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Beverage School: Education to Get You Started on Day 1

Name: BevNET Live Summer 2023
Start: 2023-06-14T08:00:00-05:00
End: 2023-06-15T15:00:00-05:00
Location: The Metropolitan Pavilion

The morning of Day 1 at BevNET Live, industry newcomers can learn the basics of running a beverage business and jumpstart their networking at Beverage School. Experts will present on the 5 topics early-stage beverage brands need to know, including finance, sales, marketing, design, and operations.

Following the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to sit down with the experts and ask them their toughest questions.

Beverage School helps lay the foundation for success. If you're just getting started in the natural packaged food industry, we recommend you attend the 2 hour segment.

Beverage School Sponsor

Beverage School Speakers

Kelly Criswell

Principal, Mudge

Kelly Criswell

Principal, Mudge

Kelly Criswell is the founder of Mudge, a Branding Agency specializing in innovative food & beverage brands. With a fierce love of food & bev and a 20+ year career in CPG brand development & packaging design, Kelly helps brands break new ground by intuitively and strategically connecting the brand with their perfect customer. After years of working with CPG brands large and small, Kelly has shifted gears from the big guys (Nestlé, Pepsi, Red Bull) to innovative emerging and mid-sized brands. A frequent speaker and judge at industry events, she’s also an advisor and mentor to emerging CPG brands, packaging designers, and creative directors alike. When she’s not obsessively taking photos in the Erewhon beverage aisle, you can find her painting or hiking the hills of LA with her family. If you catch her in October–any day in October–she will be in costume.
Bill Sipper

Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands

Bill Sipper

Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands

BILL SIPPER is a food and beverage industry leader who has guided numerous brands from concept to commercialization to category leadership. He held senior and C Level positions at leading brands, including Evian, Nantucket Nectars, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla, Naked Juice, and Clearly Canadian. Bill’s strategic expertise and execution focus helped those brands succeed and can help your brand succeed. Bill has supported several brands through the process by consulting closely with client leaders as they consider a sale or acquisition. (Naked Juice was sold to PepsiCo, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla was sold to Coca-Cola, and Nantucket Nectars was sold to Ocean Spray). Bill has significant international experience and works with clients in Asia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East. He draws on this expertise to help international brands establish a presence in the US and to help US brands expand internationally. Bill is active in philanthropic causes: He served as president of Robert Kennedy Jr.’s clean water charity, Tear of the Clouds; was an advisor to The Walden Woods Project; and served on the Board of Directors of the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Bill has been featured on Food Network’s “Unwrapped” and the PBS documentary “The Water Wars.” He has been a featured speaker at the Columbia University School of Business, The Bottled Water Congress (Torino, Italy), the Pan Arab Congress on Osteoporosis (Tunisia), and at virtually every major US food and beverage show, including Natural Products Expo, BevNet, Nosh Live and more. His articles have appeared in leading trade publications, and he is frequently quoted in media, including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and the New York Times. Cascadia Managing Brands has helped launch startup brands, including Liquid Death, Hint Water, Zico Coconut Water, C2O Coconut Water, Too Good Gourmet Keto Cookies, and more. Cascadia also provides consultancy services to the leading soft drink and beer companies.
Jeremy Halpern

Partner; Co-Chair Food and Beverage Group, Nutter

Jeremy Halpern

Partner; Co-Chair Food and Beverage Group, Nutter

Jeremy Halpern, is a Partner, the Co-Chair of the Food and Beverage Industry Group and the Co-Chair of the Emerging Companies Practice Group at Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP. Jeremy’s practice focuses on emerging companies, private equity, venture capital and angel financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, executive and team compensation matters, and general start-up support for high growth companies in technology, life sciences and the food and beverage industry. Jeremy has spent 20 years working with high growth companies as a lawyer, advisor and investor. Previously, Jeremy founded Edible Ventures Group, the nation’s first angel group dedicated to funding high growth food and beverage brands. Concurrently, Jeremy serves on the Advisory Board for the UCLA School of Law Resnick Center for Food Law & Policy. Previously, Jeremy served on the Board and as the Executive Chairman of The Capital Network, a Boston-based non-profit that provides education to entrepreneurs seeking early stage capital. He has served on advisory boards at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, The Bowdoin Group, and the MBI Global Health program, and has served on the Board of Directors for various startup companies. Jeremy continues to serve as a mentor and industry champion at MassChallenge Boston and as a judge, coach or advisor for entrepreneurs at Commonwealth Kitchen, Naturally Network, and other organizations supporting entrepreneurship. Jeremy received his B.A. from U.C. Berkeley (Go Bears!), and his J.D., from the UCLA School of Law.
Benji Fitts

