Crystal Light
Crystal Light, founded in 1988 and owned by Kraft Heinz, manufactures and sells low-calorie and zero-sugar powdered and liquid drink mixes for U.S. consumers seeking convenient, flavorful, sugar-free beverage alternatives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Crystal Light does
Crystal Light is a consumer packaged goods brand that manufactures and sells low-calorie and zero-sugar powdered and liquid drink mixes, founded in 1988 and wholly owned by Kraft Heinz, Inc. (NASDAQ: KHC). Its product portfolio spans multiple flavor variants — including Raspberry Lemonade, Berry Sangria, Strawberry Orange Banana, Black Cherry Lime, and Peach Iced Tea — offered in powdered pitcher packets, liquid concentrate form, and a Zero Sugar sub-brand, with both artificially and naturally flavored SKUs.
The underlying technology is straightforward: instant beverage preparation via water-soluble powdered concentrates (and liquid equivalents) that deliver flavored hydration without sugar or meaningful calories. The core functional proposition is convenience and low-calorie flavoring rather than any proprietary manufacturing platform or proprietary IP. No patents, trademarks, or certifications were disclosed in the source data.
Crystal Light generates revenue through retail packaged-goods sales across U.S. grocery stores, mass merchandisers, and convenience stores, supplemented by e-commerce via its own website and third-party online retailers. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer in the sense that end buyers are households and individuals, but execution is handled through traditional CPG retail distribution and consumer marketing — TikTok, Facebook, the TasteVIP email program, and brand-website recipe content — under the Kraft Heinz marketing and distribution umbrella.
Crystal Light firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crystal Light
- Legal name
- Crystal Light (brand of Kraft Heinz, Inc.)
- Website
- https://crystallight.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Crystal Light, founded in 1988 and owned by Kraft Heinz, manufactures and sells low-calorie and zero-sugar powdered and liquid drink mixes for U.S. consumers seeking convenient, flavorful, sugar-free beverage alternatives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Crystal Light industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Low-Calorie Powdered Drink Mixes
- NAICS
- Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (31193)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Powdered & Instant Beverage Mix Manufacturing (Drink Mixes) (AFAFABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Non-Alcoholic Beverage Concentrates, Syrups & Bases Manufacturing (AFAFABAM), Still Soft Drinks & Flavored Waters (Non-Carbonated) (AFAFABAB), Powdered Beverage Bases & Concentrates (instant drink mixes, soluble concentrates) (AFAFAGAI)
Keywords
Where Crystal Light is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Crystal Light business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consumer Packaged Goods Sales: Crystal Light generates revenue through the sale of powdered drink mix products sold at retail locations and online. Products are sold as single-serve packets and multi-serving pitcher packets. Revenue is one-time transaction based with consumers purchasing at retail or e-commerce checkout.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Crystal Light product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crystal Light manufactures and sells low-calorie and zero-sugar powdered and liquid drink mixes in a variety of fruit and beverage flavors. Products are packaged as single-serve packets and multi-serving pitcher packets for instant beverage preparation by mixing the powder or liquid concentrate with water at home or on-the-go. The portfolio includes both artificially flavored and naturally flavored varieties targeting health-conscious consumers.
Product overview
Crystal Light is a brand of flavored drink mixes owned by Kraft Heinz, offering a portfolio of low-calorie and zero-sugar powdered drink mixes and liquid drink mixes. The product line includes multiple flavor variants such as Raspberry Lemonade, Berry Sangria, Strawberry Orange Banana, Black Cherry Lime, and Peach Iced Tea. Products are available in both powdered format (pitcher packets) and liquid format, with options for artificially flavored and naturally flavored varieties. The core value proposition centers on providing full-flavor beverages without sugar or guilt, targeting health-conscious consumers seeking low-calorie alternatives to sugary drinks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Raspberry Lemonade Artificially Flavored Powdered Drink Mix Low-calorie powdered drink mix in Raspberry Lemonade flavor, designed for pitcher preparation. Provides a sweet treat with artificially flavored taste for health-conscious consumers and households.
- Berry Sangria Naturally Flavored Drink Mix Naturally flavored powdered drink mix featuring Berry Sangria flavor, offering a fruit-forward taste profile with no artificial sweeteners.
- Strawberry Orange Banana Artificially Flavored Powdered Drink Mix Vibrant low-calorie fruit-flavored powdered drink mix combining Strawberry, Orange, and Banana flavors in pitcher packet format, designed for family and home use.
