Sierra Nevada Brewing Company has made a minority investment in Riot Energy, an organic energy drinks brand from Venice, Calif. Sierra Nevada is expected to produce and package the brand at its, CanDo Innovation Center, which is slated to begin operations this summer. It is only the second time that Sierra Nevada has invested in another beverage company.
RIOT Energy drinks are a craft version of the $12 billion traditional energy drink business. The company plans to “disrupt” the growing segment with a more natural, higher quality energy drink.
The company was founded in 2016 and makes flavored energy drinks with 100% plant-powered ingredients with no chemicals or sugar added. “We are RIOTing to overthrow big energy in order to provide you all the energy you deserve from – real, simple, and effective ingredients,” the company web site says.
Sierra Nevada will not only provide an infusion of cash but will also gain a customer for their new 85,000-square-foot contract canning facility. It comes at an new turn in the industry where breweries are looking to fully utilize their facilities in any way possible. 21st Amendment Brewery in the San Francisco Bay Area recently announced they were opening up their high speed canning line facility to contract can beverages for other producers.
More details here.