National Beverage
National Beverage is an American beverage company whose portfolio includes LaCroix, Shasta, Faygo, Everfresh, and Rip It.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
National Beverage is an American beverage developer, manufacturer, and distributor headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company is best known for a portfolio centered on flavored soft drinks, sparkling water, juice beverages, energy drinks, and regional carbonated brands. Its most prominent names include LaCroix sparkling water, Shasta, Faygo, Everfresh, Mr. Pure, and Rip It. Rather than operating as a single consumer-facing beverage label, National Beverage functions primarily as a branded beverage house whose products are sold through retail, convenience, food-service, club, and other distribution channels. The company was created in 1985 by Nick A. Caporella in connection with a defensive corporate restructuring involving Burnup & Sims, a cable-television and telecommunications installation business. Victor Posner had accumulated a substantial position in Burnup & Sims, and Caporella sought to prevent Posner from obtaining control. National Beverage was established as a separate corporate vehicle, and its early expansion into beverages began with the acquisition of Shasta Beverages from Sara Lee Corporation. The transaction gave the new company an established soft-drink business and manufacturing infrastructure. National Beverage then expanded through the acquisition of Faygo, a regional soft-drink producer with a strong Midwest identity. The business also operated bottling plants and moved into the production of store-brand beverages. During the early 1990s, the company added brands including Spree and Big Shot. In 1991, National Beverage became publicly traded through a transaction involving shares of Burnup & Sims. Corporate-governance litigation later challenged aspects of Caporella's compensation and relationships between the two companies. During the 1990s, National Beverage broadened beyond conventional carbonated soft drinks. It added Everfresh Beverages and WinterBrook, the latter contributing sparkling- and still-water brands including LaCroix. The company also acquired Home Juice Company, bringing Home Juice and Mr. Pure into its portfolio. In the early 2000s, Beverage Canners International added Ritz and Crystal Bay beverages and sparkling waters. A strategic shift in 2002 reduced the company's emphasis on private-label bottling and increased its focus on its own brands. National Beverage subsequently developed products aimed at particular demographic and consumption segments, including Shasta Shortz for children and Fruitika fruit nectars. Diet Shasta also adopted Splenda as a sweetener in 2004. The company entered energy drinks with Rip It in 2004 and later tested or introduced additional concepts such as Freek, Rip It Chic, and Triple Hit during the mid-2000s. LaCroix became the company's most internationally recognizable contemporary brand, benefiting from the wider growth of flavored sparkling water in North America. National Beverage's portfolio remains diversified across carbonated soft drinks, sparkling water, juices, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and regional brands. Its business model emphasizes brand ownership, product formulation, manufacturing, distribution, and category-specific marketing rather than reliance on one universal flagship product.
History
National Beverage Corporation was formed in 1985 by Nick A. Caporella during a corporate-control dispute involving Burnup & Sims, a cable-television and telecommunications installation company. Victor Posner had acquired a significant shareholding in Burnup & Sims, and Caporella opposed the possibility that Posner would gain control. National Beverage was established as a separate corporate vehicle, and shares were exchanged between National Beverage and Burnup & Sims to reduce Posner's effective ownership position and preserve control for Caporella or businesses associated with him. To give the newly formed company an operating business, National Beverage acquired Shasta Beverages from Sara Lee Corporation in 1985. The acquisition was followed by the purchase of Faygo from Tree Sweet Products. Faygo brought a major Midwest regional soft-drink franchise, while National's manufacturing and bottling operations allowed it to expand into store-brand production. The company later added Spree and Big Shot in the early 1990s and obtained a contract in 1992 to manufacture Sea, a beverage brand used in United States Navy ship stores. National Beverage broadened its product base during the middle and late 1990s. Everfresh Beverages added juice products, while WinterBrook contributed sparkling- and still-water operations and brands such as Cascadia, WinterBrook Clear, and LaCroix. The company also acquired Home Juice Company near the end of the decade, adding Home Juice and Mr. Pure. In the early 2000s, Beverage Canners International brought the Ritz and Crystal Bay brands into the group. In 1991, National Beverage went public through a transaction involving Burnup & Sims shares. The transition produced shareholder litigation concerning Caporella's compensation arrangements and the relationship between Burnup & Sims and National Beverage. The dispute resulted in Caporella spending less time managing the company, although he remained central to its leadership. The company changed direction in 2002 by reducing private-label bottling and focusing more strongly on its own brands. It launched Shasta Shortz for children in 2003 and Fruitika fruit nectars soon afterward. Diet Shasta began using Splenda No Calorie Sweetener in 2004. That year, National Beverage also introduced Rip It, beginning a more deliberate expansion into energy drinks. Subsequent concepts included Freek, which was first tested in Detroit before a broader rollout; Rip It Chic, positioned toward women; and Triple Hit, a coffee-based energy drink. The Freek launch led to a legal dispute with Hansen Beverage Company, which argued that Freek packaging was confusingly similar to Monster packaging. A court initially restricted sales, but the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed the decision on June 29, 2007, allowing sales to resume. Hansen later abandoned the litigation after the companies reached an agreement. In the modern portfolio, LaCroix has become National Beverage's most visible national brand, while Shasta and Faygo retain strong regional and value-oriented identities. The broader group continues to cover sparkling water, carbonated soft drinks, fruit beverages, juices, energy drinks, and other flavored beverage formats. National Beverage is therefore best understood as an owner and operator of multiple beverage brands rather than as a single product brand.
