Long Island Iced Tea Corp. Expands Southern Distribution With
Empire Distributor Partnership
Long Island Iced Tea(R) Now Sold Through Empire in Georgia,
North Carolina & Tennessee
HICKSVILLE, NY-(Marketwired - Sep 26, 2016) - Long Island Iced
Tea Corp. (NASDAQ: LTEA) (the "Company"), a growth-oriented company
focused on the ready-to-drink ("RTD") tea segment in the beverage
industry, today announced that its beverages are now sold through
Empire Distributors, Inc. ("Empire"), which services over 8,000
accounts across Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Philip Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated,
"We are thrilled to begin this new partnership with Empire as we
continue to broaden our presence in the Southeast. Empire is a
premier distributor and with its vast network will help us to
further solidify our presence in the region, reinforcing the
validity of our strategy to progress from distributors to regional
chains to national chains."
Jimmy Tryon, Retail Wine Division Manager of Empire
Distributors, stated, "Long Island Iced Tea is the perfect
complement to our company's ever growing non-alcoholic portfolio.
We are thrilled to launch this brand in the Georgia market. It is a
quality product and will surely make an impact here in the south
where we certainly love our tea and are looking for a healthier
choice."
The Company recently participated in the Empire trade show that
was held on September 21, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. Long Island
Iced Tea is a RTD tea that will be available through Empire in 20
ounce bottles.
About Empire Distributors, Inc.
Empire Distributors, Inc. is a leader in the distribution of
spirits, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. The Company
currently serves the states of Georgia, North Carolina and
Tennessee. It employs 800 people and distributes over 10,000 SKUs.
They service over 8,000 accounts including Wal-Mart, Kroger,
Publix, Food Lion, Winn-Dixie and Food Depot. Empire is a wholly
owned subsidiary of McLane Company, Inc. Empire was founded in 1940
in Atlanta and sold to McLane in 2010. For more information, visit
Empire's website at www.empiredist.com.
About McLane Company, Inc.
McLane is a $48 billion supply chain services leader, providing
grocery and foodservice supply chain solutions for convenience
stores, mass merchants, drug stores and chain restaurants
throughout the United States. McLane, through McLane Grocery,
McLane Foodservice and wholly owned subsidiary, Meadowbrook Meat
Company, Inc., (MBM), operates 80 distribution centers across the
U.S. and one of the nation's largest private fleets. The company
buys, sells and delivers more than 50,000 different consumer
products to nearly 90,000 locations across the U.S. In addition,
McLane provides alcoholic beverage distribution through its wholly
owned subsidiary, Empire Distributors, Inc. McLane is a wholly
owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK) and employs more
than 20,000 teammates. For more information, visit McClane's
website at www.mclaneco.com.
About Long Island Iced Tea Corp.
Headquartered in Long Island, New York, Long Island Iced Tea
Corp. operates in the ready-to-drink tea segment of the beverage
industry. The Company has developed non-alcoholic, premium iced tea
bottled beverages made with quality ingredients that are offered at
an affordable price. The Company is currently organized around its
flagship brand Long Island Iced Tea, a premium, ready-to-drink iced
tea sold primarily on the East Coast of the United States through a
network of regional chains and distributors. The Company's website
is www.longislandicedtea.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes statements of the Company's
expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs that constitute
"forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and are intended to come within the safe
harbor protection provided by those sections. These statements,
which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to the discussion of
the Company's business strategies and its expectations concerning
future operations, margins, sales, new products and brands,
potential joint ventures, potential acquisitions, expenses,
profitability, liquidity and capital resources and to analyses and
other information that are based on forecasts of future results and
estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements include
any statement that does not directly relate to a historical or
current fact. You can also identify these and other forward-looking
statements by the use of such words as "may," "will," "should,"
"expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "thinks,"
"estimates," "seeks," "predicts," "could," "projects," "potential"
and other similar terms and phrases, including references to
assumptions. These forward looking statements are made based on
expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting the
Company and are subject to uncertainties, risks and factors
relating to its operations and business environments, all of which
are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond its control,
that could cause its actual results to differ materially from those
matters expressed or implied by these forward looking statements.
These risks include its history of losses and expectation of
further losses, its ability to expand its operations in both new
and existing markets, its ability to develop or acquire new brands,
its relationships with distributors, the success of its marketing
activities, the effect of competition in its industry and economic
and political conditions generally, including the current economic
environment and markets. More information about these and other
factors are described in the reports the Company files with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to
the discussions contained under the caption "Risk Factors." When
considering these forward looking statements, you should keep in
mind the cautionary statements in this press release and the
reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time,
and the Company cannot predict those events or how they may affect
it. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward looking
statements after the date of this press release as a result of new
information, future events or developments, except as required by
the federal securities laws.
Contact Information
Contacts: For Investors Phil Thomas Long Island Iced Tea Corp.
1-855-542-2832 info@longislandteas.com