Nick Caporella rose from a coal-mining family to build a contracting business, lead Burnup & Sims and then found National Beverage, where acquisitions including Shasta, Faygo and LaCroix created his billionaire fortune. [1][2][3]
He built his first business before entering beverages
Forbes describes Caporella as the son of a coal miner who built a contracting business and sold it to telecommunications contractor Burnup & Sims in 1972, establishing an entrepreneurial track record before National Beverage existed. [2]
He became Burnup & Sims' chief executive in 1976 and chairman in 1979, giving him years of public-company management experience and equity before he moved into the beverage industry. [1][3]
Caporella founded National Beverage in 1985 during a battle with corporate raider Victor Posner, using a transaction involving Burnup & Sims cash and shares to establish the new company and dilute Posner's position. [1]
A portfolio of acquired brands became the compounding engine
National Beverage bought Shasta around the time of its formation, added Faygo in 1987 and acquired LaCroix in 1996, assembling a portfolio that moved beyond traditional soft drinks as consumer preferences shifted. [1][2]
The company's 2026 filing still identifies Caporella as chairman and chief executive from National Beverage's inception. His fortune therefore reflects a long self-created operating path, although he entered the startup with capital and public-company equity accumulated through his earlier business career. [3][1]
Sources for background
Sources reviewed Oct 4, 2026.
- Huge Success Of LaCroix Sparkling Water Has Turned Beverage Firm Founder Into A New Billionaire · Forbes · Apr 8, 2016
- LaCroix Owner Loses $500 Million In Hours, Blames ‘Injustice’ For Fizzling Sales · Forbes · Mar 8, 2019
- National Beverage Corp. 2026 Annual Report · U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission · Sep 8, 2026
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