11.01.21
The Coca-Cola Company has acquired BodyArmor, which offers a portfolio of sports performance and hydration beverages, for $5.6 billion. Coca-Cola had initially acquired a 15% stake in BodyArmor in 2018. The brand will be managed as a separate business within Coca-Cola’s North America operating unit and will continue to be based in New York. BodyArmor will continue to be distributed by the U.S. Coca-Cola bottling system.
Under a separate consulting and transition-services agreement, the executive leadership team, including Co-Founder and Chairman Mike Repole and President Brent Hastie, has committed to executing BodyArmor’s 2022 plan and work on vision and strategy for 2023 and beyond.
According to the company, BodyArmor is the #2 sports drink in the category in measured retail channels, growing at about 50% to more than $1.4 billion in retail sales.
“BodyArmor has been a great addition to the system lineup over the last three years, and the company has driven continuous innovation in hydration and health-and-wellness products,” said Alfredo Rivera, president of the North America operating unit of The Coca-Cola Company. “We’re excited to bring BodyArmor into The Coca-Cola Company and work with Mike Repole and his leadership team on the next stage of growth.”
As part of the agreement, Coca-Cola and Repole will also collaborate on the company’s still beverages portfolio, including marketing, packaging and innovation strategies across multiple brands.
"Ten years ago, we set out with a vision to create a better-for-you sports drink with a goal of becoming the #1 global sports drink,” Repole said. “Our talented leadership team under Brent Hastie, our 400 dedicated employees and incredible Coca-Cola bottling partners have helped us build this remarkable brand. If it wasn’t for Kobe Bryant’s vision and belief, BodyArmor would not have been able to achieve the success we had. I couldn’t be more excited to become part of the Coca-Cola family and set our sights on the future.”
Coca-Cola’s acquisition of BodyArmor will be funded through cash on-hand and is consistent with an M&A and capital allocation framework that focuses on accelerating growth, expanding capabilities and driving efficiencies.
Under a separate consulting and transition-services agreement, the executive leadership team, including Co-Founder and Chairman Mike Repole and President Brent Hastie, has committed to executing BodyArmor’s 2022 plan and work on vision and strategy for 2023 and beyond.
According to the company, BodyArmor is the #2 sports drink in the category in measured retail channels, growing at about 50% to more than $1.4 billion in retail sales.
“BodyArmor has been a great addition to the system lineup over the last three years, and the company has driven continuous innovation in hydration and health-and-wellness products,” said Alfredo Rivera, president of the North America operating unit of The Coca-Cola Company. “We’re excited to bring BodyArmor into The Coca-Cola Company and work with Mike Repole and his leadership team on the next stage of growth.”
As part of the agreement, Coca-Cola and Repole will also collaborate on the company’s still beverages portfolio, including marketing, packaging and innovation strategies across multiple brands.
"Ten years ago, we set out with a vision to create a better-for-you sports drink with a goal of becoming the #1 global sports drink,” Repole said. “Our talented leadership team under Brent Hastie, our 400 dedicated employees and incredible Coca-Cola bottling partners have helped us build this remarkable brand. If it wasn’t for Kobe Bryant’s vision and belief, BodyArmor would not have been able to achieve the success we had. I couldn’t be more excited to become part of the Coca-Cola family and set our sights on the future.”
Coca-Cola’s acquisition of BodyArmor will be funded through cash on-hand and is consistent with an M&A and capital allocation framework that focuses on accelerating growth, expanding capabilities and driving efficiencies.