Director, Client Insights, SPINS

Benji Fitts

Director, Client Insights, SPINS

Benji has worked in the Natural products industry for 15 years with stints at Twin Oaks Tofu, Whole Foods Market, and is now a Director of Client Insights at SPINS. Benji leads two consulting teams at SPINS, focusing on sell story support, category analytics and product innovation. He edits the Food For Thought SPINS newsletter, a monthly piece of thought leadership examining trends in industry. When he’s not thinking about food and bev, Benji can be found mountain biking in the cottonwood forest on the banks of the Rio Grande near his home in New Mexico.
Neil Kimberley

President, Bossa Nova Beverages

Neil Kimberley

President, Bossa Nova Beverages

Neil Kimberley is an industry expert, swimming with the beverage industry sharks over the past two decades. His background includes senior management roles in Executive Management, Sales Marketing, and Strategy at beverage companies of varying sizes. Neil joined Triarc in the early 90’s as Brand Director for Snapple, was subsequently VP of Strategy at Cadbury Beverages (now Keurig Dr Pepper), Director of Global Innovation at Hershey and in 2013, Neil joined Essentia Water. Over the years the team transformed the brand from its natural niche into one of the leading brands in Premium Still Water. After Nestle purchased the brand 2021, Neil stayed to successfully transition the brand until summer of 2022, when Neil joined Bossa Nova Beverages as its President.

Beverage School Agenda

Wednesday, June 14 - Morning Session

Print the agenda for Wednesday, June 14

Please note: All times US Eastern Time

7:00 AM
-
9:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast, Presented by Matchako

Breakfast, coffee and beverages are served from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM ET and are included with registration. Registration and badge pick up opens for the day at 7:00 AM ET.
7:45 AM
-
9:45 AM
Beverage School Presentations + Networking

The morning of BevNET Live day 1, industry newcomers can learn the basics of running a beverage business and jumpstart their networking at Beverage School. Experts will present on topics early-stage beverage brands need to know, including finance, sales, marketing, design, and operations.
7:45 AM
-
8:05 AM
Beverage School: Understanding Route to Market
- Bill Sipper
  
  , Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands
  
  Bill Sipper
  
  Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands
  
  BILL SIPPER is a food and beverage industry leader who has guided numerous brands from concept to commercialization to category leadership. He held senior and C Level positions at leading brands, including Evian, Nantucket Nectars, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla, Naked Juice, and Clearly Canadian. Bill’s strategic expertise and execution focus helped those brands succeed and can help your brand succeed. Bill has supported several brands through the process by consulting closely with client leaders as they consider a sale or acquisition. (Naked Juice was sold to PepsiCo, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla was sold to Coca-Cola, and Nantucket Nectars was sold to Ocean Spray). Bill has significant international experience and works with clients in Asia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East. He draws on this expertise to help international brands establish a presence in the US and to help US brands expand internationally. Bill is active in philanthropic causes: He served as president of Robert Kennedy Jr.’s clean water charity, Tear of the Clouds; was an advisor to The Walden Woods Project; and served on the Board of Directors of the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Bill has been featured on Food Network’s “Unwrapped” and the PBS documentary “The Water Wars.” He has been a featured speaker at the Columbia University School of Business, The Bottled Water Congress (Torino, Italy), the Pan Arab Congress on Osteoporosis (Tunisia), and at virtually every major US food and beverage show, including Natural Products Expo, BevNet, Nosh Live and more. His articles have appeared in leading trade publications, and he is frequently quoted in media, including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and the New York Times. Cascadia Managing Brands has helped launch startup brands, including Liquid Death, Hint Water, Zico Coconut Water, C2O Coconut Water, Too Good Gourmet Keto Cookies, and more. Cascadia also provides consultancy services to the leading soft drink and beer companies.
- Bill Sipper, Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands
8:05 AM
-
8:25 AM
Beverage School: Beverage Finance Best Practices
- Jeremy Halpern
  
