Sports drinks can be high in sugar, so the benefits often don’t outweigh the negatives. Recover 180, however, claims to have three times the electrolytes, yet only half the calories of “other leading sports drinks.” The lighter nature of the drink is mainly due to the unique plant-based ingredients like milk thistle and ginseng, which are intended to fight inflammation and flush toxins while providing the consumer with more energy.  The result is a sweeter taste without feeling overly sugary.

Blood Orange

I tried this flavor last because I’m typically not a fan of orange drinks; they always make me feel like I’m drinking a breakfast drink at the wrong time of the day. I was pleasantly surprised to find it quite enjoyable and less acidic than most orange-flavored drinks. The flavor isn’t overwhelming, and the drink doesn’t feel watered down. Not as sweet as the other two flavors, Blood Orange is a surprisingly refreshing alternative.

Citrus Flavor

I generally enjoyed this drink, but I was initially taken back by how sweet it was. A little like lemonade that didn’t quite find the right balance of powder and water, it was tasty, but it was something I was going to need some time to drink. I ended up liking it, but I’m not convinced it’s something I would want to drink right after exercise.

Acai Berry

Acai berries are a powerful antioxidant but also prove to have some decent flavor. Like the other flavors of Recover 180, Acai Berry tends to be on the sweeter side, but it feels more appropriate when drinking something berry flavored. More refreshing than the citrus, but not as flavorful as the orange, Acai Berry is a good drink for immediate recovery or something to drink in a more casual situation after a long day.

Summary: Recovery 180 provides three viable options for a hydrating and healthy sports drink. While all drinks taste good, there’s nothing particular about the taste that stands out above anything else. Recover 180 is an enjoyable sports drink whose most significant upside is the health benefits.

For more information visit Recover 180’s website.

Endo Sport comes in a lightweight squeezable bottle with an easy-open sports cap that you can re-seal and save for later. The sleek and portable design makes it easy to throw in a gym bag or consume during a game or workout.

Both flavors, Orange and Berry and Tropical, contain 21.75 grams of sugar and 105.6 kcal.

Orange: Endo Sport Orange is slightly sweet with an artificial orange flavoring reminiscent of other orange soft drinks. It’s light and refreshing, not syrupy or heavy. We were pleasantly surprised that there was no gross aftertaste or mouthfeel.

Berry and Tropical: Blue in color, Endo Sport Berry and Tropical has a bright, fruity flavor that is sweet and mellow. The slightly effervescent liquid is smooth and easy to sip.

Overall: Endo Sport drinks are convenient, refreshing, and easy to drink. With a blend of ingredients designed to help with hydration, energy, and recovery, Endo Sport is an exciting new way for athletes and fitness enthusiasts to experience the potential enhancements of CBD before, during, and after their workouts.

For more information visit Endo Sport’s website.

Endurance and action sports require peak performance from athlete’s bodies and the proper nutrition before, during, and after these activities.  ARMA recognized a void in the marketplace and created a complete line of nutritional supplements formulated specially to help athletes and enthusiasts of all levels realize their maximum potential. They utilize not only the best ingredient combinations but clinically proven dosages. ARMA nutritional supplements have undoubtedly achieved best-in-class formulations.

ARMA’s products were developed and tested in real-world conditions by an all-star team of athlete owners that includes Jeremy McGrath, the winningest rider in Supercross history; Chad Reed, two-time Supercross champion, who holds the record for the most career Supercross starts; and Nick Wey, a former factory rider with 191 Supercross main event starts to his credit, who now trains and coaches several of the sport’s elite.

“We developed ARMA for true competitors who know that winning is about more than training – you have to put the best in to get the best out,” says McGrath. “Our products are formulated with the most effective levels of high-performance, clinically-studied ingredients. These help all athletes from pros to everyday warriors, and everyone in-between, focus better, boost strength, overcome dehydration, and push through fatigue to the finish.”

Through innovative research and development, ARMA has created formulas that use only all-natural and premium ingredients. These unique and world-class ingredients, such as WGCP, ElevATP, Palatinose, Cluster Dextrin, Sustamine, Curcugreen, BioPerine, have very distinct benefits proven for optimal nutrition and maximum results.

“ARMA developed products to meet the needs of our athletes,” says Nick Wey. “Our supplements will have a significant impact on any athlete, as they were designed for the grueling challenges of motocross. We’ve been using all three ARMA products on and off the track and experiencing tremendous results.”

