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The latest edition of Inc Mag's 5000 fastest growing independent companies list, published earlier this yr, shows several familiar names and some newer cos in alc bevs and beyond. Tracking fastest revenue growth trends over a 3-yr period from 2022-2024 for indie cos that submitted to Inc and reached at least $2 mil in 2024, Carbliss spirit RTDs ranked 35th fastest overall and once again #1 among all bev cos, up 6559% over 3 yrs thru 2024. That's only a slight slowdown from the yr prior when it ranked #7 fastest growth co overall. Sales for the Plymouth, WI-based co were between $50-100 mil in 2024, as it hit 2.8 mil cases that yr. Employee growth rose 1567% over the past 3 yrs too. And recall, Carbliss is still rollin' in 2025, expecting to reach 4 mil cases in 2025. But keep in mind, Inc 5000 list only includes cos that report their revenue growth to the mag. Other indie RTD cos like Surfside grew faster and posted higher sales overall, but didn't enter their name into the Inc 5000 ring, for instance. Athletic Brewing was the biggest beer/RTD co on Inc's list and #1671 fastest growing co overall with revs up 262% and employees up 90% over 3-yr period thru 2024. Its revs were listed at $100-250 mil by Inc Mag, but co separately shared it was "over" $130 mil in 2024. And recall, Athletic depletions have been up 28% for running 12 mos, on track to gain over 100K bbls and surpass 500K bbls in 2025 (see Nov 21 issue). MN's Minneapolis Cider Co (+357%), which has dabbled in hemp THC bevs too, plus GA's NoFo Brew Co (+119%) and CA's Distant Brewing (+115%) were other beer/cider/RTD cos to return to the Inc 5000 list, ranking at #1123, #3329 and #3408, respectively. But some newer names like non-alc HOP WTR (+598%) and Pilot Project (+561%) each saw revs rise to $25-50 mil in 2024. Curious Elixirs non-alc RTD craft cocktails jumped up 109% to between $10-25 mil in 2024. And smaller CO-based craft brewer Holidaily also made the list, jumping 571% to between $1-5 mil (revs were $3 mil in 2023). Yet OH's March First, which abruptly closed locations earlier this yr, and TX's Bishop Cider fell off this yr's list.Just Iced Tea, Wildwonder & Poppi Among Fastest Growing Bevs; Coffees, Hydration, Protein, Tea, Water, Juices & More Non-alc bev cos were again more prevalent than alc bev and adult NA cos on Inc 5000 this yr. Honest Tea co-founder Seth Goldman's new Just Iced Tea and San Fran-based Wildwonder probiotic bev RTDs ranked #66 and #109 fastest growth cos overall, and were the #2 and #3 fastest growing beverages behind only Carbliss; both hit $10-25 mil in 2024. Poppi was the largest bev co on the Inc 5000 list with revs up 2638% to between $500-1 bil in 2024, separately reporting that revs were closer to $500 mil. That's before Pepsi paid nearly $2 bil to acquire the gut soda brand. Wide range of non-alc cos that ranked included: Reliant Coffee (648%), Cure hydration (+561%), MALK Organics (+408%), Abana Corp (coffee importer, +401%), Open Water canned waters (+344%), Purity Coffee, Plug Drink, Prospectors Specialty Bev, HTeaO, Fire Dept Coffee, Exit 11 Coffee, Tractor Beverages, Caribe Juice and Koia.Fewer Wine & Spirits; Couple Other Related Cos Several of the wineries and distilleries that made Inc 5000 list last year, like Ritual Zero Proof, Waters Edge Wineries, Black Button Distilling and Ole Smoky Distillery, didn't make it again this yr. But RD1 Spirits, a small bourbon brand and distillery outta Lexington, KY, was the 280th fastest growing co listed overall with sales up 1344% over 3 yrs to between $1-5 mil. The Free Spirits Company non-alc bottled spirits (+381%) and Avaline winery (+331%) both quadrupled over 3-yr period thru 2024, with Free Spirits reaching $10-25 mil and Avaline reaching $25-50 mil. A few non-supplier cos related to the beer & alc bev industry made Inc 5000s list as well, including the return of Pour My Beer (+99%), providing automated self-pour draft systems. And Abstrax Tech, a terpenes flavor-tech co in the cannabiz, grew 282% to $25-50 mil.

Carbliss #1 Fastest Growing Inc 5000 Bev Co Again; Athletic, HOP WTR, Curious Elixirs, Pilot Project & Smaller Craft Listed; Lots of NAs, Fewer Wine & Spirits

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