Quick Facts: Celsius Holdings (Energy Drink)
| Owner | Publicly traded; PepsiCo holds ~8.5% strategic stake |
| CEO / Leader | John Fieldly (CEO) |
| Founded | 2004, Boca Raton, Florida |
| Headquarters | Boca Raton, Florida, USA |
| Ownership Type | Public |
| Stock Ticker | NASDAQ: CELH |
| Publicly Traded | Yes |
Who Owns Celsius?
Celsius Holdings, Inc. — the maker of the Celsius energy drink — is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol CELH. No single individual or entity holds majority ownership. The company’s shares are widely distributed among institutional investors, retail shareholders, and insiders. However, PepsiCo holds a significant strategic stake of approximately 8.5%, acquired in August 2022 as part of a landmark $550 million investment deal that also made PepsiCo Celsius’s exclusive distribution partner in North America. This relationship has been transformative for Celsius’s market reach and revenue growth.
John Fieldly, who became CEO in 2018, is among the largest individual insiders and holds a meaningful equity position accumulated through his tenure and compensation packages. Fieldly has led the company through its most explosive growth phase, overseeing Celsius’s rise from a niche fitness brand to the third-largest energy drink brand in the United States. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard, BlackRock, and various growth-focused mutual funds and hedge funds that have poured money into the company as it grew rapidly.
The company was founded in 2004 by Steve Haley and has gone through multiple leadership and strategic changes over its history. For most of its early life, Celsius was a small-cap company struggling for distribution and consumer awareness. The PepsiCo distribution deal fundamentally changed its trajectory, giving the brand access to Pepsi’s vast retail and foodservice network and turning Celsius into one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in America.
About Celsius Holdings
Celsius positions itself as a “functional energy drink,” emphasizing its clinical research claims that consuming Celsius before exercise can accelerate metabolism and calorie burning. The brand targets health-conscious consumers who want an energy boost without the artificial sweeteners and high sugar content common in traditional energy drinks. This differentiated positioning helped Celsius attract a devoted consumer base in gyms, fitness studios, and wellness-focused retail channels before breaking into mainstream distribution.
The partnership with PepsiCo has been central to Celsius’s commercial success. Under the distribution agreement, Celsius products became available through PepsiCo’s network of direct-store delivery routes, dramatically expanding shelf presence in convenience stores, grocery chains, and other outlets. Revenue growth accelerated sharply following the partnership. However, the company also faces intense competition from Monster Beverage (backed by Coca-Cola), Red Bull, and other energy drink brands fighting for the same shelf space and consumer wallet.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Celsius Holdings trades on the NASDAQ under CELH. It is a widely held public company with no single controlling shareholder. Institutional investors including Vanguard and BlackRock are among the largest shareholders through index and growth funds.
- PepsiCo invested $550 million in Celsius in August 2022, acquiring approximately 8.5% of the company’s shares. The deal also gave PepsiCo exclusive North American distribution rights for Celsius, replacing the company’s previous distributor and dramatically expanding its retail footprint.
- CEO John Fieldly has led Celsius since 2018 and is credited with repositioning the brand from a fringe fitness product into a mainstream energy drink competitor. Under his leadership, Celsius grew to become the third-largest energy drink brand in the U.S. by volume.
- Celsius was founded in 2004 in Boca Raton, Florida, and went public on the NASDAQ. For most of its history it was a micro-cap stock largely ignored by Wall Street before its explosive growth attracted institutional attention from 2020 onward.
- Celsius competes directly with Monster Beverage (MNST, partially owned by Coca-Cola) and Red Bull, which together dominate the energy drink category. Celsius has gained market share rapidly, but faces ongoing pressure to maintain its premium health positioning as more competitors enter the functional beverage space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Celsius?
Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ: CELH) is a publicly traded company with no single majority owner. PepsiCo holds the largest strategic stake at approximately 8.5%, acquired in 2022 for $550 million. Institutional investors including Vanguard and BlackRock hold large positions, and CEO John Fieldly owns meaningful shares as an insider.
Is Celsius publicly traded?
Yes. Celsius Holdings trades on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol CELH. Shares are available for purchase by retail and institutional investors.
Does PepsiCo own Celsius?
PepsiCo does not own Celsius outright, but it holds approximately 8.5% of Celsius Holdings following a $550 million investment in 2022. PepsiCo is also Celsius’s exclusive North American distribution partner, making it the most important strategic partner in the company’s history.
What does Celsius drink claim to do?
Celsius markets its drinks as “functional” energy beverages that claim to accelerate metabolism and burn calories when consumed before exercise. The brand targets fitness-conscious consumers and is positioned as a healthier alternative to traditional high-sugar energy drinks.
