Better Health for All

National Beverage Corp. states its primary objective is to create the "healthiest refreshments ever produced"

and has reformulated many brands to reduce caloric content, including introducing Zero Sugar Shasta flavors in Fiscal 2025. LaCroix, a zero-calorie, zero-sweetener, zero-sodium sparkling water, is positioned as a healthier alternative to soda. However, LaCroix contributes just under half of the company's revenue. , implying that over 50% of revenue comes from other products, including carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) like Faygo, which are generally considered to have negative health outcomes. This indicates that products with negative health effects still represent a majority of the portfolio, despite active nutritional improvement efforts. The company has faced multiple lawsuits challenging its "100% Natural" and "BPA-free" claims, with experts noting vagueness regarding "natural flavors" and limited website transparency. While the company defends its claims and states compliance with regulations, these issues impact risk and nutritional transparency. There is no data on user harm frequency or severity to score the safety record. The company undertakes measures to reduce its carbon footprint, including transitioning to electric forklifts and purchasing renewable electricity. The majority of products are delivered through efficient warehouse distribution, and over 80% of products are in aluminum cans containing 71-73% recycled material. The company supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and sponsored Susan G. Komen for the Cure walks. It also promotes "healthy mind, body and nutrition" for children through a partnership with San Diego Wave FC and employs a national dietitian for LaCroix. Employee benefits support physical, mental, and financial health, and the company has a cybersecurity strategy to protect personal data. However, specific quantitative data on funding for health equity programs, R&D investment in health outcomes, or the reach of preventative health and mental health initiatives is not available to meet the rubric's thresholds.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

For Fiscal Year 2025, National Beverage Corp. reported a CEO pay ratio of 174:1, comparing the CEO's compensation (via a management fee) to the median employee pay of $69,010.

The company provides a comprehensive health, dental, life, and disability insurance program to all executive officers and employees, including a basic term-life policy. Additionally, the company maintains a 401(k) plan with discretionary profit-sharing contributions for all employees. No specific data on living wage coverage, collective bargaining, safety incident rates, pay equity, worker engagement, employee turnover, insecure contracts, or labor violation incidents is provided.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

No specific, quantifiable evidence was found in the provided articles for any of the KPIs related to Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing. The articles do not provide data on fair-trade certifications, supplier audit frequency, forced or child labor incidents in the supply chain, supply chain traceability, remediation speed for supplier violations, ethical clauses in supplier contracts, spend on high-risk materials, or supplier diversity spend.

Information regarding internal company codes of conduct, internal audit committee meetings, or employee diversity does not directly address these supply chain KPIs.

Honest & Fair Business

National Beverage Corp. has faced multiple lawsuits related to product claims. A class-action lawsuit alleging misleading 'all-natural' labeling for LaCroix sparkling water, filed in October 2018, was withdrawn by the plaintiff in 2020 following laboratory findings.

However, a similar consumer lawsuit concerning synthetic ingredients in LaCroix remains ongoing in New York. Additionally, a lawsuit filed by a former employee alleges the company considered falsely claiming its products were BPA-free and fired a vice president for objecting to this plan. The company stated that all LaCroix beverages are now produced in cans without BPA liners, with conversion beginning two years prior to April 2019, and intends to defend against the claims.

No War, No Weapons

National Beverage Corp. operates as a beverage producer.

The company's core business is described as developing, producing, marketing, and distributing sparkling waters, juices, energy drinks, and carbonated soft drinks. For 2024, the company reported $0 in lobbying expenditures, meaning there is no lobbying activity related to arms control.

Planet-Friendly Business

In 2023, the company's Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions were 85,670 tCO₂e, representing a 12.5% reduction from 2022.

However, the company has not outlined any formal or publicly committed science-based reduction targets, nor has it stated a net-zero target year. In terms of energy, 37.6% of its total energy consumption in 2023 was sourced from renewables. The company achieved a 62% recycling rate in 2023. More than 80% of products are packaged in aluminum cans, which generally contain approximately 71% recycled material. The company reported zero major FDA violation notices in 2023, and its last environmental violation was in 2007, resulting in an $11,900 penalty.

Safe & Smart Tech

National Beverage Corp. experienced a data breach on August 1, 2024, involving a 200GB leak by the threat actor 'Meow'.

The company's 10-K filing for Fiscal 2025 (ending May 2025, filed July 2, 2025) stated there were no identified cybersecurity threats that had, or were reasonably likely to have, a material effect on the business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. The company's Code of Ethics requires employees to report potential policy violations, including those related to data security, and prohibits retaliation for good faith reporting. It also states that employees have no right to privacy on company systems, which may be monitored. The privacy policy indicates the company does not sell, rent, or market personal data to third parties. Users are instructed not to submit personal data if they do not want it collected. The company's cybersecurity risk management strategy includes cybersecurity awareness training for employees, an internal security team, external service providers, and an incident response plan with an external team. The Audit Committee oversees the cybersecurity risk management program.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

National Beverage Corp. states that all of its packaging is recyclable and continually focuses on reducing packaging content.

The company actively cultivates relationships with packaging innovators to source eco-friendly solutions and is spending on the development of new, sustainable designs. Over 80% of the company's products are in aluminum cans, which contain approximately 73% recycled material. Each facility has programs in place to minimize the use of water, energy, and other natural resources, and the company actively seeks to minimize its operational footprint through efficiency improvements and waste reduction initiatives, continuing these efforts in fiscal year 2024. National Beverage regularly assesses and audits raw material suppliers to ensure they meet the company's quality and ethical standards.