The ARMA portfolio includes three product categories:

FIRE: NATURAL BOOST + FOCUS – our vegan formula gives your body a natural boost for sustained stamina and razor-sharp focus lasting up to six hours per serving.

BLITZ: TRAINING COMPLEX – this one-stop stimulant-free formula meets all of your training needs: lasting endurance, increased hydration, reduction of lactic acid, and more.

RELOAD: PROTEIN COMPLEX – Whey Protein complex that utilizes Curcugreen® Curcumin and BioPerine® extract to rapidly deliver anti-inflammatories and antioxidants for post-workout recovery as well as a daily source of high-quality Whey Protein, MCT, and BCAAs.

Source: ARMA Sport Inc.

Haymaker’s Punch is made with Apple Cider Vinegar, Dark Cherry Juice Concentrate, Honey, and Ginger Juice. Their HP+ recipe has an added 70mg of caffeine. Both versions are 100% USDA organic, certified gluten-free, and contain NO artificial preservatives! They say the natural electrolytes and antioxidants in their switchel could help give your energy a boost WITHOUT any nasty artificial ingredients! They also donate 10% of their profits to aid American family farmers, which we love!

HP

The classic Haymaker’s Punch recipe was one of the best switchels we’ve tried! Some switchels can be too sharp and acidic, making them difficult to even stomach. This one was overall smooth and balanced, with just the right amount of bite from the organic Apple Cider Vinegar. The honey comes through nicely and gives the drink a warm flavor and aroma, which we found both soothing and refreshing to drink! The original HP flavor had a clean finish with no coating in the mouth, which is another issue we’ve had with other vinegar-drinks in the past! Sweet, tart, warming, and rejuvenating!

HP+

There’s not much for us to say here, but that’s a good thing! Because the HP+ version of Haymaker’s Punch tasted fairly identical to the uncaffeinated version! We couldn’t detect any aftertaste or change in texture at all! The only difference may be that the honey flavor is slightly more pronounced in HP+, but the difference was minimal! We love that they give you the option of going for a classic switchel or giving yourself an extra boost, with no compromise on taste! HP+ is still 100% USDA organic( even the caffeine!), certified gluten-free, and free of synthetic preservatives!

For more information visit Haymaker’s Punch’s website.

Deontay Wilder, an avid consumer and supporter of the brand, has chosen to partner with RECOVER 180° as his go-to beverage to stay at the top of his game throughout training, competition and recovery. The scientifically formulated isotonic hydration blend helps to rapidly rehydrate the body at an optimal level – elevating athletic performance by combating dehydration and exhaustion. RECOVER 180° lifts athletic performance to the next level through its NSF Certified for Sport product that delivers essential vitamins such as C, B3, B5, B6, and B12, as well as plant-based extracts including milk thistle, aloe vera, ashwagandha, and ginseng; natural colors, natural flavors and organic sugar.

“As an athlete, I am constantly pushing myself to do more and be better,” says Deontay Wilder. “I need to fuel my body with the best ingredients and stay hydrated in order to perform at the top of my game and that’s why I have chosen RECOVER 180°. I’m excited to have them officially joining me in the ring this weekend. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Deontay and to have the privilege to be there every step of the way, supporting him whether he is training at home or fighting in the ring,” says John Stout Jr., VP Business Development. “We know that proper hydration is key for athletes who need to perform at the highest level and our athlete partners turn to RECOVER 180° when their performance is on the line. We are honored to be by Deontay’s side at the World Heavyweight Championship rematch.”

Source: RECOVER 180°

7-Select

Replenish

Sweetened with stevia and real sugar, the private brand electrolyte hydration beverage also contains 100 percent of the daily values of vitamins A, E, Niacin (B3), B5 and Pantothenic Acid (B6) per 12-ounce serving. 7-Select Replenish has 15 grams of sugar and 60 calories per serving or 150 calories per 28-ounce bottle.

Isotonic drinks may help to replace electrolytes and minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium lost during exercise or strenuous activity. 7-Select Replenish contains all four; other national brands may have only two.

“As with all 7-Eleven private brand products, we wanted to make sure our new sport drink would stand out in quality, taste, uniqueness and value,” said 7-Eleven President and CEO Joe DePinto. “We benchmarked against the best and added differentiated attributes that we know our customers are seeking.”

