Brad Avery

Brad Avery

Senior Reporter

Brad is a Reporter for BevNET.com.

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Posts by Brad Avery

The Top 10 Most Read BevNET Stories of 2025

We’re closing the book on 2025 by taking a look back at the stories that most caught your eyes. This year’s Top 10 Most Read BevNET Stories include several M&A deals for emerging brands, a controversial manufacturing closure and new energy drinks.

Casket Maker Goes from Coffins to Caffeine with Energy Drink Launch

There’s a new energy drink on the market encouraging consumers to have a laugh about dying – and no, we don’t mean Liquid Death. Titan Casket, a Massachusetts-based direct-to-consumer coffin retailer, is getting into the energy drink space with Awake.

GoodBelly, Cheribundi Parent NextFoods Closes $10M Funding Round

NextFoods Inc., the parent company of better-for-you beverage brands Cheribundi and GoodBelly, has raised $10 million in a funding round led by investment firm ECP Growth. ECP (Emil Capital Partners) has long been the largest investor in NextFoods and helped steer the 2023 merger with Cheribundi.

PepsiCo Restructures North America Leadership Team

PepsiCo’s leadership structure is getting a year-end refresh with a string of organizational changes announced Wednesday morning. PepsiCo North America CEO Steven Williams has been appointed EVP and Vice Chairman, Global Chief Commercial Officer and Corporate Affairs.

Lion Beverage Raises $150M Round Ahead of 2026 Expansion

Penn.-based contract manufacturer Lion Beverages, LLC has closed a $150 million investment as it prepares to expand capacity in the new year. The round was led by Apogem Capital and included additional funding by J.P. Morgan Asset Management, RCP Advisors and Montana Capital Partners.

Decadent Flavors, LTO Innovations Stand Out in 2026 Trend Predictions

Protein, non-alc and better-for-you soda are all here to stay, but the shape – or taste – that any and all of them could take in the new year is less certain. But formulation and ingredients experts Flavorman and Finlays have a sense of what’s on the horizon.

BevNET Live Day One Recap: What Went Right for Poppi and Health-Ade

The past year saw some major M&A deals, and day one of BevNET Live Winter 2025 in Marina Del Rey, Calif. served as the perfect platform to sit down with the leaders of Poppi and Health-Ade Kombucha to learn how they steered their businesses to an exit.

Ripple Foods Raises $17M, Names O’Grady as CEO

Plant-based milk producer Ripple Foods today announced the close of a $17 million funding round and the appointment of Becky O’Grady as its permanent CEO , setting the stage to execute on its growth plans in the new year.