VANCOUVER, B.C., and TEMPLE, Texas — Koios Beverage Corp. is partnering with McLane Co. to grow its distribution network for its Fit Soda line in convenience stores and gas stations nationwide.
Koios has been eager to get Fit Soda cans into c-stores for many years, said Chris Miller, CEO and founder. The company is gaining momentum in that goal; last year Koios rolled out its functional drinks in more than 200 c-stores, including Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven and Colorado Shell stores.
The McLane deal a tremendous growth opportunity for Koios, Miller said. “It is a massive opportunity to reach millions of people and further grow the brand outside of our natural retailers,” he said.
“Through McLane, we will be able to place our functional ready-to-drink beverages in locations where consumers are looking for convenient drink options and reach a much wider audience,” Miller added.
Fit Soda is available in Orange Cream (original and natural), Root Beer Vanilla Float (original and natural) and Black Cherry Cola.
This deal follows Koios’ recent announcement that its functional beverages will be carried in more than 600 CVS locations across the country.
“Healthy on-the-go drinks are no longer only relegated to natural and specialty retailers,” Miller said. “Koios is proud to be pushing this trend further as it continues to expand its footprint.”
Temple, Texas-based McLane, which in February hosted it second National Hiring Day, provides grocery and foodservice solutions for convenience stores, mass merchants, drug stores and chain restaurants. Through McLane Grocery and McLane Foodservice, it operates more than 80 distribution centers and one of the nation’s largest private fleets. The company buys, sells and delivers more than 50,000 consumer products to nearly 110,000 locations across the United States. Additionally, McLane provides alcoholic beverage distribution through its subsidiary, Empire Distributors Inc. McLane is a wholly owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Omaha.
Koios Beverage Corp., based in Vancouver, B.C., is an emerging functional beverage company with a distribution network of more than 4,400 retail locations. It uses a proprietary blend of nootropics and natural organic compounds to enhance human productivity without using harmful chemicals or stimulants, it said.
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