7-Eleven has been building its private brand beverage lineup. Just a few weeks ago, stores added Quake® performance energy drinks to their vaults, and the private brand beverage has already acquired a loyal following. Available in four flavors, Quake energy drinks combine the best of energy, sports and performance drinks into one.

Its award-winning 7-Select GO!Smart line of organic cold-pressed juices includes both single-ingredient fruit juices and fruit and vegetable blends. Within months of launching, sales of several varieties landed in the top 10 of juices sold in 20-ounce or smaller juice category.

In a Mintel study, nearly half of millennial-aged consumers believe that store brands are more innovative than name-brand products and include more private brand items in their shopping cart than previous generations. Private brands make up almost a third of the products in millennials’ shopping baskets according to another study on the growth of private brands. They are looking for value and expect the quality to be as good or better than national brand counterparts.

While 7-Eleven had previously carried private brand nonfood items, the convenience retailer began ramping up its lineup in early in 2008 when it launched 32 packaged snacks under the 7-Select brand. The first 7-Select-brand food items included cookies, candy, nuts, potato chips, beef jerky, trail mix and more. The exclusive-to-7-Eleven brand had first appeared on paper goods, batteries and stationery supplies in 2004.

Sales climbed steadily, and many 7-Select items began outselling competing name-brand products. While rolling out one wave of new 7-Select products, the company is continually testing still more items in select stores around the country. Today, participating stores carry hundreds of private-brand products as 7-Eleven continues to seek out items that meet strict criteria for unmatched quality, unique flavors, better-for-you ingredients and extraordinary value.

“7-Eleven is one of the leading beverage retailers for a reason,” said Tim Cogil, 7-Eleven senior director of private brands. “We listen to our customers, stay ahead of the latest trends and offer refreshing drinks you can’t find anywhere else. 7-Select Replenish has received great reviews and is an effective thirst-quencher whether recovering from a tough workout or just needing to cool down on a hot summer day … or any day.”

Source:7-Eleven

1. Each brand has a very interesting story to tell. What’s Performance Caffeine story?

Our company was born from a group of friends and former college and professional athletes who saw a void in the market for a truly functional performance based energy shot. Performance Caffeine was developed from us collaborating with scientists, chemists, and flavor specialists to create what we consider the most bioavailable energy shot on the market. By that we mean the degree and rate at which our product is absorbed into the body.

You see most energy drinks/shots overload the body with 500-1000% DVA of Vitamins and some sort of ridiculous amount of a so called “energy blend”. The truth is Vitamins are healthiest when trickled into the body. Bioavailability is enhanced and vitamin uptake is easiest on the liver, kidneys and endocrine system because this is how your body obtains Vitamins naturally. Our energy blend comes from a clean source Caffeine and a nootropic called Alpha GPC (L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine) which is naturally produced by the brain.

2. Performance Caffeine has 2 different flavors. Can you tell us more about each? Which one is your favorite?

We are very excited about our new Beast Mode Berry and Watermelon Punch, which are both all natural flavor profiles.  Honestly, I can’t tell which is my favorite – and we’re getting great feedback on both. I guess it depends on what flavor you’re in the mood for.

3. Nice packaging and marketing strategy is very important. However, everyone know that what’s inside makes the difference. What are the most important ingredients in your products?

I totally agree. Our ingredients and formula as a whole were designed to co-function together. If we took out one ingredient then it wouldn’t have the effect we wanted to achieve, therefore all of the ingredients in our products are the most important.

4. “The first energy shot developed for athletes by athletes” is a slogan on your website. Just to be clear, who is your target market?

Yeah it’s obvious that athletes are at the core of our customer base but our name Performance Caffeine signifies anybody who is out there trying to perform at peak levels. Whether it be Athletes, Fitness enthusiasts, Firefighters, College students, Nurses, Construction workers, etc… Performance Caffeine is for anyone

And everyone else who is over 18 and not pregnant or breast-feeding that wants their body and mind to be working at top performance. Teachers, Nurses, Firefighters, Builders, Moms, Dads, etc.

5. It’s hard to do something right with the first try. Did you have any difficulties creating Performance Caffeine?

Absolutely! It has taken us over 2 years and several prototypes to get where we are today. Developing a great tasting product without sacrificing the natural ingredients is very difficult, but is extremely important to us.

We are continuously evolving.

The easy part for us was developing our base formula to function the way we wanted it to.

The hard part was masking the bitterness of the Vitamins and Caffeine

This requires you to be very involved with the formulating of the product. To create the best products we felt it was vital to setup manufacturing locally in Colorado. We are the first and only company in Colorado equipped to produce high-quality caffeine shots.

