Laborious coconut water maker Sunboy received the 14th version of Brewbound’s Pitch Slam competitors, introduced by Ollie, a Subsequent Glass firm.
New York Metropolis-based Sunboy bested 5 different finalists earlier than a panel of trade specialists to assert the highest spot. Finalists included Excessive Seas Mead, Major Colours Brewing, RationAle Brewing, Rincon Reservation Street Brewery and Shoal Draft Cider. They had been chosen from a semifinal spherical on Tuesday, wherein 12 entrepreneurs delivered two-minute pitches about their manufacturers.
In a four-minute pitch, co-founder Yair Tygiel advised the story of his model’s founding, which started with a customized methodology to model coconuts for beverage corporations for experiential advertising occasions in New York Metropolis previous to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When these occasions stopped for the pandemic, we took every little thing we knew about coconut sourcing and coconut cocktails and we canned it,” Tygiel stated. “Sunboy hits on the entire greatest tendencies: ready-to-drink, better-for-you, decrease sugar and decrease alcohol.
“We’re not allowed to make any specific well being claims, however we actually don’t must,” he continued. “Shoppers perceive that coconut water is hydrating, it’s wholesome. It’s what they attain for within the morning after they’re feeling hungover.”
Sunboy is obtainable in three flavors: ardour fruit, tangerine, and pineapple. Every 12 oz. slim can checks in at 5% ABV and accommodates 130 energy, and three grams of sugar.
Earlier than Sunboy’s co-founders developed the coconut-branding machine that finally launched them to beverage-alcohol manufacturers corresponding to Bacardi and Ciroc, they had been serving drinks in coconuts at occasions in New York Metropolis and located that coconuts usually introduced smiles to partygoers’ faces.
“Nearly everybody has the identical optimistic emotional connection to coconuts that we do,” Tygiel stated. “They remind individuals of holidays or their tropical residence international locations. They’re social – individuals join over them, they usually’re wonderful dialog starters.”
Sunboy launched in 2021 and is in additional than 100 retail accounts in New York, together with Entire Meals Market. The model is trying to increase to sturdy chain markets corresponding to Florida, Georgia and Ohio, Tygiel stated.
“Selecting retail targets is simple for us,” he stated. “Considered one of our off-premise cheats is to focus on accounts that already promote a number of coconut water. We all know our prospects are there, and it’s simple for us to promote a 4-pack of Sunboy for $10.99 when shoppers are used to paying $6 for a single bottle of coconut water in the identical retailer.”
Along with the chilly field, Sunboy targets different sections, corresponding to produce, which creates cross-merchandising alternatives. Out-of-section shows probably appeal to the eye of consumers who weren’t initially on the lookout for beer, producing incremental purchases.
“If a purchaser can’t make house for us within the beer fridge, we flip to the produce part and we create these actually highly effective shows alongside the coconuts, the pineapples and the tangerines,” Tygiel stated.
Sunboy’s prize for profitable Pitch Slam 14 contains an promoting bundle valued at $10,000, a 12-month subscription to Untappd for Enterprise and free registration to Brewbound Stay Winter 2023.
Judges included Ryan Lake, director at Arlington Capital Advisors; Jessica Muskey, VP of craft and innovation on the Reyes Beer Division; Jamie Wideman, VP of innovation for North America at Molson Coors; and Wealthy Bloomfield, co-founder and CEO of Chicago-based Funkytown Brewery, and the winner of the 2021 Brewbound Pitch Slam Competitors.
Previous winners of Brewbound’s Pitch Slam competitors embody: Funkytown Brewery, Lunar Laborious Seltzer, Crowns and Hops, Wilie’s Superbrew, Novo Brazil Brewing, Armada Brewing, Border X Brewing, Hopewell Brewing, Wynwood Brewing Firm, Braxton Brewing Firm, CODA Brewing, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, and 5 Stones Brewing.
