US: Reed's Inc goes draught with Virgil's Root Beer

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 12 March 2008

Reed's Inc. has announced the launch of its draught soda business in the US.

The soft drinks producer, which late last year posted a rise in both sales and losses for its third quarter, said today (12 March) that its Virgil's Root Beer brand will be available initially throughout the New England and Southern California markets. The draught version of the brand, which will be offered through a custom Virgil's draught handle in the on-premise, will roll out across the two markets starting this month.

"We are very excited that Virgil's leading line of beverages will now include a draught Root Beer, said company founder and CEO, Christopher Reed. "We are the first national brand to introduce a micro-brewed soda draught, (and) we believe there is a tremendous market opportunity to introduce a draught micro-brewed soda."

In November, Reed's posted a leap in operating loss for the three months to the end of December, to US$1.5m from an operating loss of $288,766 in the corresponding period a year earlier. The loss came despite growing sales, which were up by 40% year-on-year to $3.9m from $2.8m. Net loss also increased, to $1.5m from $401,000.

Sectors: Soft drinks, Water