Dr Pepper Snapple Group Buys 20M Stake In Bodyarmor Sports Drink

PLANO, TX -- Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. said it will invest $20 million in BA Sports Nutrition LLC, owner of Bodyarmor SuperDrink premium sports drinks. The transaction will give DPS a 11.7% stake in the company.

DPS has carried Bodyarmor as an allied brand in its direct store delivery network since 2013, and said it plans to expand the product line further in its system over the next year.

Mike Repole and Lance Collins founded Bodyarmor in 2012. Basketball superstar Kobe Bryant became a big investor in the company in 2013. The sports drink is made with potassium-packed electrolytes, coconut water and vitamins, and is sweetened with pure cane sugar. It contains no artificial colors or flavors and is available in seven flavors.

"We've been pleased with Bodyarmor's growth over the past two years and believe it has strong potential as a premium sports drink," said DPS president of packaged beverages Rodger Collins. "It's already a great part of our allied brand portfolio, it has a management team with the experience and passion to succeed, and we're looking forward to contributing to that growth and success over the long term."

The Bodyarmor partnership marks the second time DPS and Repole have teamed up to grow an emerging beverage brand. Before Bodyarmor, Repole founded Vitaminwater.

Bodyarmor is one of several third-party brands DPS carries in its portfolio, along with Big Red, Fiji Water, Vita Coco, SunnyD and Hydrive energy drinks.