Carbliss, the ready-to-drink cocktail company based in Plymouth has been awarded the Wine & Spirits Hot Brand Award for 2024.
The recognition comes as the company projects sales of 108 million cans this year, marking an extraordinary journey from its modest beginnings of 52,000 cans in 2019.
Carbliss shattered the Wine & Spirits Hot Brand Award’s criteria for double-digit growth over three consecutive years. The company has had 27,000 percent growth rate over three years, cementing its position as the No. 5 canned ready to drink brand in total U.S. food retail scans in the past 13 weeks. This achievement is underscored by a 137% growth rate in the past 52 weeks in retail scan data.
In Wisconsin alone, Carbliss has achieved unprecedented market dominance, generating over $13 million in retail sales and outperforming the national leader who sold $7.8 million in retail sales in Wisconsin in the last year. This success extends across both on- and off-premise channels, with the brand consistently adding between 1,000 to 1,500 new accounts monthly. The company’s methodical expansion has resulted in strong market penetration across 15 states, with particularly notable performance in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota where Carbliss ranks as the number one No. 1 ready to drink brand.
“We have two product lines, flavors and cocktails,” said Kroener. “The cocktails include Moscow mule, mojitos, palomas, and margaritas.”
Each offering maintains the brand’s commitment to zero carbohydrates, zero sugar, and only 100 calories, while delivering full flavored experiences at 5% ABV. The company’s dedication to natural flavors and singular flavor profiles ensures broad consumer appeal while maintaining the sophisticated taste profile of a hand crafted cocktail.
The company’s remarkable success stems from a distinctive market approach.
“We have a backyard to backyard strategy,” Kroener said. “While many businesses launch in the beverage space wide and shallow, we do the opposite. We roll out in a narrow and deep way, becoming ingrained in local communities through local representatives and maximum engagement. This strategy has proven so effective that in states where we operate, we’ve outperformed even the largest RTD as well as largest spirits brands in America in dollar sales.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Carbliss plans to strategically expand into a few additional states, maintaining its proven methodical market by market rollout approach. This calculated expansion comes at a time when the company’s existing markets continue to show remarkable growth potential, with current distribution reaching only 20% of the U.S. population. The company’s robust financial health, supported by a strategic financial partnership with Bank of America, positions Carbliss for sustainable expansion without compromising its successful business model.
Founded in 2019 by Adam and Amanda Kroener, Carbliss has transformed from a home-kitchen experiment into America’s fastest-growing food and beverage company. The Plymouth, Wisconsin-based company, recognized as No. 1 on Inc.’s 2024 list of 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the food and beverage category. It is a veteran and woman-owned business.
