Let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there. How did your company get started and why?

Calypso’s Original Lemonade recipe was created in 1985 by the King Juice Company. The idea was simple – make an authentic, delicious lemonade with real lemons and real sugar. Bolstered by the response to its amazing taste, growing popularity, and inspired by the fruits, flavors and spirit of the islands, the Original Lemonade was given the name “Calypso” in 2000 and initially expanded into four lemonade and fruit blends. This was the beginning of the flavored lemonade category and Calypso lemonades gained national distribution based on the broad consumer appeal.

What is your product and how would you describe it?

As the originator and leader of the flavored lemonade category, Calypso is an authentic lemonade brand known for its delicious, island-inspired line of vibrant fruit-flavored lemonades and limeades. Calypso’s flavored lemonades are known for their amazing “Taste of the Islands:” bold fruit flavors, and the refreshing feel of an island escape in every bottle that has ignited a passionate consumer following over the years. Each Calypso product is made with a focus on taste and quality, using real lemon or lime bits, real sugar and natural flavors. Calypso offers more than a dozen lemonade and limeade combinations.

How have you pivoted your business this year?

Calypso reported a 40% growth during the first half of 2020, which led to over 60% sales increase in 2020, positioning Calypso as the second-largest player in the shelf-stable lemonade category, surpassing Lipton Brisk. This incredible increase is attributed to activating a powerful brand with a strong core flavored lemonade portfolio, along with a focus on innovation, particularly the launch of Calypso Light, which helped propel the growth we saw in 2020. These offerings attracted new customers and enabled the brand to target new demographics and incremental consumers. We amplified our marketing investments, specifically in paid social on Instagram, and built-out our sales capacity to drive distribution and retailer activation.

What is your next challenge to overcome?

In 2021, we are looking to focus on expanding our distribution. With a significant increase in consumer awareness and sales velocity in 2020, we are encouraged about the opportunities Calypso has to grow with current and new distributors. The sales and marketing teams will continue to partner to drive the business through increased shopper marketing executions; notably targeted digital coupons, potential co-promotion partnerships, and experiential/event marketing in key geographies.

What do you predict for the food industry over the rest of the year?

Predictions are hard to make, but I would say there will continue to be a very strong innovation pipeline and new entrants into the market. CBD type drinks will continue to try to find their way with innovation and entrants into the category, still limited in distribution, though. Competing in the non-alcohol category will be more on no alcohol innovation from major beer and alcohol suppliers. Outside of drinks, I don’t have a prediction, but I am curious to see the growth of plant-based meats and how that continues to disrupt the food industry. Finally, I think supply chains are going to continue to be constrained and transportation is going to continue to pose challenges for suppliers to meet the market demand.

Learn more at: Home – Calypso Lemonades(drinkcalypso.com)