6. Performance Caffeine line is based in the United States. Where consumers can find your beverage? Are you planning to expand to other countries?

As you stated before, you can find us online at Performance Caffeine website. Our current major retail presence resides in Colorado but over the next two years you will start seeing us nationwide with our 5 year plan of going global.

7. What is your advice to other beverage startups?

Don’t expect your first prototype to be your last. Listen to your customers and continue to evolve. Failure is a guarantee so take it as a learning experience and know that perseverance is key.

For more information visit Performance Caffeine website.

The contents and quality of sports and nutritional products are becoming increasingly important for athletes that are subjected to anti-doping tests as well as the general population, including millions of people who are subject to drug testing for employment. Federal regulations (outlined in the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994; and the FDA’s 21 C.F.R. 111 – Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Dietary Supplements) do not require that a supplement is tested for banned substances.

The market is responding with a broader range of third-party certification options designed to confirm independent testing and evaluation of dietary supplements, their ingredients and manufacturing, and storage facilities.

Who Certifies?

Some of the most common third-party certification seals are BSCG Certified Drug Free, Informed-Choice (or Informed-Sport), and NSF Certified for Sport. Certification programs confirm that a product contains the ingredients listed on the label and that they do not contain ingredients banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They do not ensure a product’s effectiveness or safety. The companies vary in terms of how they approach the certification process.

History of Certifying Organizations

The Laboratory of Government Chemists (LGC) was the original substance-testing organization, dating back to 1842. The agency has evolved into the for-profit supplement testing agency Informed-Choice (and its sister agency Informed-Sport), which over the last 16 years has become the world’s largest laboratory testing supplements for contamination by banned substances.

NSF International (formerly the National Sanitation Foundation) began in 1994 as an independent and accredited organization that develops public health standards and certification programs to test and certify products and systems designed to protect the world’s food, water, consumer products, and the environment. In 2006, Red Bull became the first company to be awarded NSF International’s Certified for Sport which was introduced in response to growing concern from amateur and professional athletes about banned substances in sports supplements.

In 2004, Don H. Catlin, M.D., who founded the first anti-doping lab in the United States in 1982, and his son Oliver Catlin, introduced BSCG (Banned Substances Control Group). The BSCG Certified Drug Free® program provides protection against 485 drugs including 274 drugs on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and an additional 211 illicit, prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

What Certification Signifies

The certification symbols issued by the various organizations mean that the certified products had to go through extensive testing to make sure there isn’t anything in them that would get flagged in a blood test. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) does not certify, approve, endorse, or guarantee any supplement. Some products on the market imply, or state directly, that they are WADA certified or approved, but they are not. Supplement certification and testing services look for everything from certain metals to anabolic steroids and endocrine inhibitors. The manufacturing facility inspections are designed to prevent accidental contamination when the raw materials are produced and when the products are manufactured. Even when a product says, “manufactured or bottled in the USA,” there is a high probability that some materials are coming from other countries with less regulation than the U.S.

With the global sports nutrition market expected to reach USD 81.5 billion by 2023, we’re likely to see even more options and demand for sports supplement certification in the future.

Original article was published in Beverage Industry Blog.

1. How did the whole story of Kilde start?

It all started back in 2016.

As other producers of protein infused products, the idea started circulating in an environment where the alternatives for a quick restitution after workout was limited to protein shakes that really did not taste all that great and not to mention the extra intake of calories.

We liked the idea of a thirst quencher combined with protein and we also knew that water infused with protein would not be a revolution. Import was one option, but to our local Norwegian taste buds we were not impressed with any foreign product we tried, feeling none of them could really pass as water and most had an artificial taste, almost like candy.

Besides functionality we had a clear target of making a taste champion product with a great appetite appeal. A water infused with protein, that look like water, felt like water with just a hint of taste and which did not give you the dry mouth aftertaste you get from many protein waters. The importance of taste of protein was illustrated well when listening to Lars Ulrich, the drummer and co-founder of the American heavy metal band Metallica in a TV talk show, describing how the services of the green room has changed over the last decade and referring to the now served protein shakes as nasty. We knew then that the challenge would be to change the unpleasant connotation of protein to something appealing.

2. It can be difficult finding the perfect balance of great taste and high amount of protein in beverage product. What challenges did you face during the development of this beverage line?

