Still-new London energy drink maker expanding into U.S. markets

A London-based power drink firm is increasing into the USA months after launching in Canada.

Londoners Matt Stirling and Mike Pullam based Exponent Vitality Inc. in late April and can broaden their line of power drinks into U.S. markets this month.

“We’re within the midst of opening a U.S. workplace, after which, we’re going to have many staff working remotely, so it’s actually thrilling,” Pullam mentioned.

Exponent Vitality gives three sorts of plant-based, sugar-free power drinks bought in additional than 150 Canadian shops. The merchandise are manufactured at Equals Brewing Co. in London.

South of the border, the drinks will likely be made in Utah and California, Pullam mentioned.

“We simply completed U.S. manufacturing final week, and we’re launching in California, Hawaii and Illinois within the subsequent two weeks,” he mentioned.

Exponent Vitality markets itself as a substitute for mainstream manufacturers that provide high-sugar, high-caffeine, and synthetic, mass-marketed power drinks. Its merchandise, which embody orange-tangerine, blueberry, and citrus mix flavours, come with out all of the sugar and artificial elements, Stirling mentioned.

“What was essential to us was we thought, ‘Hey, let’s deliver one thing to the market that’s actually a cleaner drink.’ Every part we have now is a clear vitamin panel,” he mentioned.

The fusion power drinks comprise every part from pink Himalayan sea salt to coconut water and amino acids that present important vitamins. Even the caffeine is of course sourced from inexperienced tea extract, added Stirling. “So there aren’t any artificial elements.”

Exponent is the end result of two years of brainstorming and collaboration. Stirling, a former aggressive bodybuilder and fitness center proprietor from Chatham, met Pullam, a enterprise government working in provide chain, after transferring into his London neighbourhood in 2019.

Each had backgrounds in health and have become pals. The enterprise partnership basically developed throughout post-workout discussions, Pullam mentioned.

“Matt put a sauna in his basement, so we’d all the time have ‘sauna talks,’” he mentioned with fun. “We’d work out for an hour after which have enterprise conversations.”

The 2 had been satisfied there was a requirement for natural drinks that had been healthful and tasted good.

“We realized what was on the market simply didn’t align with our existence and what we wished to see in an power drink. We seen that it wasn’t accessible available on the market. There was a spot,” Pullam mentioned.

“In brief, we got down to disrupt the fashionable power drink,” he mentioned.

Exponent employs seven full-time employees and operates out of its London workplace at 104-320 Thames St.

Reception to their merchandise thus far has been “very promising,” Stirling mentioned.

“Our companions are pleased. Our gross sales (individuals) that work with our companions are pleased. The retailers are repurchasing, so it’s been nice,” he mentioned.

Exponent partnered with a North American beverage incubator, L.A. Libations, that’s helped construct notable manufacturers equivalent to Vitaminwater and Physique Armor, and already has established 5 or 6 U.S. distributors.

The enterprise duo wouldn’t disclose particular figures about their gross sales – noting they’re ready to gather extra dependable knowledge – however Pullam mentioned: “They’ve been incrementally considerably rising week over week.”

As Exponent grows, London will stay the hub for operations, Pullam mentioned.

“We’re wanting ahead to with the ability to broaden within the London area with our worker base and different suppliers and issues of that nature,” he mentioned.

“That’s essential to us, that we develop in order that, in flip, we may give again to the group.”

The Native Journalism Initiative is funded by the Authorities of Canada