PHILADELPHIA — Hank’s Gourmet Beverages, one of the pioneers of the premium craft soda category, has just signed a representation and brokerage deal with Vermont-based Celtic Marketing Food Brokers, one of the nation’s leading brokers of high quality specialty and natural foods. The new deal will further the distribution of Hank’s seven acclaimed and award-winning craft soda flavors into chain and independent supermarkets, specialty stores, and gourmet markets all along the East Coast, from South Florida to Northern Maine.
Based on its roots, as the carbonated soft drink division of Pennsylvania’s top independent beer and beverage distributorship, this signing builds upon Hank’s legacy as the unparalleled leader of single-serve brown bottle Root Beer on-premise and in casual restaurants, taking the brand squarely into the supermarket and grocery channel to exponentially expand its multipack sales. All seven of Hank’s gourmet flavors are available to retailers through Celtic in both single serve bottles and convenient 4-packs.
Based in Philadelphia, Hank’s pioneered the craft beverage boom with the introduction of its much-loved Hank’s Gourmet Root Beer in 1995 – a product designed to remind loyal Philadelphians of their city’s heritage as the birthplace of root beer itself. As with all its classic flavors, Hank’s Gourmet Root Beer is an inspired take on an old world Philadelphia recipe, created with the finest ingredients, including pure cane sugar. Priding itself as “Philly’s Own Root Beer,” Hank’s careful craft brewing enhances the head, mouth feel and flavor, creating the richest, smoothest, creamiest soda possible.
A favorite of hip gourmet food devotees, soda fanatics and critics at prestigious media outlets like Eater, Grub Street and the Los Angeles Times, Hank’s Root Beer anchors a product line that has grown to include Diet Root Beer, Orange Cream, Vanilla Cream, Wishniak Black Cherry, Birch Beer and Grape. This flavor line-up reinforces Hank’s authentic, high-quality image along with its upscale, award-winning packaging.
“When it comes to driving brands in supermarkets and the rest of the specialty grocery channel, Celtic is one of the true leaders and innovators, a company hard-wired to a network of retailers that makes perfect sense for the growth of our authentic, craft drinks,” said John Salvatore, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Hank’s Gourmet Beverages. “They have a hand-picked team of real experts and seasoned category leaders with amazing relationships, many of whom come from some of the very largest and most sophisticated chains where we hope to gain a foothold. It was a smart and natural fit with Celtic from day one. We know they can grow our brand, and help drive real volume.”
Celtic began representing Hank’s to a few strategic accounts at the start of 2018, and now it’s entire network and sales force is fully engaged and in the field.
“We were elated to hear that Hank’s was prepared to both widen and deepen their distribution up and down the entire East Coast from their Mid-Atlantic stronghold,” said Dan Hughes, founder and President, Celtic Marketing Food Brokers. “With such a current and passionate fan following and a reputation for authenticity and great flavors, they’re a perfect fit in a vital category within our client portfolio. We look forward to scaling and accelerating the number of stores where consumers will soon find Hank’s.”