What BetterBeverage Group does

BetterBeverage Group is a US-based contract manufacturer specializing in functional fermented beverages, primarily serving retailer private label programs across North America. Founded in 2015 and operating as a privately held LLC, the company runs a production facility in Gypsum, Colorado, with a corporate office in Delafield, Wisconsin, and a reported headcount of approximately 9 employees. The portfolio spans traditional raw and unpasteurized kombucha, pre+probiotic functional sodas delivering up to 9g of fiber per can, traditional tepache, shelf-stable organic teas, functional energy drinks with nootropics (L-theanine, lion's mane), and adaptogenic sparkling seltzers. The company also operates Island City Kombucha as its sole in-house consumer brand, distributed at retailers including Bashas Markets, AJ's Fine Foods, Food City, Grocery Outlet, Stop & Shop, and Red Canyon Cafe.

The company's core technology centers on fermented beverage manufacturing using aerobic open vat and traditional tank fermentation methods, complemented by tea brewing and clean-label formulation. It maintains a layered quality and compliance stack including SQF, HACCP, USDA Organic, Kosher, and TTB licensing for alcoholic beverages, plus regenerative agriculture sourcing through Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade certified supply chains. Services extend beyond production to include custom formulation, in-house packaging design and branding (powered by the same design agency behind Island City), and commercialization support covering slotting strategy and promotional planning.

BetterBeverage Group operates a B2B enterprise go-to-market via direct sales to retailers for private label programs, with pricing not publicly disclosed and contract-specific quotes required. The company is bootstrapped and appears to be founder or management-owned, with no disclosed external funding, no acquisitions, and no public listings. Industry influence is exercised through a board seat on Kombucha Brewers International and memberships in the Contract Packaging Association, BevNet, and the Private Label Manufacturers Association. The combination of a small headcount, full-service private label capabilities, an in-house brand, and a comprehensive regulatory and certification footprint is the core structural differentiator versus typical small-batch copackers.

Name

BetterBeverage Group

Legal name

BetterBeverage Group, LLC

Website

https://better-beverages.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BetterBeverage Group is a US-based contract manufacturer of functional fermented beverages, producing kombucha, pre+probiotic sodas, tepache, adaptogenic seltzers, and shelf-stable organic teas for retailer private label programs. The company also operates Island City Kombucha as its sole in-house consumer brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Beverage Manufacturing

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086)

akta.pro primary industry

Kombucha Production (AFAFAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fermented Beverage Contract Manufacturing & Private Label (AFAFAHAJ), Fermented/Probiotic Beverage Co-Packing (Kombucha, Kefir, Culture Drinks) (AFAFAIAG), Fermented Tea & Botanical Beverage Production (Jun, Kvass, etc.) (AFAFAHAD), Probiotic & Live-Culture Beverage Production (Shots, Tonics) (AFAFAHAE)

Keywords

• Private label beverage manufacturing
• Fermented beverage copacking
• Kombucha contract manufacturing
• Functional beverage production
• Private label kombucha

Headquarters

HQ city

Delafield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Private Label Manufacturing (Co-packing): Contract manufacturing services for retailer private label brands. The company develops, produces, and packages fermented beverages under the customer's own brand label. Services include custom formula development, production, and packaging with scalable processes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

BetterBeverage Group is a B2B contract manufacturer (copacker) of functional fermented beverages, producing private label kombucha, pre+probiotic sodas, tepache, shelf-stable organic teas, functional energy drinks, and adaptogenic sparkling teas and seltzers for retailer-owned brands across North America. The company offers end-to-end services from custom formula development and packaging design through production and commercialization, and also sells one in-house craft brand, Island City Kombucha, through retail partners.

Product overview

BetterBeverage Group is a North American manufacturer of functional fermented beverages offering copacking and private label services. The company produces a portfolio of fermented beverages including Traditional Kombucha (USDA Organic, raw, unpasteurized), Pre+Probiotic Soda (with up to 9g fiber and live probiotics), Traditional Tepache (fermented pineapple beverage), and Shelf Stable Organic Teas. Additionally, they offer Functional Energy Drinks (with L-theanine, lion's mane, and probiotics), and Sparkling Teas & Seltzers with Adaptogens. The company also manufactures their in-house craft brand, Island City Kombucha. Beyond manufacturing, services include Custom Formulas/product development, Packaging Design & Branding through an in-house design agency, and Commercialization support. The product line is built for retailers' private label brands and designed to outperform national brands in taste, function, and shelf presence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Island City Kombucha: The company's only in-house craft brand offering kombucha products. Built by the same team behind private label programs trusted by national retailers.

