Boring Company

Arizona Beverages USA (Don Vultaggio)

Boring Company investigates the inner workings of overlooked businesses and founders within bland industries and the reasons behind their success. Today, we will discuss AriZona Beverages USA, a company known for its $0.99 teas and the Arnold Palmer beverage. The founder of AriZona is Don Vultaggio. According to the latest Forbes report, he has a net worth of ~$6.5 billion. Yes, with a "B". To put this into context, he's worth more than figures like Magic Johnson, Bill Ackman, and Nelson Peltz (based on Forbes)... Don's success is a testament to wholly owning a great, scalable business, and his journey has plenty of entrepreneurial lessons. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed researching Don's story. Inquiries: boringcompanypodcast@gmail.com Sources: https://www.aegisdentalnetwork.com/idt/2018/08/outside-perspective-don-vultaggio-and-reinventing-a-business. https://www.forbes.com/sites/georgebradt/2015/07/01/how-to-turn-seasonality-into-a-competitive-advantage/?sh=2a57173449b1. https://www.brandnarrative.fm/from-0-to-1-million-cans-per-day-the-arnold-palmer-tea-story/. https://www.fastcompany.com/90926652/john-ferolito-made-arizona-ice-tea-ubiquitous-now-he-wants-to-make-your-favorite-summer-drink-sexy. https://www.foodandwine.com/news/why-arizona-iced-teas-price-stays-at-99-cents. Conrad, Jennifer. “A Business Built to Last.” Inc., vol. 46, no. 1, 2024, p. 20. EBSCOhost. Accessed 16 April 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8588011/ https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-04-12/az-iced-tea-inflation-99-cents. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/13/arizona-iced-tea-ceo-vows-to-keep-99-cent-price-tag.html. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMUZ2sVjLfY. https://nypost.com/2014/10/13/arizona-iced-tea-heir-is-no-8-on-delinquent-taxpayers-list/ http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/ferolito-vultaggio-sons-history/. Hunter-Hart, Monica, and William Baldwin. “Mr. Tea.” Forbes, vol. 206, no. 6, 2023, pp. 32-34. Business Source Complete. Accessed 16 April 2024. https://www.rd.com/article/arizona-iced-tea-99-cents/ https://www.wavy.com/news/national/arizona-iced-tea-is-still-99-cents-in-this-economy-how-is-that-possible/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-3807730/Arnold-Palmer-earned-40m-final-year-700m-fortune-King-built-empire.html. https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2017/10/17/inside-arizona-iced-tea-how-don-vultaggio-beat-snapple-became-a-billionaire-and-nearly-lost-it-all/?sh=45fd9faa68fd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uthXcJ6Y-CY https://humanprogress.org/arizona-iced-tea-has-been-99-cents-in-the-u-s-for-30-years/ https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/how-raising-arizona-iced-tea-ruined-friendship-born-in-beer-13118033 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-arizonaicedtea-trial/judge-rules-arizona-iced-tea-co-founder-son-owed-1-billion-for-buyout-idUKKCN0I31TS20141014/ https://www.npr.org/2022/06/28/1107185064/inflation-arizona-tea-food-costs-dollar-slice-costco-hotdog-loss-leaders https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/ge26p6/i_am_don_vultaggio_founder_chairman_of_arizona/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/88735/why-arizona-iced-tea-cheaper-water Roth, Daniel. “Just call us cockroaches.” Forbes, vol. 157, no. 15, 1996, pp. 58-58. Business Source Complete. https://sports.yahoo.com/news/arnold-palmer-finally-making-money-214100061--golf.html https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/03/06/arnold-palmer-iced-tea-20-year-anniversary/ https://www.mashed.com/873625/the-untold-truth-of-arizona-beverages/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taste-radio/id1109466665?i=1000424686530 https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/27/business-food/arizona-tea-name-origin/index.html ‍Note: This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.

QuikTrip (Cadieux Family)

Boring Company investigates the inner workings of overlooked businesses and founders within bland industries and the reasons behind their success. Today, we will be discussing QuikTrip (QT), a juggernaut in the convenience store business. QuikTrip is the 17th largest private company by revenue and a phenomenally run business. Despite this impressive feat, the success and learning lessons from QuikTrip are rarely discussed and I hope this episode sheds light on QT and its founder's greatness. Inquiries: boringcompanypodcast@gmail.com Sources: From Lucky to Smart: Leadership Lessons from QuikTrip Hardcover – September 25, 2008 60 Years QT Established 1958  https://www.quiktrip.com/timeline/ [https://www.quiktrip.com/timeline/] https://www.quiktrip.com/qt-opens-2nd-location-in-little-rock/ [https://www.quiktrip.com/qt-opens-2nd-location-in-little-rock/] https://www.quiktrip.com/arkansas-welcomes-first-qt/ [https://www.quiktrip.com/arkansas-welcomes-first-qt/] https://www.quiktrip.com/major-milestone-quiktrip-opens-1000th-store-nationwide/ [https://www.quiktrip.com/major-milestone-quiktrip-opens-1000th-store-nationwide/] https://www.quiktrip.com/quiktrip-expands-to-17th-state-with-new-store-in-clinton-mississippi/ [https://www.quiktrip.com/quiktrip-expands-to-17th-state-with-new-store-in-clinton-mississippi/] https://www.quiktrip.com/hello-chicago/ [https://www.quiktrip.com/hello-chicago/] https://www.quiktrip.com/quiktrip-opens-new-tulsa-location-powered-by-amazons-just-walk-out-technology/ [https://www.quiktrip.com/quiktrip-opens-new-tulsa-location-powered-by-amazons-just-walk-out-technology/] https://www.quiktrip.com/quiktrip-arrives-in-the-mile-high-city/ [https://www.quiktrip.com/quiktrip-arrives-in-the-mile-high-city/] https://www.theodysseyonline.com/truth-about-quiktrip [https://www.theodysseyonline.com/truth-about-quiktrip] https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/quiktrips-investment-in-retail-employees-pays-off [https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/quiktrips-investment-in-retail-employees-pays-off] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOqafTtORvE&ab_channel=KUMediaProductions [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOqafTtORvE&ab_channel=KUMediaProductions] https://www.forbes.com/lists/largest-private-companies/?sh=116713dabac4 [https://www.forbes.com/lists/largest-private-companies/?sh=116713dabac4] https://tulsaworld.com/life-entertainment/magazine/tulsa-trailblazers-qt-co-founder-burt-holmes-lives-in-the-middle-with-even-keeled-disposition/article_6613bfbe-f561-11eb-af5d-dbf61b345720.html [https://tulsaworld.com/life-entertainment/magazine/tulsa-trailblazers-qt-co-founder-burt-holmes-lives-in-the-middle-with-even-keeled-disposition/article_6613bfbe-f561-11eb-af5d-dbf61b345720.html] https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/quiktrips-1-000-store-success-story-began-with-one-store-on-a-closed-road-in/article_c14dc666-dfb8-11ed-be10-836a30aadc00.html [https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/quiktrips-1-000-store-success-story-began-with-one-store-on-a-closed-road-in/article_c14dc666-dfb8-11ed-be10-836a30aadc00.html] https://voicesofoklahoma.com/interviews/cadieux-chester/ [https://voicesofoklahoma.com/interviews/cadieux-chester/] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2rlb5kKziI&ab_channel=TheLeapTV [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2rlb5kKziI&ab_channel=TheLeapTV] ‍Note: This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.