Fastest Growing Company Carbliss
Industry: Food & Beverage
Led by: Adam Kroener, CEO
Headquarters: Plymouth
Number of Employees: 80
drinkcarbliss.com
Few Wisconsin brands have become as instantly iconic as 100-calorie Carbliss, the flavor-packed, ready‑to‑drink cocktail invented by Adam and Amanda Kroener in their Plymouth kitchen in 2019.
And in a state known for beloved beer brands and innovation in the alcoholic beverage market, Carbliss still stands out from the crowd as one of Wisconsin’s best spirit stories. It has been crowned the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Food & Beverage Company for two‑straight years, and across all industries it was Inc.’s seventh‑fastest growing company in the nation in 2024. Among their many accolades, the Kroeners were named 2025 Midwest Entrepreneurs of the Year by Ernst & Young.
Vice President Amanda Kroener says that, despite what feels like a Carbliss craze, the company is taking a slow, methodical approach to growth. The product is now available in 19 states, and after innovating with drinks featuring vodka and tequila, Carbliss is looking into expanding its offerings to include a malt‑based beverage in a larger can.
“Our biggest growth challenge right now is determining the speed we want to grow and where we choose to distribute to next,” she says. “We have continued to build out our team faster and stronger so we can handle faster distribution growth. The last thing we want to do is grow too fast and burn out our team or not uphold a promise made to a customer.”
“Our biggest growth challenge right now is determining the speed we want to grow and where we choose to distribute to next.”
— Amanda Kroener, Carbliss Vice President
Honoring commitments is a cornerstone of Carbliss’ success, Amanda Kroener says: “We do what we say we are going to do, plus a little more.”
Unwavering attention to customer service; personalized, integrated marketing; and rock-solid, trust-based relationships with distribution partners are prime examples and have translated into new partnerships and raving fans.
Insight’s August 2024 cover story, “Juiced Up!,” chronicles the brand loyalty Carbliss has achieved and opens with an anecdote about a woman named Terry who has a can of Carbliss tattooed on her arm.
It’s the type of publicity that literally can’t be bought and exemplifies the personal relationships upon which Carbliss has grown its brand. CEO Adam Kroener recounted the experience of meeting Terry on Insight’s NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast in August.
“We don’t pay influencers because I don’t feel they’re ever authentic,” he shared on the episode. “This thing with Terry, that’s a meaningful relationship.”
