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AMERICAN BEVERAGE 2023 ANNUAL REVIEW

 * americanbeverage.org

 * HOME
 * Message from Leadership
 * 2023 INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
 * FLY-IN
 * NGAC
 * ABOUT US
   * Officers & Board of Directors
   * Members
   * State Associations & Contacts
 * TEAM





A MESSAGE FROM ABA LEADERSHIP

Forward. A simple word that represents what drives our industry: charging ahead.
Making progress. Building a strong future. It is what motivates our actions,
inspires our innovation and delivers positive impact for the customers,
consumers and communities we serve.

In 2023, we made real progress in advancing circularity for our plastic bottles
and aluminum cans. They are made to be remade. We are demonstrating that when we
get them back, we can remake them into new ones, thus reducing our use of new
plastic and aluminum. This is something that is important not only to our
industry, but to our customers and consumers. And we know our efforts are
serving as a catalyst for innovative change and a more vibrant environment.

We moved forward in providing Americans with even more beverage choices, many
with zero sugar. We know consumers are seeking ways to reduce their sugar, and
we are listening. The innovation of our companies continues to provide consumers
with growth in choices, with great-tasting beverages featuring a range of
flavors, calories and package sizes. The beverage aisle is more diverse than
ever. In fact, nearly 60% of beverages sold today have zero sugar. Zero. This is
transformative action – and it is intentional.

We also took actions to help build a strong future for communities across the
country – communities where we, too, live and work. Providing good-paying,
family-supporting jobs that help drive the economic engine of our nation.
Supporting community organizations through employee volunteer efforts and
charitable contributions. Awarding grants to local cities and the mayors who
lead them, as well as national and community-based organizations, to aid in
their efforts to address childhood obesity, sustainability, health disparities
and more.

All of this is having real impact in making our communities healthy, sustainable
and economically strong. Our industry has an incredible story to tell, and we
are proud to tell it. We also know there is more work to be done. And so we
charge forward knowing that we are building on a strong foundation, with our
eyes clearly focused on a future that delivers more bold solutions for those we
serve.


WILLIAM H. O’BRIEN

Chair, Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling


KEVIN KEANE

President and
Chief Executive Officer
American Beverage Association


2023 INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS

DOES ASPARTAME CAUSE CANCER? WHO COMMITTEE SAYS NO

Drinks such as Diet Coke that contain the artificial sweetener have no link to
the disease, experts say, while the average person can safely consume up to 14
cans a day. A World Health Organisation committee has found “no convincing
evidence” of adverse effects from consuming food and drink that contains
aspartame.

Read More

Former Department of Health and Human Services Secretaries Alex Azar (left) and
Donna Shalala (right).





Protecting the Safety
of Aspartame



The safety of our products is the highest priority for our industry. When we
learned in 2022 that the World Health Organization (WHO) was set to review the
safety of aspartame, a key ingredient to ongoing industry innovation that
provides consumers with more choices with less sugar, we immediately activated a
comprehensive strategy to ensure awareness of the decades of science affirming
aspartame’s safety. We engaged with health and regulatory authorities in the
U.S. and abroad to ensure that WHO followed an appropriate review process
grounded in strong science. We invested in the science demonstrating the safety
of aspartame and ensured key stakeholders were aware of its strength. We ramped
up our communications efforts, launching a new website, engaging the right
messengers, arming retail and customer partners, engaging media and health
organizations alike, and activating on social media. All of our efforts were
grounded in sound science and fact. And it took the entire industry around the
globe working together in lockstep to achieve a successful outcome.

In the end, WHO’s food safety experts reached the conclusion we knew to be true:
Aspartame is safe. And our efforts ensured this conclusion was emphasized in
media coverage that raised unsupported claims that aspartame poses a health
risk. With more than 40 years of science supporting it, that strong conclusion
reinforces the position of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and food
safety agencies from more than 90 countries. In fact, thanks to global
coordination and sharing of information, 30 leading food safety authorities from
five continents publicly reaffirmed the safety of aspartame. Consumers can move
forward with confidence that aspartame is a safe choice.