Products and services

• Traditional Kombucha (Private Label) Raw, unpasteurized kombucha brewed traditionally with USDA Organic certification, designed as a private label offering for retailers with fully customizable flavors and packaging formats.
• Pre+Probiotic Functional Soda (Private Label) Clean-label functional soda with plant-based fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics for gut health, delivering up to 9g of fiber and just 5g of sugar per can, USDA Organic, offered as a private label product for retailers.
• Traditional Tepache (Private Label) Naturally low-sugar, lightly carbonated fermented pineapple beverage with real pineapple and probiotic cultures, offered as a private label product for retailers.
• Shelf Stable Organic Teas (Private Label) Organic teas brewed from real tea leaves and preserved through gentle pasteurization, delivering long ambient shelf life without cold-chain requirements, offered as a private label product for retailers.
• Functional Energy Drinks (Private Label) Energy drinks combining clean caffeine with nootropics such as L-theanine and lion's mane, plus live probiotics for gut support, designed as a private label product for retailers.
• Sparkling Teas & Seltzers with Adaptogens (Private Label) Sparkling teas and seltzers brewed with organic teas, functional herbs, and clinically studied adaptogens for focus, calm, and balance, offered as a private label product for retailers.
• Island City Kombucha (In-House Brand) The company's only in-house craft kombucha brand, sold through retail partners and offered in multiple flavors including Blueberry, Strawberry, Sweet Peach, Hibiscus Mint, Pear, and Elderberry Wellness.
• Custom Formulas (R&D and Product Development) In-house R&D service that builds clean-label, scalable fermented beverages from concept through commercial formulation for retailer private label customers.
• Packaging Design & Branding In-house design agency offering strategic brand positioning, packaging design, and retail merchandising for retailer private label brands.
• Commercialization Services End-to-end launch support including process control, quality assurance, slotting strategy, and promotional planning to bring private label beverages to retail shelf.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kombucha Brewers InternationalcoreOthersActive member with a board seat on Kombucha Brewers International. Company states they are on the front lines of functional beverage and stay actively engaged in setting standards and shaping what is next for the beverage industry.
• Kombucha Brewers InternationalminorOthersMembership in industry trade organization for industry visibility and networking.
• Contract Packaging Association (CPA)minorOthersMembership in Contract Packaging Association for industry visibility.
• BevNetminorOthersMembership in BevNet for industry visibility and resources.
• Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA)minorOthersMembership in PLMA for private label industry visibility.
• Rainforest AlliancecoreOthersTea sourced through suppliers with Rainforest Alliance certified farms supporting regenerative agriculture, biodiversity protection, and low-impact cultivation.
• Fair TradecoreOthersTea sourced through Fair Trade certified farms ensuring fair wages, ethical trade practices, and community development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brew Dr. Kombucha: Craft kombucha brand with organic and functional positioning, distributed through national retail. Comparable in product portfolio (traditional kombucha, functional fermented beverages) and retail channel strategy.
• Health-Ade Kombucha: Leading craft kombucha brand with national distribution across grocery and natural channels. Comparable in fermented beverage manufacturing, functional positioning, and retail private label/brand competition.
• DrinkPak: Large-scale contract beverage manufacturer focused on energy drinks, functional beverages, and ready-to-drink products. Comparable as a B2B copacker with end-to-end capabilities targeting national retail distribution.
• Humm Kombucha: Kombucha brand that also operates private label programs for retailers. Directly comparable in fermented beverage manufacturing, retailer private label programs, and functional product positioning including pre+probiotic sodas.
• BevSource: B2B beverage contract manufacturer offering formulation, blending, and packaging services across multiple beverage categories including kombucha and functional drinks. Directly comparable as a North American copacker serving emerging beverage brands and private label programs.

Broad incumbents

• Reed's Inc. Public craft beverage company producing kombucha, ginger beers, and functional sodas under branded and private label programs. Comparable in fermented beverage manufacturing and private label capabilities across national retail.
• GT's Living Foods: Largest independent kombucha brand and category originator with broad functional beverage portfolio. Comparable as a fermentation-led functional beverage manufacturer with national retail presence, though operating primarily as a brand rather than copacker.
• Refresco: Global independent beverage copacker producing retailer private label soft drinks, juices, and functional beverages at scale. Comparable as a B2B private label manufacturer serving national retailers, though at significantly larger scale and broader category coverage.

Emerging players

• Poppi: Prebiotic soda brand that has driven mainstream adoption of functional soda at national retail. Comparable as a category-defining competitor whose success is driving retailer demand for private label alternatives that BBG supplies.
• Olipop: Prebiotic soda brand competing in the functional soda category with national retail distribution. Comparable as a competitor shaping retailer expectations for pre+probiotic functional sodas, which is a key product category for BBG.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/betterbeverage
• Instagraminstagram.com/islandcitykombucha

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BetterBeverage Group