Forget The Coca-Cola Company (KO) and PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP): Is Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR) Sodastream International Ltd (SODA)’s Biggest Threat?

Worse yet, Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA)’s most recent fall occurred after the New York Post reported it had been quietly attempting to market itself to potential suitors for at least the past three months to no avail. Curiously enough, this report even went so far as to clarify there may have been a hint of truth to the previous PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) rumors, but only in that PepsiCo just wanted to acquire SodaStream’s lucrative CO2-refilling business and not the actual consumer appliance operations.

Apart from the obvious worries, then, that nobody would be interested in buying Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA)’s business, this also calls into question SodaStream management’s assertions that their machines truly possess the long-term, industry-disrupting potential investors have been hoping for.

Foolish takeaway
As for now, I’m still impressed by SodaStream’s plans to increase annual sales by around 80% to $1 billion by 2016, but would love to hear what the company has to say about the acquisition rumors when they report second-quarter earnings on July 31.

Over the longer term, though, I’m still not particularly concerned over Green Mountain’s potential move into at-home carbonation, and see no reason that more than one carbonation system can’t thrive in the market. After all, Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA) has so far only captured less than 1% of the 130 million households in the U.S. — and who knows? In the end, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ:GMCR) may just end up validating SodaStream’s business model when so many are worried about its long-term staying power.

Fool contributor Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ:GMCR), PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP), and SodaStream. The Motley Fool owns shares of PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) and Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA).

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