Every industry has its acronyms and inside jargon, and the beverage industry is no different. We’ve compiled a list of the most common abbreviations you might encounter while negotiating and managing your beverage partnership or pouring rights agreement.
Why This Matters:
Negotiations involve a series of nuanced interactions — each of which deliver a specific message. Chances are, you’ve never worked in the beverage industry, and at best, you only negotiate your beverage agreement once or twice every decade. You want to arm yourself with industry knowledge so you don’t inadvertently send the wrong signal. Before you start a negotiation (or agree to a meeting with the beverage company), it could be helpful to study up on the list below.
Beverage Industry Acronyms:
- ABA – American Beverage Association
- B&C or B/C – Bottle & Can
- BIB – Bag-in-Box (fountain syrup)
- CAGR – Category Growth
- CCBCC – Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated (Coca-Cola bottler)
- CCBCU – Coca-Cola Bottling Company United (Coca-Cola bottler)
- CCBF – Coca-Cola Beverages Florida (Coca-Cola bottler)
- CCNA – Coca-Cola North America
- CCR – Coca-Cola Refreshments (Coca-Cola owned bottler)
- CCSWB – Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages (Coca-Cola bottler)
- CDA – Customer Development Agreement
- CMA – Customer Marketing Agreement
- CPACT – Customer Program Approval and Communication Tool (system for Coca-Cola bottlers to align on agreements that cross geographic territories)
- CSD – Carbonated Soft Drink
- DSD – Direct Store Delivery
- DWO – Discontinued While Out
- F&B – Food and Beverage
- FCB – Frozen Carbonated Beverage
- FIGAL – Five Gallon Stainless Steel Refillable Syrup Tank
- FLO – Full Line Operator (independent vending company or distributor)
- FLV – Full Line Vending
- FSOP – Fullservice & On-Premise (segment of business focusing on large national foodservice and on-premise customers)
- FSV – Full Service Vending
- FTN – Fountain
- LRB – Liquid Refreshment Beverage
- HFCS – High Fructose Corn Syrup
- IB – Independent Bottler
- KAM – Key Account Manager
- KDP – Keurig Dr. Pepper
- KO – The Coca-Cola Company (Stock Symbol)
- MD – Micro-Dosed (referring to Coca-Cola Freestyle product)
- NCB – Non-Carbonated Beverage
- NIR – New Item Request
- NRA – National Restaurant Association
- OP – On-premise (segment of business where a beverage is consumed at the place it is purchased)
- RTD – Ready to Drink (Bottles and Cans)
- RTM – Route to Market
- PBC – Pepsi Bottling Company (PepsiCo owned bottler)
- PBV – Pepsi Bottling Ventures (Pepsi bottler)
- PEP – PepsiCo (Stock Symbol)
- PET – Polyethylene Terephthalate (referring to plastic bottles)
- SSD – Sparkling Soft Drink
- TCCC – The Coca-Cola Company
- TCCS – The Coca-Cola System
- 3PO – Third Party Operator (typically referring to a cafeteria operator or an independent vending company)
- VPO – Volume per Outlet
- YAG – Year Ago (when comparing volume vs. prior year)
Did we miss anything? The industry is constantly evolving and this list is continuously growing. Let us know if you encounter an acronym that’s unfamiliar to you.
Additional Resources:
Coke Freestyle vs. Pepsi Spire. The Cola Wars Re-ignite!
When Is the Right Time to Start the Beverage Contract Process?
Do You Have an Equipment Strategy for Your Next Beverage Contract Negotiation?
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