Innovating with More Choices. Less Sugar.



Today’s beverage aisle provides consumers with more choices than ever before,
many with less sugar or no sugar at all. Nearly 60% of beverages sold today have
zero sugar. In fact, the increase in low- and zero-sugar beverages as part of
overall beverage volume is a trend that has persisted since 2014 due in large
part to industry innovation. With sparkling and flavored waters, zero sugar
teas, sports drinks, mini-cans and more, consumers have myriad options among the
more than 400 beverages with low or zero sugar now on the market.

That’s why we relaunched in early 2023 our “More Choices. Less Sugar”
educational campaign. Why? To continue building awareness of the progress the
industry is making to deliver more options that support consumer efforts to
achieve balance. Through this effort, more than 1.4 billion impressions were
garnered. We also were active with a social media campaign, showing how
industry’s actions extend beyond the beverage aisle by sharing how the wide
range of choices available today fit into everyday life—from restocking the
fridge to getting ready for game day. While our efforts are having an impact, we
know there is still more to do.

COLLECTING

808 MILLION

more pounds of recycled PET

OVER 10 YEARS


Advancing Circularity with Every Bottle Back



Creating a circular economy for our plastic bottles and aluminum cans is one of
our industry’s highest priorities. We are carefully designing our bottles to be
100% recyclable. They are not single-use plastic and if collected can be remade
into new bottles—which means we use less new plastic. Ensuring local recycling
infrastructure is modern and effective is important to achieving that goal.
That’s why we’re continuing our work on “Every Bottle Back,” an initiative with
The Recycling Partnership and Closed Loop Partners to support recycling access,
education and infrastructure projects in key regions of the USA. In 2023 alone,
we committed more than $6.5 million in funding and launched 11 new
projects—Nashville, Tenn.; LaSalle, Ill.; Avalon, N.J.; Jacksonville, Fla.;
Kansas City, Mo.; Pittsburgh; Villa Park, Ill.; Branford, Conn.; Chicago;
Danvers, Mass.; and West Tennessee. Through these projects we’ve placed more
than 243,000 recycling carts in communities and impacted nearly 3.6 million
people.

Four years into this groundbreaking effort, we’ve committed to expand recycling
infrastructure and access in 50 communities with more than $27 million in total
funding to date. This investment is expected to yield more than 808 million more
pounds of recycled PET and more than 77 million more pounds of recycled
aluminum. We’re making strong progress—and we will continue to take action at
every stage of the life cycle of our plastic bottles to help them make their way
back and be remade as intended and kept out of nature.




SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS



The men and women of America’s beverage companies are part of every community
from coast to coast. They are your neighbors. They step up in times of disaster
to make sure their neighbors—including first responders—have what they need. And
they step up each and every day in myriad ways. Employees of Coca-Cola High
Country donating toys to the local Boys & Girls Club in Rapid City, S.D., after
they were stolen during the holiday season. Organizing a blood drive and raising
awareness of sickle cell anemia at Keurig Dr Pepper headquarters in Texas.
Volunteering at a local food bank and building food boxes by employees of
Nackard Pepsi in Arizona. These are just a few of the many stories of how our
industry is “Here For You.”




Building Healthy Communities



Mayors are on the frontlines of their communities—driving solutions and making
positive change. That’s why ABA and the American Beverage Foundation for a
Healthy America are proud of our partnerships with both the U.S. Conference of
Mayors (USCM) and the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) to advance
grant programs that help make our communities healthier.

Together, through the “Childhood Obesity Prevention & Environmental Health and
Sustainability Awards,” USCM and our Foundation have jointly awarded more than
$5 million over the last 12 years to more than 60 cities across the country to
support innovative programs that enhance the health, wellness and environmental
quality of life for children and families. In 2023, first place grants for
large, medium and small cities were awarded to: Charlotte, N.C., and Mayor Vi
Alexander Lyles’ Deputy Diversion program; Lansing, Mich., and Mayor Andy
Schor’s Grow Lansing mini-grants program; and Village of Oak Park, Ill., and
Mayor Vicki Scaman for the Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4)
partnership between 15 communities and several nonprofits.