  , Partner; Co-Chair Food and Beverage Group, Nutter
  
  Jeremy Halpern
  
  Partner; Co-Chair Food and Beverage Group, Nutter
  
  Jeremy Halpern, is a Partner, the Co-Chair of the Food and Beverage Industry Group and the Co-Chair of the Emerging Companies Practice Group at Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP. Jeremy’s practice focuses on emerging companies, private equity, venture capital and angel financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, executive and team compensation matters, and general start-up support for high growth companies in technology, life sciences and the food and beverage industry. Jeremy has spent 20 years working with high growth companies as a lawyer, advisor and investor. Previously, Jeremy founded Edible Ventures Group, the nation’s first angel group dedicated to funding high growth food and beverage brands. Concurrently, Jeremy serves on the Advisory Board for the UCLA School of Law Resnick Center for Food Law & Policy. Previously, Jeremy served on the Board and as the Executive Chairman of The Capital Network, a Boston-based non-profit that provides education to entrepreneurs seeking early stage capital. He has served on advisory boards at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, The Bowdoin Group, and the MBI Global Health program, and has served on the Board of Directors for various startup companies. Jeremy continues to serve as a mentor and industry champion at MassChallenge Boston and as a judge, coach or advisor for entrepreneurs at Commonwealth Kitchen, Naturally Network, and other organizations supporting entrepreneurship. Jeremy received his B.A. from U.C. Berkeley (Go Bears!), and his J.D., from the UCLA School of Law.
- Jeremy Halpern, Partner; Co-Chair Food and Beverage Group, Nutter
8:25 AM
-
8:45 AM
Beverage School: Design and Branding Principles for Beverage Brands
- Kelly Criswell
  
  , Principal, Mudge
  
  Kelly Criswell
  
  Principal, Mudge
  
  Kelly Criswell is the founder of Mudge, a Branding Agency specializing in innovative food & beverage brands. With a fierce love of food & bev and a 20+ year career in CPG brand development & packaging design, Kelly helps brands break new ground by intuitively and strategically connecting the brand with their perfect customer. After years of working with CPG brands large and small, Kelly has shifted gears from the big guys (Nestlé, Pepsi, Red Bull) to innovative emerging and mid-sized brands. A frequent speaker and judge at industry events, she’s also an advisor and mentor to emerging CPG brands, packaging designers, and creative directors alike. When she’s not obsessively taking photos in the Erewhon beverage aisle, you can find her painting or hiking the hills of LA with her family. If you catch her in October–any day in October–she will be in costume.
- Kelly Criswell, Principal, Mudge
8:45 AM
-
9:05 AM
Beverage School: Using Data and Building Sell Stories
- Benji Fitts
  
  , Director, Client Insights, SPINS
  
  Benji Fitts
  
  Director, Client Insights, SPINS
  
  Benji has worked in the Natural products industry for 15 years with stints at Twin Oaks Tofu, Whole Foods Market, and is now a Director of Client Insights at SPINS. Benji leads two consulting teams at SPINS, focusing on sell story support, category analytics and product innovation. He edits the Food For Thought SPINS newsletter, a monthly piece of thought leadership examining trends in industry. When he’s not thinking about food and bev, Benji can be found mountain biking in the cottonwood forest on the banks of the Rio Grande near his home in New Mexico.
- Benji Fitts, Director, Client Insights, SPINS
9:05 AM
-
9:25 AM
Beverage School: Lessons from a Career in Beverage
- Neil Kimberley
  
