Talking Rain Beverage Company, the maker of Sparkling Ice flavored sparkling waters, has announced distribution development for the brand with an international market expansion in the UK and Ireland.
For its initial launch, the brand will introduce three top performing flavors in over 8,000 stores, with a specific focus on major cities including London, Dublin and Belfast.
"As an established category leader in the U.S. beverage market, with over $600 million in sales in 2015, we are pleased to continue our growth trajectory internationally, and are proud to offer a 'better for you' beverage choice that delivers the bold flavor the market demands," said Kevin Klock, President and CEO of Talking Rain Beverage Co. "As Sparkling Ice continues to grow and expand, we look forward to emulating the brand's success in the U.K. and Ireland."
Research has shown that the U.K. and Ireland beverage market presents a wealth of opportunity for "better for you" alternatives like Sparkling Ice as the category moves away from full-calorie CSDs to lower calorie options. Having hit shelves in late April at major grocery and drug store retailers, Sparkling Ice will be available in the three consumer favorite flavors: Black Raspberry, Orange Mango and Peach Nectarine.
The U.K. and Ireland market entries follow successful international expansions in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Australia. Talking Rain will support the launch with out of home advertising and a summer sampling campaign, in addition to in-store marketing promotions and PR. Promotional launch efforts will be directed by W Communications, a London-based PR firm with offices in Singapore and Amsterdam recently recognized with PR Week's coveted Agency of the Year award in 2015.
Talking Rain has partnered with leading manufacturers and distributors based in the U.K. and Ireland, including Norbev Ltd., a contract manufacturer of beverages that has been based in Northern Ireland since 1919; Richmond Brand Revolutionaries, a consumer-focused premium brand builder based in Ireland; and Red Star Brand Revolutionaries, an independently owned distributor that specializes in identifying and introducing innovative beverage brands.
