Nick Caporella
- Nick Caporella, a onetime contractor and the son of a Pennsylvania coal miner, founded National Beverage Co. in 1985.
- Then the CEO of telecom and cable company Burnup & Sims, Caporella started the soft drinks firm to fend off famed corporate raider Victor Posner.
- He funded the creation of National Beverage partly using Burnup & Sims stock, diluting Posner’s stake until he eventually slunk away.
- Shares of the Florida-based business have shot up since 2015 thanks to its popular sparkling water, LaCroix, which Caporella acquired in 1996.
- Other product lines include soda brands Shasta and Faygo.