  , President, Bossa Nova Beverages
  
  Neil Kimberley
  
  President, Bossa Nova Beverages
  
  Neil Kimberley is an industry expert, swimming with the beverage industry sharks over the past two decades. His background includes senior management roles in Executive Management, Sales Marketing, and Strategy at beverage companies of varying sizes. Neil joined Triarc in the early 90’s as Brand Director for Snapple, was subsequently VP of Strategy at Cadbury Beverages (now Keurig Dr Pepper), Director of Global Innovation at Hershey and in 2013, Neil joined Essentia Water. Over the years the team transformed the brand from its natural niche into one of the leading brands in Premium Still Water. After Nestle purchased the brand 2021, Neil stayed to successfully transition the brand until summer of 2022, when Neil joined Bossa Nova Beverages as its President.
- Neil Kimberley, President, Bossa Nova Beverages
9:25 AM
-
9:45 AM
Beverage School Expert Tables
10:00 AM
-
10:05 AM
Welcome Remarks
10:05 AM
-
10:35 AM
Innovation at Any Size

Mike Kirban discusses the ways Vita Coco has managed to stay innovative as it has grown, while also addressing the skills and practices he and his leadership team have developed as they have gone from startup to global brand.
- Mike Kirban
  
  , Chairman/Co-Founder, The Vita Coco Company
  
  Mike Kirban
  
  Chairman/Co-Founder, The Vita Coco Company
  
  Mike Kirban is the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of The Vita Coco Company, a B Corp Certified Public Benefit Corporation, whose mission is to become the world’s largest “better-for- you” beverage company. Founded in 2004, The Vita Coco Company’s portfolio includes Vita Coco, the largest global coconut water brand, Runa, a plant-based natural energy drink, and PWR LIFT protein-infused water. Today, Vita Coco is available in more than 30 countries worldwide and the company employs more than 300 people globally. Under Kirban’s leadership, Vita Coco established the Vita Coco Project in 2014, the brand’s social impact initiative with a “Give, Grow, Guide” philosophy that supports the economic development of the communities where their products are sourced. The Vita Coco Project empowers coconut farming communities by helping them to innovate farming practices, improve education resources, and scale small businesses with the goal to positively impact the lives of more than one million people. At 19 years old, Kirban co-founded Software Answers Inc., a hospitality technology service provider which he still owns and serves on the board of directors today. Kirban has also served as Executive Chairman of Vita Coco’s board of directors since inception in 2004. Kirban brings a multi-disciplinary background to his work, and his entrepreneurial drive has been profiled in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNBC, Inc. Magazine, Bloomberg, and ABC News. He currently resides in New York City with his two children and his dog, Coconut.
- Mike Kirban, Chairman/Co-Founder, The Vita Coco Company
Watch Video
10:35 AM
-
11:00 AM
How Sprouts Seeks Out Innovation

The team at Sprouts is intent on finding new beverage brands to surprise and delight consumers. They discuss the store’s goals and the best ways to pitch and grow with this selective and influential national chain.
- Scott Romano
  
  , VP & Forager, Sprouts
  
  Scott Romano
  
  VP & Forager, Sprouts
  
  Scott Romano has been in the Grocery industry for over 31 years: 18 years in the conventional grocery retail industry and 13 years in the natural/organic grocery industry. Scott’s experience has been evenly split across store level operations, multi-unit operations, and category management/merchandising holding positions such as Store Director, Produce Operations Specialist, Sr Grocery Category Manager, Director of Dairy Frozen, Beer/Wine and many more. Scott enjoys working with and mentoring startup companies to launch new and innovative products to enhance our customers shopping experience at Sprouts Farmers Market. Scott has four children, 2 boys and 2 girls ranging in age from 7 to 27. His hobbies outside of work include playing guitar and spending time with family.
- Brian Albert
  
  , Sr. Category Manager, Grocery, Sprouts
  
  Brian Albert
  
  Sr. Category Manager, Grocery, Sprouts
  
  Brian Albert manages the merchandising and assortment for non-alcoholic beverages at Sprouts Farmers Market. Over a 30-year career, Brian has had various positions in marketing, merchandising, and product development with stops at Campbell’s, Coors, Wild Oats, Giant Eagle, and Sprouts. Those experiences coupled with his marketing and entrepreneurial management degrees from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and the University of Colorado, Brian has a unique perspective on what it takes to create and maintain a successful beverage brand.
- Kim Coffin
  