AAMA and the Foundation also were honored to announce this year the inaugural
recipients of the “Nutrition Access, Affordability, and Education” grant
program. This grant program helps support mayors as they address inequities that
impact the people and places they represent. Four grants totaling $525,000 were
awarded to: Houston, Texas, and Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Young Agri-business
Leaders of Houston education program; Baton Rouge, La., and Mayor Sharon Weston
Broome’s Geaux Get Healthy program; Newport News, Va., and its Sarfan Food
Forest; and Greenville, Miss., and its FoodCorps program.

The Foundation also provides grants through a matching program with state
beverage associations in support of community organizations working on the
nutritional, physical and environmental health of their communities. This year,
the Foundation awarded grants totaling $230,000 to 14 organizations in nine
states.




Leveraging Our Global Network



With our roots in the U.S., our industry has truly gone global, with operations
in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Our International
Council of Beverages Associations (ICBA) harnesses this growth to create a
global network that coordinates to advance good policymaking and create a level
playing field across markets to support the customers, consumers and communities
we serve. From aspartame safety and front-of-package labeling to taxes, warnings
on sweeteners and energy drink bans or restrictions, we came together this year
to share the facts, educate regulators and make our voices heard.

Uniting Against
Unfair Taxes



We know that people feel taxed enough, especially in a year of high inflation.
That’s why we continue to advocate for affordable groceries and protecting
consumer choice by uniting against unfair taxes and regulations. Taxes on
everyday grocery items—like teas, sports drinks and more—are simply bad policy.
That’s why we advocated against a new beverage tax when discussions arose in
Vermont. While a proposal never materialized in Vermont, we know that having
conversations with lawmakers on better way solutions is critical—to consumers
and small businesses.

PROPOSED PLASTICS BAN IN IRVINE WOULD KILL SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE MINE

Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan hosts a group of local mayors outside City Hall on
Monday, November 15, 2021 for a press conference about how the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act will have a positive impact on communities.

Read More


Pushing Back on Plastic Bottle Bans



We are committed to making sure that our objectives on reducing plastic use and
keeping it out of nature align with the nation’s goals of environmental justice.
That’s why we are opposed to bans on our industry’s plastic bottles, which are
being carefully designed to be 100% recyclable. These bans are more symbolic
than solution. In fact, our PET bottles are valuable because they can be remade
into new products. They are not like other plastics that are single use. Even
so, over the past year local governments have sought to ban plastic water
bottles for sale or distribution within their jurisdiction. And in cities like
Irvine, Calif., City Council members attempted to advance a ban on restaurants
and food retailers from selling plastic water bottles. The measure received
significant pushback from our industry, small businesses and environmental
advocates. We know there are better ways to address plastic waste than banning a
beverage that comes in a convenient, portable, recyclable container. That’s why
we remain vigilant on this issue and will continue to educate lawmakers and
stakeholders about why our bottles are different and why banning them is
misguided.

Elevating Our Containers



Plastic pollution is a serious challenge, and we are committed to being part of
the solution. Using less new plastic and keeping plastic out of nature is at the
core of our environmental efforts. That’s why we are carefully designing our
bottles to be 100% recyclable, including the caps. Our bottles are made from
valuable and fully recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET). They are not
single-use and can be remade again and again, reducing our use of new plastic.
This year, we worked diligently to protect PET for our industry and others by
safeguarding antimony, a key catalyst in making PET. When the California
Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment (OEHHA) sought to broaden its scope under the state’s Proposition 65,
we engaged with the agency, aligned with partners and ultimately kept Prop 65
narrowly focused on the compound as previously listed. And through the
International Council of Beverages Associations (ICBA) we are actively
participating in the UN Plastics Pollution Treaty, advancing industry leadership
solutions on sustainability and plastic pollution.