With a clear target of creating a taste champion with appetite appeal the challenge was how to achieve a sensory profile with a clear refreshing and thirst quenching connotation. From the first consumer tests, we saw early that the process would take more time than expected and the amount of tests have been numerous. Protein turned out to be a challenging ingredient with all factors of the production process taken into account, from shelf stability to visual appearance.

3. Kilde is a protein water beverage line with four different flavors. Are you planning to release a new flavor any time soon? Which one is your favorite in the current line?

For our next release we certainly have a pipeline to choose from. All the thorough research, numerous trials and consumer tests prior to launch the result is a valuable pipeline of follow-ups. Out of the many different ones we have chosen Strawberry & Chili because this turned out to be the favorite among the tasters who said this would definitely be their new favorite. The combination of the slightly sweet taste of strawberry combined with a mild chili taste turned out to be quite exciting.

Additionally, we are making final touches on our pipeline of plant based proteins to satisfy the vegans and the true vegetarians and we have cooperation with Norwegian marine industry to use hydrolysed collagen peptides from fish as well, ideally protein peptides combined with OMEGA3 fatty acids. Always keeping in mind that our target is to create taste champions on all varieties.

As for my favorite, I find it very difficult to pick one, but if I have to it is Elderberry Flower for the time being, although Coconut is also quite pleasant. The Elderberry Flower is very refreshing and Coconut might classify as an acquired taste, you sort of grow into it or it grows on you. Currently, I consume a bottle per day of Elderberry at work and I keep a chilled bottle of Coconut in my car for immediate consumption after workout. The bottle is usually empty before I have left the parking area.

4. Knowing your target market is crucial for successful beverage brand. Who is Kilde’s target market? Is it suitable for anyone? How would you recommend consuming Kilde?

We like to think of protein water as mainstream, not limited to restitution for athletes. We want Kilde to be the smart choice and a healthy alternative to sugary sodas and energy drinks for people on the go. Sort of targeting the “work-hard-play-hard” audience. We all need protein and although most people in developed countries get enough protein from a regular healthy diet, Kilde protein water is also about convenience. With great taste and a refreshing feeling Kilde can be consumed as a thirst quencher providing you with “the little extra” while you are studying as well as after you have been exercising or if you just simply make one bottle of Kilde be a part of your daily intake of the recommended amount of fluid.

The Kilde bottle is designed to attract young people who we see as the first movers, but the logo with its minimalistic expression of an honest product makes it suitable for everyone. You might say it has a slight feminine look, but we know that just as many males are attracted and they do not see it as too feminine.

5.  I have noticed that there is no English version of your current website nor any activity on social media platforms. What marketing tools you are using to promote Kilde?

You are right about the website which is currently limited to the Nordic countries with work in progress to change this from a web-shop to an informational website in English with shop options. Although we have orders from US and UK as well to our “Norwegian” site.

For the missing activities on social media, we do have social media platforms, both Facebook and Instagram. We have put most effort on Instagram and you can find us under the name ‘KILDEPROTEINVANN’ where we already have social proof through #Kilde and #Kildeproteinvann.

As a startup we have to spend our marketing budget wisely. We believe creating trials is an efficient way to both build awareness and creating repurchase.

For any new product launch, distribution will be limited at first so you want to spend most of your marketing money where the consumer can find your product and be inspired to try it.  Also, the functional beverage category is quite new in Norway and as one of the first players in the category we have a job to do in terms of educating the buyers and consumer. With this in mind, we have spent most of the marketing effort in-store, at gyms or other arenas sampling the product and offering a free sample of a second bottle for any bottle purchased. With this type of activity, we know we are reaching the target group at the point of purchase. By putting the product in front of the consumer who walk into the store to satisfy their thirst or run other errands we are securing trial and are also getting immediate and valuable feedback.

Sampling activities have also been conducted on a large scale at different sport events and music festivals to introduce the product.

To build awareness in general we have run digital marketing campaigns both targeting the geographic area within a certain radius of the convenience stores to invite the consumers to sample Kilde. In addition, we have run similar digital campaigns targeting the core consumers attracting traffic to our web shop. For the web shop it was easy to track the result even for a limited budget, but for the other campaign it was difficult to separate the sampling created by the campaign.

We know it is going to take form 3-5 years to establish the brand and increased marketing efforts will happen in parallel with increased distribution.