  , SVP & Chief Forager, Sprouts Farms Market
  
  Kim Coffin
  
  SVP & Chief Forager, Sprouts Farms Market
  
  Kim Coffin, SVP and Chief Forager, joined Sprouts in 2012, bringing over 30 years of experience in the grocery retail space. Prior to her current role, she served as SVP of Non-Perishables at Sprouts for eight years. Before joining Sprouts, she held various leadership roles at Albertson for over 23 years. Her experience spans product categories and merchandising disciplines including product selection, supplier partnerships, pricing and promotional planning, brand building, and product presentation. She has been married to her Husband Geoff for over 25 years and has one fur baby named Fancy. Their hobbies include boating, golf, hiking, trips to Kauai, spending time with family and friends and breeding/showing Arabian Horses.
- Scott Romano, VP & Forager, Sprouts
- Brian Albert, Sr. Category Manager, Grocery, Sprouts
- Kim Coffin, SVP & Chief Forager, Sprouts Farms Market
Watch Video
11:00 AM
-
11:30 AM
The Finance Forecast for Beverage Brands

What’s going on behind the dreadful headlines on investment and inflation? What does the immediate financial future look like for beverage entrepreneurs in terms of capital availability, deal terms, lending, and the strategic marketplace? What kinds of alternative financing and partnership arrangements are out there? Our panelists provide a planning strategy for the short and medium term.
- Elliot Begoun
  
  , Founder, TIG Brands
  
  Elliot Begoun
  
  Founder, TIG Brands
  
  Elliot Begoun is a 30-year industry veteran, author, and Founder of TIG Brands, a platform for natural product entrepreneurs providing community, advisory support, education, and access. TIG works with its entrepreneurs to build nimble, capital-efficient, resilient brands that become tardigrades, not unicorns. Catch him at FoodBytes, the Hirshberg Entrepreneurship Institute, and the Natural Products Business School, and find his articles in publications such as the Huffington Post, SmartBrief, and New Hope.
- Michael Burgmaier
  
  , Managing Director, Whipstitch Capital
  
  Michael Burgmaier
  
  Managing Director, Whipstitch Capital
  
  Mike Burgmaier is a Co-Founder and Managing Director with Whipstitch Capital, the largest independent investment bank in the US solely focused on emerging consumer brands. The Whipstitch Capital team has completed over 170 transactions over the years on behalf of clients, including for notable beverage brands such as Essentia Water, KeVita, Core Water, Spindrift, Uncle Matt’s Organics, Flying Embers and more. After an early career in non-profit/public policy work, Mike worked as consultant at Bain & Company, Inc. Since early 2004, Mike has been active in the M&A and private equity/venture capital and investment banking consumer space. In 2008, he was named as a “40 Under 40” leader in the Natural Products Industry by Natural Foods Merchandiser. Mike has an MPP from Duke University, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and an undergraduate degree in Economics from Boston College. He works out of Yarmouth, Maine where he lives with his enthusiastically supportive partner Rachel, who runs a non-profit organization they started in 2022 to assist individuals in their local area in the process of seeking asylum called the New Mainers Assistance Program. He has three children. Mike is an avid baseball player, guitar enthusiast, bike rider (in his basement), former runner (oh those knees…), T-shirt wearer, massive Foo Fighters fan and semi-health food nut.
- Erin Wall
  
  , Partner/CRO, Lunr
  
  Erin Wall
  
  Partner/CRO, Lunr
  
  Erin is responsible for leading the firm’s sourcing and origination initiatives. Erin’s goal is to democratize credit for founders building omni channel businesses. Erin has a long history and deep industry expertise in building retail brands. As a Senior Merchant at Target, she led the designer collaboration process in both apparel and home. After leaving Target she was the VP of Sales at the Bluebird Group where she advised many fortune 500 companies on retail growth strategies and launched over 30 new brands at Target. Most recently Erin sat on the executive team for a beauty incubator launching multiple new brands at retail globally.
- Elliot Begoun, Founder, TIG Brands
- Michael Burgmaier, Managing Director, Whipstitch Capital
- Erin Wall, Partner/CRO, Lunr
Watch Video
11:30 AM
-
12:00 PM
Milo's on the Move

