SPECIAL SECTION
CANNED CRAFT COCKTAILS
And So,
It Begins
RTD PIONEER MERRILEE KICK GETS THE BALL(Z) ROLLIN’
One hot afternoon in Texas in the mid 2000s, then high school teacher Merrilee Kick was sitting by her pool grading papers when she had a craving for an alcoholic beverage but didn’t want to worry about breaking glass. She realized there was a gap in the market for pre-mixed, ready-to-drink cocktails that can go anywhere, so she decided to make them herself. On a mission to reinvent happy hour with fun and innovative cocktails that can go from the beach to parties, Kick created BuzzBallz. “BuzzBallz are real cocktails made with natural ingredients at 15% alcohol by volume,” says Kick. “They are full strength, full flavor cocktails that are crafted with the same ingredients you find behind the bar; we just make ours 6,000 gallons at a time” Kick’s company Southern Champion has been at the forefront of the ready-to-drink cocktail craze for years. Today, BuzzBallz are the number one selling, ready-to-drink, single-serve cocktails on the market.*
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CHILLED MAGAZINE
The company’s dedication to quality, variety, and flavor innovation has led BuzzBallz to experience major growth since day one. In 2019, the company sold 1 million cases, a landmark achievement that can be credited to the company’s commitment to its brand and consumers. “It wasn’t long before larger conglomerates started to take notice of the growth we were experiencing, paving the way for new entries into the category,” says Kick. “Our mission statement is to make fun, innovative cocktails. With this mission in mind, we will continue to create new flavors and packaging as we grow our brand domestically and internationally.” Kick would like bartenders to know that RTD’s are here to assist them by increasing volume and providing them with solutions to high-speed serving occasions. “The category will only continue to grow in the years to come,” she says. “We expect to see more flavor innovations and offerings across the board for the RTD category. In our day and age, consumers crave convenience, flavor, and value.” *Nielsen, Total US Conv, TTL Combines Liquor, TTL US XAOC — 52 weeks, Ending 4/23/2022
