Long Island Iced Tea Broadens Southeast Distribution With Empire

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HICKSVILLE, NY–(Marketwired – Sep 26, 2016) – Long Island Iced Tea Corp. (NASDAQ: LTEA) (the “Company”), a growth-oriented company focused on the ready-to-drink (“RTD”) tea segment in the beverage industry, today announced that its beverages are now sold through Empire Distributors, Inc. (“Empire”), which services over 8,000 accounts across Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Philip Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated, “We are thrilled to begin this new partnership with Empire as we continue to broaden our presence in the Southeast. Empire is a premier distributor and with its vast network will help us to further solidify our presence in the region, reinforcing the validity of our strategy to progress from distributors to regional chains to national chains.”

Jimmy Tryon, Retail Wine Division Manager of Empire Distributors, stated, “Long Island Iced Tea is the perfect complement to our company’s ever growing non-alcoholic portfolio. We are thrilled to launch this brand in the Georgia market. It is a quality product and will surely make an impact here in the south where we certainly love our tea and are looking for a healthier choice.”

The Company recently participated in the Empire trade show that was held on September 21, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. Long Island Iced Tea® is a RTD tea that will be available through Empire in 20 ounce bottles.

About Empire Distributors, Inc.

Empire Distributors, Inc. is a leader in the distribution of spirits, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. The Company currently serves the states of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. It employs 800 people and distributes over 10,000 SKUs. They service over 8,000 accounts including Wal-Mart, Kroger, Publix, Food Lion, Winn-Dixie and Food Depot. Empire is a wholly owned subsidiary of McLane Company, Inc. Empire was founded in 1940 in Atlanta and sold to McLane in 2010. For more information, visit Empire’s website at www.empiredist.com.

About McLane Company, Inc.

McLane is a $48 billion supply chain services leader, providing grocery and foodservice supply chain solutions for convenience stores, mass merchants, drug stores and chain restaurants throughout the United States. McLane, through McLane Grocery, McLane Foodservice and wholly owned subsidiary, Meadowbrook Meat Company, Inc., (MBM), operates 80 distribution centers across the U.S. and one of the nation’s largest private fleets. The company buys, sells and delivers more than 50,000 different consumer products to nearly 90,000 locations across the U.S. In addition, McLane provides alcoholic beverage distribution through its wholly owned subsidiary, Empire Distributors, Inc. McLane is a wholly owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK) and employs more than 20,000 teammates. For more information, visit McClane’s website at www.mclaneco.com.

About Long Island Iced Tea Corp.

Headquartered in Long Island, New York, Long Island Iced Tea Corp. operates in the ready-to-drink tea segment of the beverage industry. The Company has developed non-alcoholic, premium iced tea bottled beverages made with quality ingredients that are offered at an affordable price. The Company is currently organized around its flagship brand Long Island Iced Tea®, a premium, ready-to-drink iced tea sold primarily on the East Coast of the United States through a network of regional chains and distributors. The Company’s website is www.longislandicedtea.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes statements of the Company’s expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs that constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are intended to come within the safe harbor protection provided by those sections. These statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to the discussion of the Company’s business strategies and its expectations concerning future operations, margins, sales, new products and brands, potential joint ventures, potential acquisitions, expenses, profitability, liquidity and capital resources and to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical or current fact. You can also identify these and other forward-looking statements by the use of such words as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “thinks,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “predicts,” “could,” “projects,” “potential” and other similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. These forward looking statements are made based on expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting the Company and are subject to uncertainties, risks and factors relating to its operations and business environments, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond its control, that could cause its actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed or implied by these forward looking statements. These risks include its history of losses and expectation of further losses, its ability to expand its operations in both new and existing markets, its ability to develop or acquire new brands, its relationships with distributors, the success of its marketing activities, the effect of competition in its industry and economic and political conditions generally, including the current economic environment and markets. More information about these and other factors are described in the reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the discussions contained under the caption “Risk Factors.” When considering these forward looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements in this press release and the reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and the Company cannot predict those events or how they may affect it. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward looking statements after the date of this press release as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by the federal securities laws.

Contacts:
For Investors
Phil Thomas
Long Island Iced Tea Corp.
1-855-542-2832
info@longislandteas.com