Talking Rain
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersPreston, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Talking Rain firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Talking Rain
- Legal name
- Talking Rain Beverage Company, Inc.
- Website
- https://talkingrain.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Talking Rain industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flavored Sparkling Water Beverages
- NAICS
- Bottled Water Manufacturing (312112), Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111), Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)
- SIC
- Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bottled Water (Still, Sparkling, Enhanced) (CRADAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production (AFAFACAE), Flavored/Enhanced Bottled Water Production (Essenced, Vitamin, Electrolyte) (AFAFACAF), Still Soft Drinks & Flavored Waters (Non-Carbonated) (AFAFABAB), Functional Beverages (Vitamins, Probiotics, Nootropics, etc.) (CRADAHAL), Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks) (CRADAHAB), Powdered & Instant Beverage Mixes (Drink Mixes, Instant Coffee/Tea, Electrolytes) (CRADAHAN), Alcoholic Beverage Mixers & Cocktail Ingredients Brands (Non-alcoholic) (CRADAIAH)
Keywords
Where Talking Rain is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Preston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Talking Rain business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sparkling Ice product sales: Direct product sales of Sparkling Ice sparkling water through retail, convenience stores, foodservice, and e-commerce channels. Core product line includes original Sparkling Ice, Sparkling Ice +Caffeine, Sparkling Ice Energy, and Sparkling Ice Superfruit. Retails for $1.19-$1.29 for standard bottles, $1.89 for +Caffeine line.
- Popwell prebiotic soda sales: Sales of Popwell cold-crafted prebiotic soda line featuring gut health and immunity support formulations
- Mixt non-alcoholic cocktail sales: Sales of Mixt non-alcoholic cocktail line featuring functional ingredients like Lemon Balm and L-theanine
- Lemon Tree lemonade sales: Sales of Lemon Tree sparkling lemonades with 20% lemon juice, Vitamin C, and zinc
- Talking Rain AQA premium water sales: Sales of 9.5pH+ premium ionized water with electrolytes and minerals in 1-liter bottles
- Foodservice channel sales: B2B sales through education, healthcare, and business & industry channels with volume-based pricing and rebate programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sparkling Ice original line |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sparkling Ice +Caffeine line |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Club Pack variety |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Foodservice channel |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels12 records
Talking Rain product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Talking Rain manufactures and sells a portfolio of better-for-you beverages, anchored by its flagship Sparkling Ice zero-sugar sparkling water brand. The company produces caffeinated sparkling water (Sparkling Ice +Caffeine), prebiotic sodas (Popwell), non-alcoholic cocktails (Mixt), sparkling lemonades (Lemon Tree), premium ionized water (Talking Rain AQA), and other functional and still water products distributed through retail, convenience, foodservice, and e-commerce channels.
Product overview
Talking Rain Beverage Company operates as a multi-brand beverage portfolio company offering better-for-you beverages. The core products include Sparkling Ice (zero-sugar sparkling water in 17+ flavors), Sparkling Ice +Caffeine (caffeinated variant), Sparkling Ice Energy, and Talking Rain Sparkling Water. The portfolio extends to premium ionized water (Talking Rain AQA), prebiotic soda (Popwell), non-alcoholic cocktails (Mixt), sparkling lemonade (Lemon Tree), and limited-edition collaborations (Sparkling Ice Superfruit, Sparkling Ice x STARBURST/LIFE SAVERS). The company also operates I.C.E. Labs as its innovation initiative for developing future beverages through consumer testing programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sparkling Ice Talking Rain's flagship zero-sugar, lightly carbonated sparkling water combining sparkling water, natural flavors, fruit juice, and vitamins. Available in 17+ fruity flavors including Black Cherry, Kiwi Strawberry, and seasonal LTO varieties.
- Sparkling Ice +Caffeine Caffeinated variant of Sparkling Ice sparkling water providing energy boost with zero sugar. Includes flavors like Black Raspberry, Blue Raspberry, Triple Citrus, Strawberry Citrus, Orange Passionfruit, and Watermelon Lemonade. Available in 16oz cans at $1.89 retail price.
- Sparkling Ice Energy Energy drink line extension within the Sparkling Ice portfolio targeting consumers seeking energy beverages with better-for-you positioning.
- Talking Rain Sparkling Water Core sparkling mountain spring water product, Talking Rain's flagship still water brand, exclusively produced at the Preston, WA facility.
- Talking Rain AQA Premium ionized water with 9.5pH+ and electrolytes/minerals for taste. 'Water with a Purpose' brand committed to clean water donations through Waterboys partnership. Available in 1-liter and 20oz bottles.
