When rumors started flying yesterday that Coca Cola (NYSE: KO) was interesting in acquiring Snapple, I was skeptical. I wrote that "an acquisition of Snapple would look like a step down from the Vitamin Water deal, unless it can be had at a great price, which is unlikely. Americans are becoming increasingly focused on healthier, lower-calorie alternatives to soda, and Snapple beverages really aren't much lower in calories or sugar than most sodas."
According to The Wall Street Journal, a lot of industry experts see it the same way. They say that Snapple isn't growing, has been around for a long time, and isn't likely to be the answer for Coke. The recent emphasis on acquisitions at Coke -- Glaceau, Fuze, and now perhaps Snapple -- probably isn't a good sign for shareholders. If the company was experiencing strong organic growth, it probably wouldn't be so focused on deals.
As the Journal points out, "Coke has a mixed record of absorbing hip, niche brands into its establishment-oriented corporate culture, and it is now absorbing two makers of such brands." While Snapple isn't a hip brand anymore, it's also likely to suffer from many of the same problems that soda will suffer from in the coming years: It's very high in sugar and calories. An acquisition of Snapple would be a way of doubling down on the bet that people will continue to buy high-calorie beverages with little nutritional value. Based on the $4 billion acquisition of Vitamin Water, that's not a bet that Coke wants to make.
I'm going to make a bold prediction: Coke will not end up buying Snapple. It's obvious that such an acquisition doesn't make sense, and it will figure that out.
More Vitamin Water news
Beth Gaston Moon: High school vending machines getting more eclectic
Zac Bissonnette: PepsiCo plans a lower-calorie Gatorade
Jonathan Berr: Coke, Pepsi thirst for profits from bottled water
Zac Bissonnette: Will Coca-Cola gulp down Snapple?
Joseph Lazzaro: Coke's catching up in the health drink segment
Zac Bissonnette: Coke swallows Vitaminwater
Zac Bissonnette: Coke wants vitamin water
Zac Bissonnette: Coke Zero is no zero, it's a big hit
Sarah Gilbert: Fuze acquisition pits Coke v. Pepsi in ritzy juice war











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-06-2007 @ 6:49PM
Jim said...
One thing I don't get re Zac's Snapple Analysis: what about diet Snapple. There are dozens of diet snapple teas, lemonades and other non-carbonated drinks. Most of them have zero, but never more than 10 calories. They are delicious and are the only Snapple beveridges my family drinks. Are we the only ones? While I'm at it, why doesn't Coke push Coke Zero harder? It is far superior to either Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi. Are my tastes that far out of the mainstream?
7-07-2007 @ 5:25AM
Michael Schneider said...
Snapple would be a great addition to the Coke lineup but the main issue is whether Coca-Cola would have to pay too much and take too much of a gamble with it. The main strength of Snapple is it would give Coca-Cola a big brand in iced tea- filling a niche that Coke needs to fill and helping to continue their bolstering of the non-carbonated area. The Snapple brand would require some attention and marketing money to reinvigorate however- more so than other recent acquisitions. I don't see it as a sign of weakness that Coca-Cola is making acquisitions in non-carbonated beverages- everyone knew they needed to do something and the main criticism of Coke had been that Pepsi was in stronger growth areas. The real concern is whether Coke's management can do more with Snapple than others have been able to do.
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