We love our producers, suppliers and vendors and we think most of them have some pretty interesting stories behind their products too. We’re sharing some of our favorites here in an ongoing series opens in a new tab.
Todd Berardi was always a work-hard, play-hard kind of a guy. As an investment banker, technology salesperson, skier and mountain biker, he was consuming energy drinks by day and by night, but he grew tired of the syrupy-sweet taste that never really quenched his thirst.
Todd longed for a refreshing drink that lived up to his standards, and when he couldn’t find one anywhere, he decided to quit his day job and invent it himself.
“In 2004, I came up with Hiball opens in a new tab because I knew there had to be a better way,” Todd says. “I wanted something more refreshing, something not syrupy, something with ingredients you can feel good about.”
Todd formulated Hiball Sparkling Energy Water with no artificial ingredients, zero calories, no sodium, no sugar and no sweeteners. The Hiball energy boost comes from a blend of organic caffeine extracted from organic green and black tea leaves (derived through the process of decaffeinating the tea), organic ginseng, organic guarana and B vitamins.
Hiball also recently added two sparkling, juice-based flavors made with the same organic energy blend, organic juices and Fair Trade sugar.
Hiball is a close-knit team of three based in San Francisco, CA. Soon after he began selling Hiball, Todd met Dan Craytor, who was working for a beer distributor. The two became fast friends and Dan joined the company as director of sales. Directly after founding the company, Todd hired graphic designer Alyssa Warnock, who created Hiball’s logo and most recently the cool aluminum cans that change color when the temperature drops below 45 degrees. (Todd and Alyssa were married in 2006 and are now raising twins!)
“We’ve been doing this for six years now, and what I love most about my job is the fan mail,” Todd says. “People are amazed that an energy drink can taste this good and refreshing — without calories, sugar or artificial ingredients.”
What do you love about Hiball?