- Popwell Cold-crafted prebiotic soda featuring prebiotics from plant fiber, zinc, antioxidants, and Vitamins B, C, and D. Positioned as a better-for-you soda alternative with gut health and immunity support benefits. Flavors include Apple Berry Burst, Tropical Mango Wave, Strawberry Lemonade Twist, Mandarin Mango, and Strawberry Dragonfruit.
- Mixt Non-alcoholic cocktail line featuring zero sugar, 10-25 calories, with Lemon Balm and L-theanine for focus and chill. Flavors include Botanica Margarita, Vermont Smash, Kentucky Sour, Bramble Mule, Seaside Spritz, Mirage Margarita, Oasis Mojito, and Paradise Mule.
- Lemon Tree Sparkling lemonade line made with 20% lemon juice and 5g sugar. Contains 100% daily value of Vitamin C and zinc for immunity support. Flavors include Classic Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Berry Lemonade, and Jalapeño Lemonade.
- Sparkling Ice Superfruit Better-for-you sparkling water line featuring superfruits (dragon fruit, acai, prickly pear). First Sparkling Ice product sweetened with Stevia leaf extract. Zero sugar, 5 calories, with B, C, and D vitamins. Available in 12oz sleek cans.
- Sparkling Ice x LIFE SAVERS Zero-sugar candy-inspired sparkling water line developed in collaboration with Mars featuring LIFE SAVERS flavors including Wild Cherry, Strawberry, White Grape, and Blue Raspberry.
- Sparkling Ice STARBURST RED PACK Candy-inspired sparkling water line featuring STARBURST-inspired flavors including Kiwi Strawberry, Black Cherry, Fruit Punch, and Watermelon.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5900% sales growth from 2010-2015
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Talking Rain
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Talking Rain technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature5 records
Talking Rain partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Flavor FlavminorPromotional sweepstakes campaign tied to Sparkling Ice LIFE SAVERS Red, White and Blue variety pack launch. Flavor Flav amplifies marketing reach for the candy-inspired product line.
- K9s For WarriorscoreSparkling Ice and Casey's partnership supporting K9s For Warriors, the nation's leading provider of trained service dogs to military veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Proceeds from sales of new Sparkling Ice Caffeine Soda Shoppe flavors (Cherry Cola and Root Beer) help fund training of service dogs for veterans at no financial cost to them.
- JDRFminorType 1 diabetes research partnership with online Lotería game and sponsorship of Spanish language Bag of Hope for newly diagnosed families.
- FoodbuyminorFoodservice GPO partner for procurement and supply chain optimization
- AramarkminorFoodservice distribution partner for education, healthcare, and business & industry channels
- Giant EagleminorRegional grocery chain partnership including service dog sponsorship with K9s For Warriors at store locations
- Seattle Sounders FCminorSparkling Ice became Official Sparkling Refreshment of Seattle Sounders FC, MLS soccer team, supporting 'living life in full flavor' brand positioning.
- Seattle Reign FCminorPartnership with women's professional soccer team underscores commitment to celebrating Seattle as a global soccer nexus.
- The Jed FoundationcoreMental health partnership including JED virtual training for Rain Makers and workshop curriculum designed to prevent student-athlete suicide in collaboration with college athletics programs.
- Homes For Our TroopscorePartnership since 2021 building and donating specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans. 21 home builds supported through 2022.
- Girls on the RunminorPartnership supporting girls' mental and physical health through community running programs. Celebrates community, mentorship and belonging.
- Waterboys / Chris Long FoundationcoreClean water initiative providing accessible drinking water to communities in need. Talking Rain donates $0.20 for every Talking Rain Essentials/AQA 12-pack case purchased to support the charity. Partnership with Waterboys helps bring clean water to 2 million Americans without running water at home.
- The Recycling PartnershipminorEnvironmental non-profit improving how America recycles. Talking Rain committed to educating consumers about recyclability and increasing quality recyclables. 100% of Talking Rain packaging is recyclable.
- American Cancer SocietycoreLong-standing partnership donating $25,000 annually to support breast cancer research. Real Men Wear Pink program raised additional funds through internal competitions.
- Austen Everett Foundationminor2019 Presenting Sponsor for foundation bringing sports experiences to children with medical challenges.
- Tata Global BeveragesminorStrategic alliance to distribute Himalayan Natural Mineral Water in the U.S. through Sparkling Ice's independent DSD network. Water sourced from underground moving stream aquifer 400 feet below Himalayan mountain range.