- 2007
Freek packaging litigation resolved at appellate stage
[1]The Ninth Circuit reversed an injunction affecting Freek sales, after which Hansen Beverage dropped its lawsuit following an agreement.
- 2004
Rip It launched
[1]National Beverage entered the energy-drink segment with Rip It.
- 2002
Shift away from private-label bottling
[1]National Beverage emphasized its owned brands and reduced its private-label bottling activity.
- 1992
United States Navy contract
[1]The company contracted to manufacture Sea beverages for Navy ship stores.
- 1991
Public listing
[1]National Beverage became publicly traded through a transaction involving Burnup & Sims shares.
- 1985
National Beverage Corporation formed
[1]Nick A. Caporella formed National Beverage in the context of a defensive restructuring involving Burnup & Sims.
- 1985
Shasta acquired
[1]National Beverage acquired Shasta Beverages from Sara Lee Corporation.
Products and positioning
A diversified American branded beverage house focused on value-oriented, regional, flavored, and better-for-you beverage categories, with LaCroix providing its strongest national and contemporary brand presence.
Flavored sparkling water
LaCroix
LaCroix is National Beverage's best-known sparkling-water brand. It is associated with flavored carbonated water and helped give the company a strong presence in the growing better-for-you and zero-calorie beverage segment. The brand's flavor-led portfolio distinguishes it from traditional unflavored mineral and soda-water products.
Carbonated soft drinks
Shasta
Shasta is a broad soft-drink line acquired by National Beverage at the company's formation. It includes conventional and diet carbonated beverages across multiple flavors and has historically been positioned around variety, affordability, and mass retail distribution. Shasta also served as a platform for later extensions such as Shasta Shortz and diet products using Splenda.
Regional carbonated soft drinks
Faygo
Faygo is a regional soft-drink brand acquired from Tree Sweet Products. It has a particularly strong historical association with the Midwest and is known for a wide range of flavored carbonated beverages. Faygo gives National Beverage a distinctive regional franchise alongside the broader distribution of Shasta and LaCroix.
Juices and fruit drinks
Everfresh
Everfresh entered the National Beverage portfolio through the acquisition of Everfresh Beverages. The line extends the company beyond carbonated drinks into juices and fruit-based beverages, supporting distribution in channels where juice and non-carbonated refreshments are important.
Juices and fruit beverages
Mr. Pure
Mr. Pure was added through National Beverage's acquisition of Home Juice Company. It represents the company's juice and fruit-beverage activities and complements Everfresh and other non-carbonated products in the portfolio.
Energy drinks · 2004
Rip It
Rip It is National Beverage's principal energy-drink line. Created in 2004, it marked the company's entry into a rapidly expanding category and became the basis for subsequent energy-drink variants and related concepts.
Energy drinks · 2006
Freek
Freek was an energy-drink line aimed at teenagers and young adults. National Beverage initially tested it in Detroit, where sales supported a wider rollout. The brand later became the subject of packaging litigation brought by Hansen Beverage over its similarity to Monster cans.
Soft drinks and sparkling water
Ritz
Ritz entered the National Beverage group through the acquisition of Beverage Canners International. It formed part of the company's portfolio of soft drinks and sparkling-water products.
Soft drinks and sparkling water
Crystal Bay
Crystal Bay was acquired through Beverage Canners International and expanded National Beverage's selection of soft-drink and sparkling-water brands.
Controversies
2007
Freek and Monster packaging lawsuit
Hansen Beverage alleged that Freek energy-drink cans were confusingly similar to Monster cans. An initial court decision restricted sales, but the Ninth Circuit reversed the injunction. Hansen later dropped the lawsuit after an agreement with National Beverage.
1991
Shareholder litigation over compensation and intercompany relationships
A Burnup & Sims shareholder challenged Caporella's compensation from Burnup & Sims and his revenue-based compensation connected with National Beverage. The dispute affected Caporella's management involvement.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006Freek Detroit market test
Detroit · United States
National Beverage initially introduced Freek in Detroit to test an energy drink aimed at teenagers and young adults. Strong local sales preceded a broader rollout.
Outcome. Expanded nationally with five flavors by the end of 2006.
- 2006Rip It Chic launch
United States
National Beverage presented Rip It Chic as an energy drink developed for women at the National Association of Convenience Stores show in Las Vegas.
Outcome. Received People magazine's Trendsetters Award for Best New Beverage in 2007.
Brand decisions
2007
Defend Freek packaging in appellate litigationOtherBackground
Hansen Beverage argued that Freek packaging was confusingly similar to Monster packaging, and an initial ruling restricted sales.
Action taken
National Beverage appealed the restriction. The Ninth Circuit reversed the injunction and permitted Freek sales.
Aftermath
Hansen dropped the lawsuit after the companies reached an agreement.
- Hansen Beverage Company — Hansen initiated the packaging lawsuit and later dropped it after reaching an agreement with National Beverage.
2004
Enter the energy-drink category with Rip ItProduct launchBackground
Energy drinks were experiencing broad market growth in the United States.
Action taken
National Beverage created and launched Rip It, followed by additional energy-drink concepts.
Aftermath
The company tested Freek, Rip It Chic, and Triple Hit as extensions or related entries in the category.
2002
Prioritize owned beverage brandsStrategyBackground
National Beverage had operated in private-label bottling as well as branded beverages.
Action taken
The company reduced private-label bottling and shifted resources toward developing and bottling its own brands.
Aftermath
The strategy supported later product development aimed at specific demographic and category segments.
Sources1 sources
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