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Latest edition of Inc Mag's 5000 fastest-growing indie companies list, published earlier this yr, shows several familiar names and some newer cos in alc bevs and beyond, with NA bevs as usual dominating list. 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 bevcos, up 6559% over 3 yrs thru 2024. That's only a slight slowdown from prior year when it ranked #7 overall. Sales for the Plymouth, Wis, co were between $50-100 mil in 2024, as it hit 2.8 mil cases that yr. 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 throw their hats into 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. Minneapolis Cider Co (+357%), which has dabbled in hemp THC bevs too, plus Georgia's NoFo Brew Co (+119%) and Calif's Distant Brewing (+115%) were other beer/cider/RTD cos to return to 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 109% to $10-25 mil in 2024.Just Iced Tea, Wildwonder & Poppi Among Fastest Growing Bevs; Coffees, Hydration, Protein, Tea, Water, Juices & More Non-alc bevcos were again more prevalent than alc bev and adult NA cos on Inc 5000 this yr. Seth Goldman's Honest Tea successor Just Iced Tea and SF-based Wild Wonder probiotic bev RTDs ranked #66 and #109 fastest growth cos overall, and were #2 and #3 fastest growing bevs behind only Carbliss; both hit $10-25 mil in 2024. Poppi was the largest bevco 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 altdairy (+408%), coffee importer Abana Corp (+401%), Open Water canned waters (+344%), Purity Coffee, Plug Drink hangover cure, 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, including alc-alternative Ritual Zero Proof, didn't make it again this yr. But RD1 Spirits, a small bourbon brand and distillery outta Lexington, Ky, was 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 playing in broader bev space made list as well, including Abstrax Tech, a terpenes flavor-tech co in cannabiz, surging 282% to $25-50 mil.

RESEARCH: 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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