- Honor Flight NetworkcoreLong-term partnership since 2016 supporting transportation of veterans to Washington D.C. memorials. Talking Rain has helped fund over 900 all-expenses paid trips and reached $1 million total donation milestone supporting America's Veterans.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Talking Rain competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Celsius Holdings: Public functional beverage company with a strong energy/sparkling portfolio (CELSIUS, BCAA +Energy, Sparkling Cola) that overlaps with Talking Rain's Sparkling Ice +Caffeine and Sparkling Ice Energy lines on retailer shelves and in c-store cold vaults.
- Nestlé Waters (Perrier, S. Pellegrino): Global premium water and sparkling beverage portfolio that competes with Talking Rain's AQA premium ionized water and Sparkling Ice at foodservice, retail, and hotel/restaurant accounts, with vastly larger international distribution.
Direct peers
- National Beverage Corp. (LaCroix): Owner of LaCroix, the closest direct competitor to Sparkling Ice in the zero-sugar flavored sparkling water category. Both brands compete for the same shelf placement at Kroger, Publix, and major c-store chains, with similar price points and consumer demographics.
- Bubly (PepsiCo): PepsiCo's zero-sugar flavored sparkling water brand that competes head-to-head with Sparkling Ice on retailer shelves and in DSD networks. Backed by a global CPG marketing machine and bottling infrastructure that Talking Rain lacks.
- Topo Chico (Coca-Cola): Coca-Cola-owned mineral sparkling water that competes in premium c-stores and foodservice channels alongside Talking Rain's +Caffeine and Soda Shoppe lines, particularly in convenience and on-premise accounts.
- Polar Beverages: Privately held New England-based sparkling water and seltzer manufacturer with direct overlap to Talking Rain's core carbonated water portfolio, competing in retail, foodservice, and DSD channels in the Northeast where Talking Rain has 100% DSD coverage.
- Waterloo Sparkling Water: Independent sparkling water brand competing in the same zero-sugar flavored sparkling water category, with similar flavor strategy and retail distribution through H-E-B, Whole Foods, and major grocery chains.
- Spindrift Beverage Co. Premium sparkling water brand using real fruit ingredients, competing in the better-for-you sparkling water segment that Talking Rain's Sparkling Ice also targets, with overlap at Whole Foods, Kroger, and Amazon.
- AHA (Coca-Cola): Coca-Cola's sparkling water brand competing in the same flavored sparkling water segment as Sparkling Ice. Leverages Coca-Cola bottling and distribution scale, making it a direct rival in DSD and retail channels.
Emerging players
- Olipop: Functional prebiotic soda brand competing directly with Talking Rain's new Popwell prebiotic line in the better-for-you soda-alternative category, with overlapping health-conscious millennial consumers and similar retail placement strategies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Talking Rain social profiles
Digital presenceTalking Rain financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Talking Rain leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Talking Rain funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Talking Rain M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Talking Rain
What does Talking Rain do?
Talking Rain manufactures and sells a portfolio of better-for-you beverages, anchored by its flagship Sparkling Ice zero-sugar sparkling water brand. The company produces caffeinated sparkling water (Sparkling Ice +Caffeine), prebiotic sodas (Popwell), non-alcoholic cocktails (Mixt), sparkling lemonades (Lemon Tree), premium ionized water (Talking Rain AQA), and other functional and still water products distributed through retail, convenience, foodservice, and e-commerce channels.
Is Talking Rain a public or private company?
Talking Rain is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Talking Rain founded?
Talking Rain was founded in 1987. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Talking Rain based?
Talking Rain is headquartered in Preston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Talking Rain make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Sparkling Ice product sales are the primary driver. The others are popwell prebiotic soda sales, mixt non-alcoholic cocktail sales, lemon Tree lemonade sales, talking Rain AQA premium water sales and foodservice channel sales.
Who are Talking Rain's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Celsius Holdings and Nestlé Waters (Perrier, S. Pellegrino). Direct peers are National Beverage Corp. (LaCroix), Bubly (PepsiCo), Topo Chico (Coca-Cola), Polar Beverages, Waterloo Sparkling Water, Spindrift Beverage Co. and AHA (Coca-Cola). Olipop is listed as an emerging player.
Does Talking Rain have an API?
No public API is recorded for Talking Rain.
What industry is Talking Rain in?
Talking Rain's product category is Flavored Sparkling Water Beverages. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAHAC, Bottled Water (Still, Sparkling, Enhanced), with a secondary code of AFAFACAE, Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production. Its NAICS code is 312112 and its SIC code is 2086.