US influencer and entrepreneur Kylie Jenner has followed her sister Kendall into beverage alcohol with the launch of Sprinter, a ready-to-drink (RTD) brand.
The vodka-based 4.5% abv soda RTD – which comes in four variants: black cherry; peach; grapefruit; and lime – will be launched “nationwide” in the US on 21 March. The RTDs are being sold in an eight-can variety pack at an SRP of $19.99.
“Sprinter is my answer to the growing consumer demand for quality canned cocktails. We’re adding to a market dominated by only a few players with an incredibly delicious vodka soda in a can,” Jenner said.
A spokesperson for Sprinter said the "primary" distributors for the product in the US are Reyes, Republic National Distributing Co., Breakthru and Crescent Crown.
The drink was designed by Chandra Richter, founder of the beverage consultancy firm Richter Beverage Solutions. Richter has been named as Sprinter’s head of production, development and operations. It will be produced in the US at an undisclosed facility.
“It’s been such a pleasure developing Sprinter with Kylie,” Richter said. “We held numerous tastings over the past year to ensure each of our four flavours are as natural and true-to-fruit as possible.”
A spokesperson for Sprinter told Just Drinks the brand was focusing on the US.
Kylie’s sister Kendall launched a Tequila offering in 2021 with her 818 Tequila brand.
Named after Kendall Jenner’s area code in California, 818 Tequila offers three expressions: a blanco, a reposado and an añejo.
Last year, 818 Tequila was launched in the UK as the brand undertook international expansion into Europe.
Speaking exclusively to Just Drinks Mike Novy, the president and COO of 818 Tequila, said the company is working on other markets in Europe.
“We launched in London and we’re working our way across the UK, so we’ll continue to do that. There’s a lot of work to be done on that for sure,” Novy said.
