Evolving the at-home beverage system with craft innovations
Sprizzi is in the middle of a national rollout of its flagship innovation, a countertop beverage system that’s been in the works for seven years. Other machines like SodaStream, Keurig and Bevi have been laying the foundation for the future of the at-home market.
Most systems use simple flavor blending to produce drinks at home, such as SodaStream’s method to carbonate water and add flavors, and Keurig’s coordinating drink pods. Sprizzi is attempting to take the idea a step further in the style of soda fountain-quality beverages.
Mirroring the soda fountain experience
Sprizzi can pour any cold beverage product that can be condensed into a concentrate. Ryan Goff, VP at Sprizzi, told BeverageDaily that the machine uses syrup concentrates that are mixed at a 5:1 ratio, just like a fountain machine at foodservice locations.
Two ounces of the syrup concentrate and 10oz of carbonated water produce a 12oz beverage, and the countertop version can hold 2 litres of water. Goff thinks the beverage industry will go the way of other on-demand technology; rather than driving to a store and carrying home cases of drinks, we’re likely to have the ability to make drinks at home with more advanced appliances.
According to the company, Sprizzi is eco-friendly and uses 100% recyclable flavor bullets, reduces the average beverage carbon footprint and results in an 84% reduction in water usage. Sprizzi plans to roll out to the office market first, similar to Keurig’s strategy.
Once they establish a presence in work environments that offer built-in consumer education, Goff said people will be more likely to want the at-home system since they have become familiar with it in their office. The residential machine will be sold for about $149 with flavor concentrates sold separately.
A healthy, craft alternative
This month Sprizzi is adding to its portfolio of concentrates with the launch of a new house brand, 1767 Craft Soda. They are debuting with 12 flavors like Cream Soda, Ginger Ale and Dr. Spicer. Sprizzi also has the Nancy May’s line that includes Lemonade, Pink Lemonade and Peach Tea.
The 1767 sodas are made with all-natural ingredients and organic cane sugar with 80 calories per 8oz serving. Sprizzi originally developed a soda line with a more traditional formulation, but made the choice to pivot to something a bit cleaner and healthier.
Michael Breault, co-founder and CEO of Sprizzi, said "Craft and natural sodas provide new flavor experiences, including blends of fruits, spices and herbs, while hitting naturally sweetened and premium ingredient trends. In addition to the new product launch, Sprizzi is committed to evolving with our customers as demand for healthier sodas that contain high-quality ingredients grows.”
Sprizzi plans to have all major beverages represented in its machine, and is in the process of negotiating deals with a half-dozen national brands. But Goff also believes that “there’s value in having your own brand that you can control,” which is why the team is equally investing in its in-house innovations, craft soda in particular.
Craft soda mimics beer
Goff thinks craft soda will evolve and see success in a similar way that craft beer did. Makers will talk more about their supply chain and source their ingredients locally, the way craft beer has been putting a lot of pressure on big beer to be more transparent.
“They’re moving toward having to disclose on their label what ingredients are in their beer, and it’s got them pretty worried. I think the craft guys have a huge advantage there in that space,” Goff said.
He and the Sprizzi team recognized that only a few small companies were making craft soda at first, and now larger brands like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have their own lines. It’s becoming more necessary because consumers tend to have big brand loyalty, Goff said, but are also increasingly concerned with what they’re putting in their bodies.