Tricia Wallwork introduces the ideas and tactics fueling the growth of Milo’s, the iced tea brand that has grown into a power player in the beverage business. From leadership to employee development to supply chain investment, Wallwork will discuss the way she and her team are transforming Milo’s from 50-year local brand to one of the fastest growing beverage companies in the country.
- Tricia Wallwork
  
  , Chair & CEO, Milo's Tea Company
  
  Tricia Wallwork
  
  Chair & CEO, Milo's Tea Company
  
  As Chair and CEO of Milo’s Tea Company, Tricia Wallwork leads the team that scaled her family-owned business from local tea maker to beloved national beverage brand. In 2012, Tricia became the third generation to lead Milo’s. Since then, she has executed her vision to deliver Milo’s Moments to customers and fans across America by building a strong PeopleFirst culture and focusing on excellence. In 2020, Milo’s became the #1 refrigerated tea brand in the United States and is the fasting growing lemonade brand in America. The company’s best tasting, all natural beverages can be found in more than 40,000 retail locations. Tricia has a passion for corporate stewardship. She drove the company to become a certified Zero Waste Manufacturer, to innovate in sustainability, to invest in good jobs while ensuring diversity, inclusion and belonging, and to create a 1% giving pledge for the communities it serves. Tricia serves on the boards of the Consumer Brands Association, the Birmingham Museum of Art, and the Birmingham Business Alliance. She has been named a Woman Who Shapes the State of Alabama, Top 40 Under 40 All Star, Executive of the Decade, Top CEO, Top Woman in Grocery, and EY Entrepreneur of the Year.
- Tricia Wallwork, Chair & CEO, Milo's Tea Company
Watch Video
12:00 PM
-
1:30 PM
Lunch, Presented by Saint James Iced Tea, Sampling & Taste Radio Studio
Watch Video
1:30 PM
-
1:55 PM
Change Comes for Super Coffee

The DeCicco brothers, founders of Kitu Super Coffee talk about the hard decisions that led them to shift the focus at Super Coffee from growth at all costs to cash efficiency, and the ways that those decisions have been implemented at the company.
- Jordan DeCicco
  
  , COO, Super Coffee
  
  Jordan DeCicco
  
  COO, Super Coffee
  
  The DeCicco brothers founded Super Coffee in 2015 as tired collegiate athletes. Sick of unhealthy bottled coffees and energy drinks, the DeCicco brothers invented a sugar free, functional coffee in the youngest brothers college dorm room and challenged big sugar head on. Today, Super Coffee is the fourth largest RTD coffee in the US. Jordan dropped out of college in 2017 to accept the coveted Peter Thiel Fellowship for young entrepreneurs. Super Coffee is nationally distributed by Anheuser Busch and is available in over 50,000 stores in the US. As COO, Jordan is in charge of innovation and operations launching over 30 SKUs from concept to shelf.
- Jake DeCicco
  
  , CRO, Super Coffee
  
  Jake DeCicco
  
  CRO, Super Coffee
  
  The DeCicco brothers founded Super Coffee in 2015 as tired collegiate athletes. Sick of unhealthy bottled coffees and energy drinks, the DeCicco brothers invented a sugar free, functional coffee in the youngest brothers college dorm room and challenged big sugar head on. Today, Super Coffee is the fourth largest RTD coffee in the US. Jordan dropped out of college in 2017 to accept the coveted Peter Thiel Fellowship for young entrepreneurs. Super Coffee is nationally distributed by Anheuser Busch and is available in over 50,000 stores in the US. As COO, Jordan is in charge of innovation and operations launching over 30 SKUs from concept to shelf.
- Jimmy DeCicco
  
