Citing Weak 3d Qtr Results, CCE Promises Acceleration of Portfolio Diversification Coca-Cola Enterprises, #1 Coke bottler, disclosed today several disturbing trends in 3d qtr earnings report, from unexpected weakness in higher-margin cold box to still-vague plans for surging can prices. In conference call, CCE execs also made it clear they regard weak 3d qtr CSD performance as wakeup call to accelerate reconfiguration of portfolio and suggested that proliferation of sku

ABA Tilts More Toward Noncarbs in Makeup of Board; Deems Relaunched Interbev Qualified Success American Beverage Assn elected a slate of directors at Las Vegas meeting last week that gives significant role to execs involved on noncarb side of biz. New board members from noncarb world are Billy Cyr, the Procter & Gamble exec who followed Sunny Delight brand when it was spun off as independent co; Kim Jeffery, prexy/ceo of Nestlé Waters North America, and Mary Beth Stone West, group vp at Kraft Foods and prexy of its North American Beverages Sector, with brands like Capri Sun, Fruit₂O, Crystal Light and bottled Tazo teas. Formerly the Natl Soft Drink Assn, ABA has long been identified with CSD side of biz, but as CSDs come under increasing fire the org has been emphasizing the broad range of bevs offered by its members, a process that has accelerated since Susan Neely came aboard as prexy in summer 05. Susan told BBI that board composition was not coincidental: ABA has made effort to broaden both bev sectors and geographic base represented on board, with particular effort to lure execs from

PRESS CLIPS: Energy Drinks Under Microscope AP story on popularity and perils of energy drinks on Oct 29 got wide pickup in media, from AOL to numerous dailies. Key reason teens gravitating towards energy drinks is their

PEOPLE: PepsiAmericas