Wisconsin-based Carbliss has entered South Carolina as its 25th state of distribution, deploying 46 team members for a coordinated two-day launch across 11 territories served by seven distribution partners. The rollout places the zero-sugar, zero-carb ready-to-drink cocktail brand in bars, restaurants, and retail accounts statewide from day one.
The Launch Playbook
The activation model reflects what Carbliss describes as its standard market-entry discipline: pairing a large internal field team with local distributors to accelerate account-level relationships before the brand's presence can erode into anonymity. Adam Kroener, co-founder of Carbliss, framed it plainly: "We don't just enter a market and expect the product to sell itself. We show up. We work alongside our distributors, get into accounts, and introduce people to what makes Carbliss different. Sending 46 of our people to South Carolina is exactly how we believe a launch should be done."
Supporting the long-term build is Brian Presley, appointed as South Carolina Market Manager. Presley will serve as the brand's on-the-ground liaison for distributors, retailers, and on-premise operators — bars, restaurants, and hospitality venues — ensuring continuity well beyond the opening activation. For operators interested in carrying the brand, Presley is the direct local contact for navigating distribution partnerships and securing product availability.
RTD Growth Context
Carbliss's aggressive state-by-state expansion reflects broader momentum in the premium RTD cocktail segment, which has become one of the fastest-growing categories in both on-premise and off-premise channels. The brand positions its products as full-flavored cocktail alternatives at 100 calories with zero carbohydrates and zero sugar — a profile that has resonated with health-conscious consumers looking for convenient, no-mix options at the bar or on a retail shelf.
The company has earned recognition as the No. 1 Food & Beverage Company on the Inc. 5000 list for two consecutive years, a distinction also noted by Food & Beverage Magazine in its coverage of fast-scaling CPG brands. Founded by husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Adam and Amanda Kroener in Plymouth, Wisconsin, the brand has scaled rapidly through a distribution-partner model that now spans a quarter of U.S. states.
For on-premise operators evaluating RTD options, the South Carolina entry underscores a growing competitive dynamic in restaurant beverage programs where ready-to-drink formats are increasingly appearing alongside traditional cocktail menus. Carbliss's localized market manager structure suggests the brand intends to build durable account relationships rather than relying solely on distributor pull-through.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
