Connecticut based ready-to-drink cocktail maker ‘Merican Mule will expand operations due to an influx of capital and leadership from Billy Bishop and the Bishop Family. Credited with growing SoBe beverages from concept to household name, the Bishop Family will also serve as advisors to ‘Merican Mule CEO and Founder Dean Mahoney.
‘Merican Mule offers four varieties of spirit-based RTD cocktails along with its recently released seasonal Pumpkin Spice, made with vodka, ginger, and pumpkin. Core flavors include traditional Moscow style, Tropical, Mexican, and Southern. Each has 7% ABV.
Current distribution of the canned cocktails is limited to 12 states, but the company ships directly to customers in 30 states and the District of Columbia.
Bill Bishop Sr. was founder of SoBe Beverage in 1995, and sold in 2001 to Pepsico for $370 million. Billy Bishop, Jr., was VP of Marketing at SoBe, and most recently at the helm of Blue Buffalo pet food products, prior to selling to General Mills.
As part of the partnership, the Bishop Family will take a seat on the advisory board along with David Holmes, creator of Spiked Seltzer, which became Anheuser-Busch’s BON V!V.
“The Bishops have proven their ability to build big businesses from scratch,” Mahoney said in a release.
“They helped take SoBe Beverages from an idea to sales of $220 million in just four years, and then built Blue Buffalo from a white paper concept to sales of over $1 billion before selling to General Mills in 2018 for $8 billion.”
Holmes likes the prospects of ‘Merican Mule. “I’ve been impressed with how this brand has executed over the last several years, and am excited that The Bishop family shares my belief that ‘Merican Mule is a winner,” said Holmes.
Mahoney recently told Hard Seltzer news that “We started with nearly nothing, and have been able to gain a cult-like following because of the countless hours put into tirelessly developing our craft Mule cocktails.”
“We couldn’t be more proud to welcome the Bishop Family to the ‘Merican Mule family and are eager to see what success will come of this new partnership”
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