Good Week: Keurig – In a move intended to extend its grasp beyond breakfast, the international coffee goliath acquired the #3 soft drink maker Dr. Pepper Snapple, inheriting such brands as Hawaiian Punch, 7Up and others in the deal. Operating as Keurig Dr. Pepper, the firm is banking on the growing popularity of soda-like coffee drinks among younger consumers even as their soda consumption is dwindling. And it’s always nice to have a doctor in the family.
Bad Week: Panera – The restaurant chain – owned, coincidently, by Keurig’s parent company, JAB Holdings – announced a nationwide recall of cream cheese products sold in its locations after testing showed the presence of Listeria in sample batches. A little dab’ll do ya (in). #feartheschmear
Worse Week: Budweiser – For the first time in ages, The King of Beers is not among the top three most popular beers in the U.S., according to industry journal Beer Marketers’ Insights. Even worse, the top three are Bud Lite, Coors Lite and Miller Lite, respectively. Analysts cite the rise of craft brews as a drag on sales of traditional low-cost favorites. There is no explanation as to why the three most popular U.S. beers are also among the worst.
