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In this replay of a 2023 Taste Radio interview with Poppi founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth – recorded when the BFY soda brand was still firmly in disruptor mode – you’ll hear the blueprint for PepsiCo’s $1.95 billion acquisition years before it happened: a brand that tastes great, moves at the speed of culture, wins both online and in-store, and boldly reclaims the word “soda.”

Tune into the episode here. Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.