Final answer:
The most popular type of franchising in the soft-drink industry is the bottler's franchise, as exemplified by companies like Coca-Cola, which ship concentrate rather than the final beverage to localized franchised bottlers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of franchising most popular in the soft-drink industry is the bottler's franchise. Companies like Coca-Cola use this model to produce and distribute their products globally. Rather than shipping the finished beverage, the company ships the concentrated syrup to franchised bottling plants around the world. These bottling plants use local water and sweeteners to create the final product, which is then packaged and sold within a specific geographic region. This method is advantageous for bulk gaining industries with products that become heavier or more expensive to transport after production, such as soft drinks. Franchising in this industry ensures a consistent product while utilizing local resources, which can lead to variations in taste depending on the location.