Earlier this week, SodaStream
The Israeli company makes carbonated beverage systems for home use, as well as the consumable products -- CO2 refills, carbonated beverage storage containers, and flavored syrups -- necessary to create, flavor, and store the fizz. For readers who have owned shares of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
The numbers
For the first six months of 2010, the company generated revenues of 68.7 million euros (or U.S. $96.2 million), up 50% from 2009. The company is profitable, with a 6% operating profit margin, a figure that should improve as the business scales. In its prospectus, the company says that it is targeting at least a 25% operating profit in mature markets, where higher-margin consumables represent a larger portion of total sales. The company's gross margin was 52% for the first six months of 2010, a figure significantly higher than that of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.
Will SodaStream catch on?
Most of the company's business is in Europe, with Sweden having the highest usage, at an estimated 20% of households with the beverage carbonation system. SodaStream is in the early stages of its U.S. expansion, but its systems are available at Bed Bath & Beyond
Gaining popularity in a large market like the U.S. could transform the prospects of the company (and its stock), but will the company's pitch of cheaper, healthier, more environmentally friendly soda resonate with Americans hooked on Coca-Cola
That said, I think this one is worth watching. If you agree, click here to add SodaStream to your watchlist, and let us know in the comments below if you think SodaStream will be a Green Mountain-like success or fall as flat as a week-old can of open soda.
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