Here’s a tale of three behemoths: one, 5-Hour Energy,continues to roam the energy shot category like a T-Rex, towering above all other competition. Meanwhile, Red Bull has pulled out, despite pulling in nearly $30 million last year and building what had been a solid second-place brand. Still in the game, however, is Hansen’s, whose CEO,Rodney Sacks, recently reaffirmed the Monster-maker’s commitment to Worx Energy, which is growing quickly into the category. Meanwhile, other established companies continue to find the climb to shot respectability a steep one: NOS, Rockstar, AriZona are all seeing big reversals.

Strike up the band. Living Essentials’ 5-Hour Energy is a billion-dollar brand. Recent Symphony/IRI numbers show that over the past year, 5-Hour has continued to grow at a rate of…

In the last year, hundreds of beverage companies have found themselves either looking for capital or a buyer. Neither is easy. What should they do to improve their odds of success? When raising capital of selling a company, what matters to the parties with the cash? To get to that “Promised Land”, what should entrepreneurs and their boards keep top-of-mind when handling key strategic decisions? All companies require capital at some point and investors need a return on their investment, likely through selling the company (the famous “exit”) or other methods like paying dividends and going public. In the last year, Silverwood Partners, where I work, has concluded multiple successful exclusive advisory engagements in the sale of beverage companies (Function Drinks to Sunsweet Growers) and capital raises (Zola, Maverick Brands/Sunkist Naturals).