6. Let’s face it, protein beverage market is quite competitive. What makes Kilde differ in the beverage market?

We believe we differentiate from competition by being the taste champion with the greatest appetite appeal and the most attractive design.  Going forward, proofs will show our ability to be innovative in terms of utilizing new protein sources as a point of differentiation as well.

7. As I understand, Kilde is available only in Norway. Are you planning to expand into other countries?

Kilde has a global roll out potential. To start with, any bottled water produced in Norway has a positive connotation when it comes to cleanness and freshness. Kilde as a functional drink is no difference. First step is to establish the product and the brand in “our own market”, with next natural step expanding to the other Nordic countries.

Having worked for many years with export of fmcg made by Norway I do see a potential in the US and Asia as well. We just have to find the right partner who are willing to invest in marketing and shelf space together with us.

8. Where do you see Kilde in five years from now?

In general we believe protein will be a major area of focus in product development going forward as the world population is expanding. Shifting from traditional protein sources to new other sources will require extensive product development.

Our vision is to offer innovative protein beverages utilizing new and existing protein sources and our goal is to become a leading premium functional beverage brand. 5 years from now I see Kilde having taken many of the right steps in the right direction to achieve that goal.

9. Being a startup is pretty hard when you have no previous experience. What advice can you give to other beverage startups?

First there are the school book lectures of business defining your key partners, key activities, key resources, key customers, segments and channels and putting together a well thought through business plan. To carry out the plan, other factors are coming into account.

For a person like me having worked for big groups with structured organizations it is quite a change to be in a situation where you are involved in all areas of expertise having to tackle all of the positions by yourself. In this situation it is convenient if you have a network of people from the industry who say yes to a lunch or coffee date for inspiration and or guidance.

Still, I think the key issue is to make sure you put together a team who has a strong track record and diverse background, from retail, marketing, sales, production, and more… In North Beverage I believe that is one of our strengths.

The founders are 2 serial entrepreneurs with proven success from previous startups within consumer goods and services. They have developed a strong reputation and network through their success stories and I, as a CEO have more than 15 years of extensive experience with international FMCG sales and marketing. With this diverse background combined with the competence of our producer with deep beverage industry experience I believe we have a good base for making this a success.

There are many environments where you can pitch for support. Research these to see what is possible. North Beverage is fortunate to get both Financial and Consultancy support from Innovation Norway (a state owned organization who’s purpose is to promote new Innovation).

For more information visit Kilde website.

1. First of all, congratulations on joining ROAR Organic! What are the main reasons you have decided to join the company?

First and foremost, the main reason I joined the ROAR Organic team is the product. The product, in my opinion, tastes great and most definitely fills a void in today’s market. Electrolyte beverages and sports drinks have done a great job of alienating the female consumer and focusing on the male user (athlete and weekend warriors). ROAR is taking the approach of embracing the female consumer with clean, organic ingredients that is low-calorie and low-sugar.

With all that said, meeting Roly made my decision even easier, as we clicked immediately. This is poised to be a lot of work but an extremely fun ride and look forward to seeing what we can build together.

2. You have an impressive experience in food and beverage industry. In your opinion, what are the biggest mistake industry’s startups should avoid?

I think the biggest mistake startups make out of the gate is thinking that revenue and growth cures all ills. As important as rapid growth is to a newborn company, it’s much more effective when the growth is strategic and sustainable.

Another big mistake startups make is trying to have an exit plan that they are working towards. You should never try to build a company to sell it within a definitive timeline, as you will likely make poor decisions along the way. If you build your company for sustainability, there will be many strategic companies that will want to purchase your business when the time is right.

3. Roar Organic has changed a lot since the last time I spoke with Roly Nesi. It seems that the brand has what it takes to become a success story. What are your plans for the company?

To keep it as simple as possible, our immediate plans are to build out our internal team and work on growing our distribution nationally. There is obviously much more to that plan, but I could write a book on what’s next.

4. ROAR Organic is available in the U.S. Are you planning to enter new countries any time soon?

Today we are focusing on the US and Canada but are always listening to opportunities that are presented to help us build a global brand.

5. Milestones are one way to measure the success. What are the milestones planned for 2019?

One key milestone for ROAR in 2019 is to secure national distribution in every channel of business. We want to make sure we have distribution in a national grocery chain, a national convenience store chain, as well as a national club/mass retailer.

I would also like to see us potentially combine forces with multiple strong distribution partners nationally.

Lastly, we would want to establish ROAR as an everyday beverage option on Amazon.

For more information visit ROAR Organic website.