- Black Cherry Lime Naturally Flavored Drink Mix Zero-calorie liquid drink mix in Black Cherry Lime flavor, providing instant refreshment with natural flavors.
- Crystal Light Liquid Drink Mix Zero-calorie liquid drink mix format offering quick preparation and natural flavor options for instant refreshment at home or on-the-go.
- Crystal Light Zero Sugar Zero sugar variant product line delivering full flavor without sugar content, including Strawberry Orange Banana and Peach Iced Tea flavors.
Companies that use Crystal Light
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Crystal Light technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Crystal Light partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Crystal Light competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Country Time: Country Time, a Kraft Heinz brand, offers powdered drink mixes including sugar-free lemonade variants that compete with Crystal Light in the same powdered drink mix category and retail aisles.
- Propel Water: Propel, owned by PepsiCo, is a flavored enhanced water brand with electrolyte positioning targeting fitness and active consumers. It competes with Crystal Light for the same low-calorie flavored beverage occasions and shelf space.
- MiO: MiO is a Kraft Heinz liquid water enhancer that competes head-to-head with Crystal Light Liquid in the flavored water alternative category. Both are Kraft Heinz-owned, target health-conscious consumers, and share the same retail aisles and occasion (on-the-go flavored water).
- Nesquik: Nesquik (Nestlé) is a powdered drink mix brand targeting families and children with flavored milk and water mixes. It competes with Crystal Light for powdered drink mix shelf space and family consumption occasions.
- Dasani Drops: Dasani Drops is a Coca-Cola-owned liquid water enhancer that competes directly with Crystal Light Liquid. Both brands target consumers seeking portable, zero-calorie flavored water alternatives.
- Kool-Aid: Kool-Aid, also a Kraft Heinz brand, sells powdered and liquid drink mixes targeting families and children. It is directly comparable to Crystal Light as a fellow Kraft Heinz powdered drink mix brand with overlapping retail distribution and similar product format.
Broad incumbents
- Keurig Dr Pepper: Keurig Dr Pepper is a major beverage conglomerate with flavored water brands (e.g., Snapple, Dr Pepper) and powdered/ready-to-drink offerings that compete for the same low-calorie flavored beverage occasions as Crystal Light at a much broader portfolio scale.
- PepsiCo: PepsiCo owns Propel, Lipton (Brisk), and other flavored beverages that compete with Crystal Light for health-conscious consumers seeking low-calorie alternatives. PepsiCo's scale and distribution overlap significantly with Crystal Light's channels.
Others
- Cott Corporation: Cott Corporation is a contract beverage manufacturer supplying private-label bottled waters, flavored waters, and drink mixes to retailers. It represents a supply-side peer whose private-label products compete with Crystal Light at lower price points in the same category.
Emerging players
- Starbucks VIA Instant: Starbucks VIA is an instant powdered beverage brand (coffee) that uses similar instant-dissolve technology and single-serve stick packaging as Crystal Light. While in coffee rather than flavored water, it competes for similar convenience and pantry-staple occasions.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Crystal Light social profiles
Digital presenceCrystal Light financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crystal Light leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Crystal Light funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crystal Light 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 Crystal Light
What does Crystal Light do?
Crystal Light manufactures and sells low-calorie and zero-sugar powdered and liquid drink mixes in a variety of fruit and beverage flavors. Products are packaged as single-serve packets and multi-serving pitcher packets for instant beverage preparation by mixing the powder or liquid concentrate with water at home or on-the-go. The portfolio includes both artificially flavored and naturally flavored varieties targeting health-conscious consumers.
Is Crystal Light a public or private company?
Crystal Light is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Crystal Light founded?
Crystal Light was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Crystal Light based?
Crystal Light is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Crystal Light make money?
One revenue line is on record: consumer Packaged Goods Sales.
Who are Crystal Light's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Country Time, Propel Water, MiO, Nesquik, Dasani Drops and Kool-Aid. Broad incumbents are Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo. Cott Corporation is listed as an others. Starbucks VIA Instant is listed as an emerging player.
Does Crystal Light have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crystal Light.
What industry is Crystal Light in?
Crystal Light's product category is Low-Calorie Powdered Drink Mixes. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFABAL, Powdered & Instant Beverage Mix Manufacturing (Drink Mixes), with a secondary code of AFAFABAM, Non-Alcoholic Beverage Concentrates, Syrups & Bases Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 3121 and its SIC code is 2080.