This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Beverage Industry logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Beverage Industry logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Archives
    • Annual Manual
    • Newsletter
    • Contract Packaging Guide
  • News
    • Top 100 Beverage Companies
    • 2019 State of the Industry
  • Category Focus
    • Carbonated Soft Drinks
    • Bottled Water
    • Juice & Juice Drinks
    • Sports Drinks
    • Tea and Coffee
    • Energy Drinks & Shots
    • Alternative Drinks
    • Beer
      • Beer Market Report
      • Craft Beer Report
    • Wine & Spirits
    • Cannabis Beverages
    • Plant-Based Beverages
  • R&D
    • Beverage R&D Features
    • Ingredient Spotlight
    • Beverage R&D News
  • Packaging
    • Packaging Material
    • Packaging Equipment
    • New Packages
    • The Packaging School
  • Operations
    • Plant Focus
    • Distribution
      • Fleet Graphics Award
    • Supplier News
  • New Products
    • New Products
    • Product Poll
    • New Product Submission Form
  • Directories
    • Annual Manual
    • Take a Tour
    • Contract Packaging Guide
  • More
    • White Papers
    • Market Insights
    • Market Research
    • Store
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Events
    • Polls
    • The Beverage Forum
    • BevOps Fleet Summit
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Image Galleries
    • Podcast
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Webinars
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
Home » Coca-Cola fully acquires Zico
Beverage News

Coca-Cola fully acquires Zico

G. Scott Uzzell becomes president of coconut water company

Zico Tropical
November 22, 2013
KEYWORDS coconut water / mergers and acquisitions / The Coca-Cola Co. / Zico Beverages LLC
Reprints
No Comments

The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, acquired the outstanding ownership stake in Zico Beverages LLC, El Segundo, Calif. The acquisition will unlock more capability for Zico including marketing, selling, manufacturing, innovation and distribution opportunities. Additionally, The Coca-Cola Co. will gain a leading position in the coconut water category.

The move completes the transaction, which began in 2009 when Coca-Cola’s Venturing and Emerging Brands (VEB) business unit first invested in Zico. In 2012, the company purchased a majority stake in the brand, and earlier this year, the brand began being distributed via Coca-Cola trucks throughout the United States and Canada.

“When we made our investment in Zico, we did so because we saw it as a burgeoning premium brand with the potential to be a significant leader in a high-growth category,” said Deryck van Rensburg, president and general manager of VEB at Coca-Cola North America, in a statement. “Over the past four years, we have watched the coconut water category see an impressive spike in revenue and household penetration and Zico solidify its position as one of the leading brands in this category. With our acquisition, we plan to innovate in all aspects of the consumer experience and increase both velocity and distribution to position Zico for even more growth. This announcement is the sign of a continued beginning for the brand with more resources, support and cachet to come.”

Since Coca-Cola’s initial investment in Zico in 2009, the brand has expanded its distribution footprint from six markets to having a national presence, adding retail partners such as Kroger, Target and Walmart. While coconut water growth remains strong in 2013, year-to-date volume growth for Zico continues to outperform the category.

“We always believed coconut water would eventually become a major beverage category and Zico a household name, even when we were running the company from my garage and selling out of a rented truck,” Zico Founder and Chief Executive Officer Mark Rampolla said in a statement. “Over the past four years, it has been exciting to see Zico excel as our partnership with The Coca-Cola Co. matured. Now, with full access to the resources of the Coca-Cola system, we have the opportunity to bring Zico and the healthy, replenishing benefits of coconut water even further into the mainstream and realize our original goals.”

As part of the transaction, G. Scott Uzzell will become president of Zico Beverages and take over day-to-day management of the company. Rampolla will remain as a non-executive adviser to Zico by supporting the transition and long-term strategic initiatives.

“As we enter a new phase of growth and development, I hoped to find a leader that would respect our brand heritage and organizational culture while helping us capitalize on this incredible opportunity” Rampolla said in a statement. “I’ve known Scott for six years, have a tremendous amount of respect for him, and am confident that he’s the guy to take Zico to the next level.”

Uzzell has served as Zico’s chief commercial officer and executive vice president of sales for the last year. Prior to this position, Uzzell held a number of leadership roles for The Coca-Cola Co., including vice president of the McDonald’s business unit as well as vice president and general manager of incubation for VEB.

“I have long shared the energy, passion and love for Zico that has existed among consumers and within the company since its inception,” Uzzell said in a statement. “Mark and his team have done an incredible job building the Zico brand into what it is today. I’m excited about leading the team through this next evolution in the brand’s development and believe that with the team’s entrepreneurial zeal and the resources of The Coca-Cola Co., we can take Zico to new heights.”

Subscribe to Beverage Industry

Related Articles

Coca-Cola, GMCR enter long-term partnership

Coca-Cola exercises option to acquire AB InBev’s stake in CCBA

Coca-Cola to acquire Costa for $5.1B

Coca-Cola acquires California bottler

Related Products

Beverage Industry January 2019 Issue

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • Beverage Industry Insider eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Pepsi Sparkling Rose

Pepsi launches Sparkling Rosé at BravoCon

Fairlife Smart Snacks Beverages

Repositioning beverages could aid dairy, non-dairy markets

Owyn protein drink.

Plant-based options gain consumer appeal

PRESS Hard Seltzer

PRESS Premium Alcohol Seltzer meets consumers’ flavor needs

Green Flash Brewing products.

2019 Craft Beer Report: Local breweries thrive as craft beer experiences slowdown

How To, Directory Videos

Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Bottled Water Trends

What bottled water trend will see the most gains in 2020?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Beverage Quality and Safety

Beverage Quality and Safety

Based on an IFT short course, Beverage Quality and Safety offers information on the latest beverage industry trends related to products, processing, and packaging technologies - including new generation nutraceutical beverages

See More Products
webinars and events

Beverage Industry Magazine

Beverage Industry - November 2019

2019 November

Beverage Industry’s November issue highlights the 100-year advocacy of the American Beverage Association and what’s next for CEO Katherine Lugar and a new plastics initiative, Every Bottle Back. This issue includes a special report on craft beer, an Up Close With feature on PRESS hard cider and what is sparking innovation in natural colors. Read more about how protein is powering up beverages and how warehouses are using WMS and WCS systems to streamline operations. As usual, the latest trends in new products, packaging and ingredients are highlighted.

Check back throughout the month for additional content.

View More Create Account
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Annual Manual
    • Connect with BI
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • eNews
    • Featured Products
    • Food & Beverage Brands
    • List Rental
    • New Products
    • New Product Submission Form
    • Polls
    • Reprints
    • Survey And Sample
    • Want More?
    • Privacy Policy
  • Exclusives
    • Beer Market Report
    • White Papers
    • Videos

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing