Direct-to-Consumer Food and Beverage Brands Dominate The Inc 5000 List
Alongside healthcare, financial services and software companies, dozens of food and beverage brands were ranked on Inc.’s annual 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the United States. Released today, the 2021 list features an array of companies with a direct-to-consumer focus, highlighting the pandemic’s lasting impact on consumer shopping habits.
In addition to e-commerce focused companies, brands with sustainability and wellness-oriented products also thrived during the past year. Of the 145 food and beverage companies that made the list, 23 were newcomers and 63 were repeat honorees with a combined revenue of $5.8 billion, adding 19,716 jobs to the U.S. economy.
Check out the gallery for the top 15 fastest-growing food and beverage brands from the list with everything from aluminum canned water and alternative bread products to better-for-you grocery boxes and an autonomous alcohol delivery service.
Your Super
California-based D2C supplement and bar maker Your Super thrived during 2020 generating $70 million in revenue. The growth was spurred when the company raised over $7 million in 2019 through growth equity firm PowerPlant Ventures along with additional seed-stage funding.
PathWater
Aluminum-bottled water brand PathWater had a high growth-year after launching limited-edition bottles and expanding its portfolio with a new sparkling line. The company ranked 48 on the list and generated $12.7 million in revenue last year.
Proud Source Water
With its commitment to sustainable packaging, Idaho-based water company Proud Source also thrived during the past year. The company ranked 59 on the list after closing a $6 million funding round and recently signing a regional distribution agreement with PepsiCo.
Lifeboost
D2C-focused company Lifeboost Coffee ranked at number 80 on the list with its low-acid organic coffee beans. The Indiana-based company grew 4,700% during 2020 and recently launched a powdered anti-aging coffee creamer to complement its coffee subscription box service.
TapRm
Since its 2019 launch, e-commerce platform TapRm has positioned itself to be one of the fastest growing alcohol delivery services with 3,802% growth over the past year. The company carries over 200 brands of beer, services 32 states and recently began a pilot program with autonomous, robot-powered delivery in the New York City area.
Vive Organic
Functional shot producer Vive Organic launched two new single-origin wellness shots this year. The company has seen high growth the past year, and closed a $13 million funding round last July.
Cameron's Seafood
Tapping into the customer base from its brick and mortar locations, Maryland-based Cameron Seafood launched its D2C platform in 2017 and has experienced high growth especially over the past year. The company ships Maryland crabs, crab cakes, crab soups and fresh seafood in meal boxes nationwide.
Outer Aisle
For the second year in a row, alternative bread maker Outer Aisle experienced high-growth and landed itself a spot in the top 200 list. The company told NOSH late last year they are on track to triple revenue and have expanded distribution with 2,200 new doors.
Purity Coffee
South Carolina-based Purity Coffee ranked 193 on the list with its D2C platform delivering organic whole bean, pods and single-serve bags of coffee nationwide.
Hungryroot
Online grocery delivery service Hungryroot ranked 214 on the list with an estimated $9.7 million in revenue last year. The platform ships ingredient boxes directly to consumers and also offers recipes and meal planning services.
Open Water
Ranking 232 on the list is canned water brand Open Water. Since its 2018 rebrand from Green Sheep Water, the company has ramped up its sustainability focus and became the first bottled water company to earn itself a climate neutral certification.
A-Sha Foods
Better-for-you ramen brand A-Sha Foods is also celebrating its second year on the list, this time ranking in at number 239 with 1,865% growth. The Taiwan-based brand opened a headquarters in the U.S. in 2015 and now distributes its products nationwide.
BunnyJamesBoxes
BunnyJamesBox distributes allergy-friendly and specialty-diet oriented gift snack boxes nationwide. Since its launch in 2016, the company has gone from a healthy vending machines approach to the leading food tribe gift and snack box distributor.
CAULIPOWER
Caulipower generated over $100 million in revenue with its vegetable-based, gluten-free pizzas, pasta and bread products. The company is said to have invested heavily into R&D over the past year and will continue launching new products in the vegetable based, alternative bread space.
Clio Snacks
Since closing an $8 million funding found last year, Clio Snacks grew 1,729% and launched a new line of Greek yogurt minis. The company suffered a setback in June after it issued a voluntary recall of 21 SKUs due to metal fragments in the chocolate coating.
