Key Takeaways
- Shares of Celsius Holdings (CELH) climbed more than 8% in after-hours trading following a well-received CAGNY 2026 conference presentation.
- The beverage company disclosed $5.2 billion in retail portfolio sales for the previous year and commands a 20% stake in the energy drink market across the United States.
- Shelf space is projected to expand by more than 17%, while Alani Nu aims for a 100% boost in convenience store placement.
- Two new board members nominated by PepsiCo joined the company, highlighting the deepening distribution alliance.
- After surging 74% throughout 2025 driven by the Alani Nu acquisition, CELH shares remain roughly 4% lower year-to-date in 2026.
Shares of Celsius Holdings rallied over 8% during after-hours trading Thursday following the company’s presentation at the 2026 Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference. Market participants reacted positively to management’s commentary regarding expanded retail presence and strengthening demand within the energy beverage sector.
Should this upward movement continue into Friday’s regular trading session, CELH would record its strongest single-day performance since August of last year. This would also represent consecutive positive sessions for the stock, which currently trades approximately 4% below its 2026 starting point.
This year’s modest decline follows an impressive 2025 performance that saw shares climb 74%. The previous year’s rally was largely attributed to the strategic acquisition of Alani Nu combined with increasing consumer appetite for wellness-oriented beverage options.
During the conference, Chief Executive Officer John Fieldly presented an optimistic assessment of the company’s current position. He revealed that the Celsius brand family generated $5.2 billion in retail sales during the prior year, positioning it among the top three energy drink portfolios in the market.
“Celsius is winning not in particular pockets, but winning at scale and across categories that matter,” Fieldly said.
The energy drink category currently comprises 20% of all liquid refreshment beverage sales throughout the United States, representing significant growth from approximately 14% just five years earlier. This expansion is motivating retailers to allocate additional shelf space to energy beverages.
Celsius reported that shelf space throughout its retail network has already expanded by more than 25%. Looking ahead, the company anticipates distribution and shelf presence gains exceeding 17%.
Alani Nu, which joined the Celsius family through acquisition in 2025, is positioned for particularly aggressive expansion, with shelf space expected to double. The brand is specifically targeting a 100% increase within convenience stores, a critical channel that represents 60% of total energy drink sales.
PepsiCo Alliance Powers Distribution Strategy
Chief Operating Officer Eric Hanson highlighted how the partnership with PepsiCo enables rapid and efficient product placement across retail locations. By integrating the complete Celsius product lineup into PepsiCo’s direct store delivery infrastructure, the company achieves accelerated access to both shelf and refrigerated display space.
“Celsius creates the strategy and provides PepsiCo with category and consumer insights, brand priorities, and executable playbooks,” Hanson said.
The collaboration received a governance enhancement recently when Celsius announced the addition of two new board members, Christy Jacoby and John Short, both selected by PepsiCo. Jacoby serves as Chief Financial Officer for PepsiCo North America Operations, while Short holds the position of Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at PepsiCo.
Product velocity across the entire portfolio has increased by 6%, with Celsius now available through more than 250,000 retail locations. The company attributes 33% of overall category growth to its brands.
Shifting Consumer Behavior Supports Expansion
Customer loyalty metrics demonstrate strong engagement. According to Celsius data, 52% of returning customers make five or more purchases.
Female shoppers are emerging as an increasingly important growth driver for the category, though male consumers continue to represent a substantial portion of the customer base. Approximately 32% of consumers now consume energy drinks during a broader range of occasions compared to previous patterns.
Celsius also highlighted that 37% of its customers consume products alongside meals, while 33% drink them in social environments, indicating a meaningful shift beyond traditional performance-focused consumption scenarios.
The company achieved 99.5% all-commodity volume coverage through PepsiCo’s distribution infrastructure, representing a significant operational achievement for the business.