COLORADO CHOOSES BRAND GROUP TO LEAD EPR

In a big step toward implementing one of the nation’s first extended producer
responsibility programs for packaging,

Read More

WITH RECYCLING, LET’S FOCUS ON PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION

Recycling is not perfect, but it is getting better. As we celebrate America
Recycles Day this month, members of the Recycling Infrastructure Now (RIN)
Coalition urge leaders…

Read More

Driving Forward Effective Collection Systems



We continue to engage and advocate for our principles on effective collection
systems to prevent the adoption of poor policy decisions. Why? Because we know
what works—for consumers, the environment and business. That’s why we were
highly engaged in Washington State, where a joint extended producer
responsibility (EPR)/deposit return system (DRS) bill was considered this year.
While it did not pass, the bill did carryover to the 2024 session and we remain
highly engaged as discussions continue. In Colorado, the first state to pass a
true EPR bill just last year which also was supported by ABA, real progress is
underway. It became the first state to establish a producer responsibility
organization (PRO), called the Circular Action Alliance (CAA). Importantly, CAA
is comprised of leading companies from the food, beverage and consumer goods
industries, including ABA members The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper,
Niagara Bottling, LLC, and PepsiCo. The PRO must complete its needs assessment
by January and present it along with three recycling scenario recommendations to
the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee in March. In Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore
signed legislation that established an advisory council tasked with making
recommendations regarding EPR and a PRO for packaging materials. The Maryland
Department of the Environment selected CAA as the PRO administrator. We look
forward to reviewing the council’s report, which will be made to the governor
and General Assembly next December.

CONGRESS WANTS TO EDIT YOUR GROCERY SHOPPING LIST

Should the government decide what goes in your shopping cart?

Read More

Advocating for Consumer Choice



Deciding what to put in your grocery cart should be your own choice, including
for those Americans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
benefits. Families who need financial help buying groceries make the same
decisions we all do and deserve the same dignity of choice. Yet some lawmakers
seek to restrict or ban what can be purchased with SNAP benefits—even though
USDA has denied every submitted food restriction waiver to date. In 2023, four
states—Florida, Iowa, New York and Texas—introduced a range of proposals
attempting to single out sugar-sweetened beverages within the SNAP program. In
Florida, a resolution to prohibit soft drinks sales within SNAP passed the House
while companion legislation in the Senate sought a U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) study of SNAP purchases. A House bill in Iowa requested a
waiver from USDA to prohibit the purchase of “non sugar free soda” and candy
from the SNAP program. And both Texas and New York introduced SNAP restriction
waiver legislation. In all instances, ABA worked closely with bottlers and state
beverage associations to oppose these proposals. We also ensured that USDA, key
Members of Congress and the White House were aware of this state activity which
is critical as deliberations on a new Farm Bill package continue. All proposals
were defeated.



Championing Sound Science



Advocating for sound science to be considered whenever public health entities
and regulators around the globe are advancing beverage policies that impact real
people is critical to us. Why? Because consumers should feel confident about the
decisions they make about what to eat and drink so they can make the choice
that’s right for them—especially when they are seeking ways to reduce their
sugar consumption. That’s why we supported researchers at University of
Liverpool who conducted a randomized clinical trial—the gold standard in
nutrition research—on the benefits of low- and no-calorie sweeteners in helping
people manage calories and sugar. Its findings? It showed these ingredients can
help people not only decrease their sugar intake, but also their weight,
waistline and blood sugar over a one-year period, reaffirming prior research
shorter in duration. The strength of the evidence on the benefits of low- and
no-calorie sweeteners were reiterated by academics at the annual American
Society for Nutrition conference. We shared this important research at The
Obesity Society’s annual meeting as well as other critical scientific meetings.
We are also encouraging its consideration in the coming U.S. Dietary Guidelines
for Americans because we know these sugar substitutes are key to the important
public health goal of consuming less sugar overall.


AMERICA’S BEVERAGE COMPANIES ARE PART OF THE FABRIC OF AMERICA AND PLAY AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR NATION’S ECONOMY.

