Company: Talking Rain Beverage Company, Seattle, WA
Entry Submitted By: 5WPR
Company Description: Founded in 1987 in Preston, WA, Talking Rain is an industry leader when it comes to creating and promoting brands using innovative ingredients and ideas. Bold taste and refreshment made the company’s flavored water brand, Sparkling ICE, one of the fastest-growing beverages in the U.S.
Nomination Category: Management Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Executive of the Year - Food & Beverage

Nomination Title: Kevin Klock, President and CEO

Tell the story about what this nominated executive has achieved since January 1, 2014 (up to 650 words). Describe the impact he or she has had on your organization. Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms.

Kevin Klock, President and CEO of Talking Rain Beverage Company, has more than 21 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. He has helped lead Talking Rain to its most successful period in the history of the 27-year-old company, establishing the brand as one of the world’s fastest-growing companies.

When Kevin was appointed CEO of Talking Rain, his vision was simple. Instead of spending investor dollars to create another new product, he wanted to focus solely on SPARKLING ICE, the company’s flavored, zero-calorie sparkling water that already had strong margins and a solid following in the Northwest. This was a different direction for a company whose entrepreneurial spirit had led to frequent new product introductions and changes in ingredients, branding packaging, and more. But after a few failed attempts at launching new products across multiple categories (including vitamin-enriched beverages, oxygenated water, kids beverages and more), Kevin knew something needed to change. Following in the footsteps of competitors wasn’t the answer, but rather refining and perfecting a product line already in existence was.

Making the decision to shift focus and resources to one brand was, for Talking Rain, the right move and created a jump in sales of $25 million in 2010 to more than $500 million in 2014.

Recently, Klock was recognized for his innovative approach to building a brand, named as BevNet’s 2014 “Person of the Year” and Ernst & Young’s EY 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year™ for the Northwest region.

Under Klock’s leadership, SPARKLING ICE established a U.S. Direct Store Delivery (DSD) distribution network comprised of more than 252 distributors, bringing SPARKLING ICE beverages to grocery stores, drug stores, C-stores and other retail and non-traditional outlets in all 50 states. This unique system, comprised of leading distributors, is the first of its kind for a private beverage company since the sale of Vitaminwater and will serve as the foundation for continuing the explosive growth of SPARKLING ICE beverages in the U.S. The completed network includes a combination of Anheuser-Busch, Miller Coors and independent distributors specializing in building brands.

To continue on the brand’s path of rapid growth, Klock plans to build a stronger convenience store (C-store) presence in 2015 and beyond, currently in the works via retail programs developed specifically for C-stores, as well as marketing campaigns directed to consumers to raise awareness to SPARKLING ICE’s availability in the channel.

Additionally, in the past year, Klock has also expanded SPARKLING ICE presence internationally with new distribution deals in Canada, Mexico, Australia and the Caribbean.

With no signs of slowing down, SPARKLING ICE’s continued success will be spearheaded by Klock through ongoing category innovation and placing product in new areas and aisles of existing retail partners, for example, a recently introduced line extension of SPARKLING ICE Teas. Launched nationally in early 2015, SPARKLING ICE Teas are the only zero calorie, sparkling iced teas on the market.

Under Klock’s leadership, SPARKLING ICE disrupted its category, and now with a formula for continued success in place comprised of an entrepreneurial team, new channels, international expansion, authentic partnerships and CSR, Sparkling ICE is poised for exponential growth.

In bullet-list form, briefly summarize up to ten (10) of the chief accomplishments of this nominated executive since the beginning of 2014.

• Klock was at the helm as Talking Rain’s branded business grew 500 percent in revenue in his first two years after taking over as President and CEO
• BevNet’s “Person of the Year” 2014 award winner for the Northwest region
• Ernst & Young’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ 2014 award winner for the Northwest region
• Under Klock’s leadership, SPARKLING ICE® created a U.S. Direct Store Delivery (DSD) distribution network comprised of more than 252 distributors, bringing SPARKLING ICE beverages to grocery stores, drug stores, C-stores and other retail and non-traditional outlets in all 50 states
• Klock made significant strides towards the company’s goal of establishing SPARKLING ICE as an international beverage brand; in 2014-2015, the brand expanded via new distribution deals in Canada, Mexico, Australia and the Caribbean
• Klock’s decision to shift focus and resources on to the SPARKLING ICE brand was, for Talking Rain, the right move