  , Executive Chairman & Chief Brand Officer, Super Coffee
  
  Jimmy DeCicco
  
  Executive Chairman & Chief Brand Officer, Super Coffee
  
  The DeCicco brothers founded Super Coffee in 2015 as tired collegiate athletes. Sick of unhealthy bottled coffees and energy drinks, the DeCicco brothers invented a sugar free, functional coffee in the youngest brothers college dorm room and challenged big sugar head on. Today, Super Coffee is the fourth largest RTD coffee in the US. Jordan dropped out of college in 2017 to accept the coveted Peter Thiel Fellowship for young entrepreneurs. Super Coffee is nationally distributed by Anheuser Busch and is available in over 50,000 stores in the US. As COO, Jordan is in charge of innovation and operations launching over 30 SKUs from concept to shelf.
- Jordan DeCicco, COO, Super Coffee
- Jake DeCicco, CRO, Super Coffee
- Jimmy DeCicco, Executive Chairman & Chief Brand Officer, Super Coffee
Watch Video
1:55 PM
-
2:20 PM
Building Your DTC Feedback Loop

The online sales visionary shares his latest update on the role of D2C as part of an omnichannel sales strategy, including the methodology and tools for converting D2C sales into a feedback engine for brand building and product development.
- Nik Sharma
  
  , CEO, Sharma Brands
  
  Nik Sharma
  
  CEO, Sharma Brands
  
  Nik Sharma is widely known as “The DTC Guy,” a Forbes 30 Under 30 member, AdWeek’s Young & Influential, and a resource that brands and investors turn to for growth. Nik is the active CEO of Sharma Brands and HOOX, where clients include Feastables, Chamberlain Coffee, Roc Nation, Everlane, Jim Beam, Poo~Pourri, and more. Before entering the eCommerce world, Nik worked on social media strategies for A-list celebrities, including Pitbull, Priyanka Chopra, and MAGIC!, to natively increase distribution and increase fan interaction and engagement for the purpose of driving album sales.
- Nik Sharma, CEO, Sharma Brands
Watch Video
2:20 PM
-
2:45 PM
Anticipating Change During Growth

The veteran executive maps out the challenges and changes that take place during growth stages of beverage businesses, from key hires to systems integrations, and the ways to sustain momentum as the business transitions.
- Kyle Thomas
  
  , Chief Revenue Officer, Nutrabolt
  
  Kyle Thomas
  
  Chief Revenue Officer, Nutrabolt
  
  With an extensive consumer goods background, Kyle Thomas, is a results driven executive with over 25 years of strategic and operational beverage experience. As Chief Revenue Officer at Nutrabolt, Kyle brings a relentless passion to the business, driving a servant leadership high performance culture, pursuing continuous improvement, and building organizational capability for sustained long term growth. Prior to joining Nutrabolt, Kyle served as the SVP/GM of Coca-Cola North America’s Emerging Brands Division, working with a portfolio that shaped the growth and strategic direction across a $500+ million business unit. These Emerging Brands were in different growth stages requiring unique strategies to build these brands in a very complex system. During his time with Coca-Cola, Kyle was known to innovate and take strategic risks that developed an organization never seen before in the company's 130-year history and led the development of a future model that encompassed a hybrid-route to-market approach with company owned brands as well as acquisitions. Growing up in the bottling/distribution system afforded him the knowledge and capability to attack any beverage opportunity regardless of the strategy or route to market. Today, Kyle continues to build a proven track record of successfully building brands, utilizing operational expertise to focus on maximizing resources and driving system value.
- Kyle Thomas, Chief Revenue Officer, Nutrabolt
Watch Video
2:45 PM
-
4:15 PM
New Beverage Showdown Semifinals

Watch our newest set of founders present their brands and try to make the cut for the finals.
4:00 PM
-
6:00 PM
BevNET Live Official Happy Hour, Presented by ForceBrands

Join the official BevNET Live cocktail party, also held on-site at the Metropolitan Pavilion, for some time chatting with each other about the day’s lessons over more snacks and drinks, before adjourning for the day.