Turning a beverage concept into a successful market offering requires more than manufacturing expertise. It takes collaborative partnerships built on people, quality, innovation and consistency. Patco Brands supports customers from concept to commercialization by combining product development expertise with global manufacturing capabilities while keeping customer goals at the center of every stage. As the business has grown, so has its manufacturing footprint, giving customers the confidence that their products can scale without sacrificing quality. That growth has been deliberate, built around manufacturing partners that share the company’s standards and work as an extension of its team to deliver consistent results. Shared operating procedures, rigorous quality standards and strong operational alignment ensure every facility produces to the same specifications. Consistency across every production location allows customers to scale confidently, knowing every beverage reflects the same craftsmanship regardless of where it is produced. “We ensure every product reflects consistent quality and craftsmanship across global facilities, building customer trust through disciplined execution, rigorous standards and strong operational alignment,” says Lindsey Sky, Executive Vice President of Operations.

The hemp-derived beverage category expanded rapidly as consumers began looking for alternatives aligned with changing wellness habits and social experiences. High Spirits Beverages entered the market early, launching one of the first hemp-derived Delta-9 THC beverages while focusing on product transparency, clean ingredients and consistent dosing at a time when the category was still largely untested. “We wanted to be more than a seltzer, but less than a soda,” says Chris Fontes, founder and CEO. “We didn’t want to create a drink with high sugar and pure syrup, but it also needed to be more than water with a memory of oranges from long ago.” That balance became central to the company’s identity. High Spirits built its formulations around all natural hemp-derived THC, transparent labeling and products tested for consistency. The company viewed those decisions as necessary for establishing consumer confidence in a highly scrutinized market segment. Its brand positioning also reflects a broader audience than the younger sober-curious demographic commonly associated with THC beverages. High Spirits developed products with THC doses ranging from 1.5 mg to 50 mg, allowing consumers with different preferences and lifestyles to engage with the category at their own comfort level. Building Products around Familiar Experiences The company’s product development process combines formulation strategy with a deliberate emotional connection to familiar flavors and experiences. High Spirits draws heavily from the nostalgia associated with the 1980s and 1990s, particularly among Xennial consumers who make up a significant part of its customer base. Flavors such as cherry limeade, iced tea lemonade and grape were designed to evoke drinks many consumers grew up with while adapting them for adult tastes and modern wellness expectations. The company believes familiarity plays an important role in helping consumers approach a category that still feels unfamiliar to many buyers.

When food brands begin to scale, their success often shifts away from the factory floor and into the broader retail ecosystem. Manufacturers must balance retailer expectations, distributor relationships, promotional strategies, and store-level execution, all of which vary by retailer. Understanding those realities often determines whether a promising brand reaches its next stage of growth. For many manufacturers, bridging that gap requires a partner with firsthand knowledge of how retailers and distributors operate. Seidman Food Brokerage has spent more than three decades helping brands navigate those retail complexities across the Southeast. Founded by Gary Seidman in 1994, the company began by representing a small portfolio of overlooked brands. Over time, close retailer relationships, a strong store-level presence, and a commitment to serving manufacturers of all sizes have remained central to its approach. What started as a small operation has grown alongside its clients into an expanding team of more than 30 professionals supporting over $500 million in annual grocery sales. Four years ago, Ryan and Chelsea Burnett acquired Seidman Food Brokerage from Gary and Cathy Seidman after more than a decade of learning every aspect of the business. Beginning with overnight resets before advancing through sales support, finance, and Publix account management, Ryan developed a firsthand understanding of what it takes to bring products successfully to market. Today, Ryan, Victor Rancel (SVP of Sales), Chelsea (SVP of Operations), and the company’s experienced executive team continue to build on the relationship-driven culture established by Gary while expanding the firm’s capabilities for the future.