Early Life
Nick Caporella was born in 1935 in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, the son of Italian immigrants. His early life involved working various odd jobs to help support his family. He later moved to Florida, where his father took a construction job. Caporella's entrepreneurial spirit emerged early, eventually leading him to construction and later, telecommunications.
Rise to Success
Caporella's career took a significant turn when he entered the telecommunications sector, becoming the CEO of Burnup & Sims, Inc.. In 1985, he founded National Beverage Corp., initially to prevent a hostile takeover of his telecommunications firm. This marked his entry into the beverage industry. Through strategic acquisitions, including Shasta Beverages and Faygo Beverages, he built a diverse portfolio of beverage brands.
Key Business Strategies
Caporella's success is significantly tied to the popular sparkling water brand LaCroix, which National Beverage acquired in 1996. He focused on repositioning LaCroix, emphasizing its health-conscious appeal, and the brand's success fueled National Beverage's growth. Caporella has maintained a hands-on approach to management, and he is known for his distinctive and sometimes unusual communications with shareholders. He has never sold a single share of National Beverage since founding the company.
Philanthropy
Nick Caporella supports various civic, religious, and community programs. He serves on the Professional Advisory Board of St. Jude Children's Hospital. There is a Nick A Caporella Foundation which supports Philanthropy causes.
