As CEO of Lemon Perfect, Yanni Hufnagel is changing the way people drink water with this cutting-edge company that manufactures fresh lemonade and other fruit-flavored beverages. Hufnagel started the industry by touring America as a bike racer. Still, he quickly discovered that the health benefits of training with lemonade were even better than those of cycling. He founded Lemon Perfect, and from then on, it has been on an upward trajectory. The company now sells lemonade in stores across the country (including Whole Foods Market and other grocery chains), with a growing presence in Canada. It has created over 100 flavors of lemonade and fruit-based products.
- Yanni Hufnagel Insisted on an Affordable Beverage
Yes, lemonade is excellent in every way, and Hufnagel knew that other beverages would benefit from the same healthful properties. With this vision, he created a variety of flavors and began selling them wholesale to restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings and Olive Garden. In addition to the health benefits mentioned above, Hufnagel created a refreshing beverage affordable for the masses. The average Lemon Perfect sells for $1.99-a-bottle beverage, and Hufnagel knew that many people needed help to buy pre-packaged drinks from other vendors. He began selling products to grocery stores like Whole Foods, which has over 3000 locations in the U.S., but then he started selling directly to consumers online. With this growth came a need for a proper distribution system, and Hufnagel began building a national supplier network to meet the demands of his growing business.
- A Commitment to Growing a National Brand
Hufnagel saw significant potential for his business and wanted to grow it from the ground up. He wanted consumers to know they could rely on Lemon Perfect for their lemonade needs, so he has made it far more than just a beverage company. These days, the company offers much more than lemonade and fruit-flavored beverages. It has a ton of recipes that are constantly being developed and tested to create the most delicious drinks possible for consumers. Hufnagel has also built a successful franchise around his beverages, with eight different lemonade flavors, including Pink Grapefruit, Strawberry-Kiwi, Peach & Mango, and more. He offers creamsicles, lemon drops, and other frozen treats to make shopping simple for consumers. In addition, Lemon Perfect also provides a small selection of its products in grocery stores like Walmart, which is a rare feat for a small startup.