Inc. magazine has released its annual list of the fastest growing privately held companies in the U.S., a compilation known as the Inc. 5000. The list, which ranks companies based on revenue growth over the past three years (and at least $2 million in 2014 revenue) included just a handful of non-alcoholic beverage brands, but most of those that did make the cut are featured in the top fifth of all included companies.
Kill Cliff, which markets an eponymously named sports recovery drink, topped all non-alcoholic beverage brands on the Inc. 5000. The Atlanta-based company is ranked number 103 overall on the list, having achieved $8.4 million in 2014 revenue and three-year revenue growth of 3,259 percent. Bai Brands, known for its coffeefruit-infused drinks, is listed at number 127, pulling in nearly $48 million in revenue — which surged by 2,866 percent since 2011 — last year.
Rounding out the top five of non-alcoholic beverage companies is cold-brewed coffee maker Kohana (#133, $5.2 million in 2014 revenue, 2,810 percent growth), Runa, which markets a range of guayusa beverages (#203, $4.5 million, 2,068 percent), and Pressed Juicery, the Santa Monica-based cold-pressed juice company (#616, $23.3 million, 738 percent).
Coming in just behind Pressed Juicery is Hiball Energy which sits at number 646 on the list. The organic and natural energy drink marketer pulled in $4.8 million in 2014 revenue and saw three-year growth of 702 percent.
Only five companies on the Inc. 5000 list saw revenue exceed $250 million in 2014, one of which is Talking Rain Beverage Co. Riding the booming success of its zero-calorie Sparkling Ice drinks, the company hit $314.1 million in revenue last year, with three-year growth at 419 percent. Talking Rain sits at number 1039 among the Inc. 5000.