The Complete Handbook of Soda
A Practical Reference for Professionals, Retailers, Operators, and Serious Hobbyists
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
The working professional's reference to soda specifications, sourcing, serving, and business models—neutral, concrete, and practical.
About this book
Soda is a $600+ billion global category, yet most reference material is either marketing collateral or too general to be useful. This handbook is written for the people who actually work with soda: retailers deciding which products to stock, foodservice operators managing fountain systems, small business owners evaluating soda-based ventures, and serious enthusiasts who want to understand the category from a technical perspective.
You'll find concrete specifications that matter (carbonation levels, shelf life, ingredient variations), a systematic framework for choosing the right products for your situation, practical guidance on installation and troubleshooting of serving equipment, supplier and brand positioning across price tiers, real business models in soda (wholesale, franchising, private-label), and the regulatory and market trends reshaping the industry. Every chapter is grounded in real-world scenarios and decision-making, not abstract definitions.
This is the reference manual the soda category has been missing—neutral, comprehensive, and designed for professionals who need to know how soda actually works.
Reader Reviews
Michael Lopez
★★★★★I run a small convenience store and was hoping for a single reference that explained soda specifications, supplier tiers, and margin realities. The first chapter actually delivers on that—the explanation of carbonation and how it affects shelf life and taste is the clearest I've found. That said, some of the later chapters felt thin on pricing and the equipment troubleshooting section could have been more detailed. Still useful if you take the time to work through it.
Ronald Baker
★★★★★I'm a foodservice consultant and bought this to hand to clients who ask about fountain soda programs. Chapter 1 is solid—it grounds the category in actual chemistry and market context, not marketing. My only frustration is that some sections assume knowledge I think most readers won't have, so they may skip those parts. But the vendor positioning and business model sections are exactly what I needed.