 * 176
   
   active members

 * $247.7B
   
   direct economic impact

 * 272K+
   
   good-paying, family-supporting jobs for U.S. workers

 * $25.1B
   
   in wages and benefits

 * $14B
   
   contributed in state taxes

 * $32.7B
   
   contributed in federal taxes

 * 1.5M+
   
   workers whose income depends, in part, on beverage sales

 * $2.5B
   
   donated to charitable causes in communities across the nation

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SHARING OUR STORIES WITH FEDERAL LAWMAKERS

In April, nearly 200 beverage industry members convened in Washington, D.C., to
meet with their members of Congress and their staff. Attendees shared our
collective story, including being a major contributor to the nation’s economy
and driving strong solutions to tough challenges.

ABA Board Member Kirk Tyler (left) chats with Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa
(right).

Torrey Advisory Group’s Barbara Patterson and Niagara Bottling’s Matt Foley
network during the Annual PAC Reception during the Fly-In.

(Left to right) Coca-Cola Consolidated’s Dave Shelek and Danny Rowe pose with
Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Beverage Association’s Ellen
Valentino, PepsiCo’s Deriece Harrington, Coca-Cola Consolidated’s Altmann
Pannell and ABA’s Franklin Davis.

Midwest beverage industry members sit down with Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., (far
left) to discuss how the industry contributes to Minnesota’s economic engine.

ABA team members are all smiles at the Annual Beverage Bash on Capitol Hill.

Keurig Dr Pepper’s Gina Mordeaux (left) and Swire Coca-Cola, USA’s Christopher
Friend (right) meet with Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., to discuss the beverage
industry’s positive impact on jobs in her home state and across the country.

The Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter addresses breakfast attendees on how the
upcoming political landscape will impact businesses across the country.

House Agriculture Committee Senior Member Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., speaks on
congressional priorities.

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Ranking Member Sen. John
Boozman, R-Ark., joins attendees for lunch to share insights on the importance
of Farm Bill reauthorization and the need for Congress to pass the SHIP IT Act.

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NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CONFERENCE

Nearly 200 beverage industry employees and partners gathered in Arizona to
collaborate and discuss collective efforts in the environmental sustainability,
health and wellness and community engagement spaces.

ABA President and CEO Kevin Keane (left) has a candid conversation about the
upcoming 2024 presidential election with Democratic National Convention Chair
Minyon Moore and Marc Short, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence.

(From left to right) ABA’s Franklin Davis highlights the health equity landscape
with African American Mayors Association President & CEO Phyllis Dickerson,
National Medical Association President Dr. Yolanda Lawson and Louisiana Beverage
Association Executive Director Keli Williams.

(Left to right) ABA’s Barbara Hiden discusses the Farm Bill and the future of
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with Iowa Beverage Association’s
Jon Murphy, Baylor University’s Craig Gundersen and Torrey Advisory Group’s
Barbara Patterson.

(Left to right) ABA’s Amy Brink is joined by Massachusetts Beverage
Association’s Steve Boksanski, Florida Beverage Association’s Liz DeWitt, Swire
Coca-Cola, USA’s Jenifer Freeman and Rodriguez Strategies’ Jessica Mause to
discuss bottle bans and why our plastic bottles are valuable.

ABA Board Chair and Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling CEO Bill O’Brien (left) and ABA
President and CEO Kevin Keane (right) share their perspectives on the industry’s
priorities.

Public Opinion Strategies Partner and NBC News/Wall Street Journal Pollster Bill
McInturff discusses how the upcoming 2024 elections will impact the beverage
industry and corporate America at-large.

ABA President and CEO Kevin Keane welcomes conference attendees and thanks
everyone for their commitment to taking on both challenges and opportunities.

ABA Board Member John Kalil and members of the beverage industry come together
to kick off the National Government Affairs Conference by volunteering at a
local food bank in Phoenix, Ariz.

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ABOUT US

 * OFFICERS &
   BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 * MEMBERS
   
 * STATE ASSOCIATIONS
   & CONTACTS


AMERICAN BEVERAGE TEAM



Not Pictured: Annie Adair, Megan Daum, Sandra Grance, Tracey Halliday, Kate
Loatman, Stacey Pine, Merideth Potter, Rick Rivas and David Thorp


AMERICANBEVERAGE.ORG

1275 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. NW, SUITE 1100, WASHINGTON, DC 20004
 * (202) 463-6732
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