OUR STORY: THE HISTORY OF Zevia®
Jessica: “For years, I was addicted to diet soda. I would drink five sodas a day. I didn’t want to drink my calories, but I’m not a water drinker - I want the fizz and pop of a soda! We spent a lot of time researching all that went into making a diet soda and tried to figure out what we could do to make it better, more natural, healthier. We learned all sorts of things about diet drinks, like phosphoric acid depletes calcium in bones, and most orange sodas are loaded with artificial food dyes. We have addressed all those issues. I felt like it took forever to finally get it in a can! And once we did, I was so excited, because it tasted great and I knew I could kick my diet soda habit with it! ZEVIA has changed my life and from what we hear from consumers, we are changing lives everyday.”
Ian: “A friend of mine introduced me to Don Thrasher. Don, from Los Angeles, had been using stevia in a soda or, as he later explained, a "dietary supplement." I had never heard of stevia and was a complete skeptic. Don suggested I research stevia myself. I learned that this amazing herb was hundreds of times sweeter than sugar yet completely natural. Don was working on what he had named "Z Cola". Don suggested we explore the possibility of working together to take his business to the next level and beyond. Don had a truly disruptive idea that would later revolutionize the beverage industry. On a personal front I was drinking at least 6 cans of Diet Coke and Fresca per day. I knew they were bad for me but I had blinders on as to their detrimental health effects. Diet soda was my guilty pleasure. But Don insisted I not ignore the health problems caused by the artificial ingredients in diet soda. Don convinced me to research aspartame and Splenda. he was right. I couldn't believe I was drinking that poison! Don convinced Derek, Jessica and I that together we could produce a better and healthier soda. Most terrific ideas never get past the "talk" stage, but with an incredible team the dream of bringing a healthy, zero calorie soda to the masses has become reality in Zevia. ”
Derek: “Aside from her nasty soda habit, Jessica and I have always lived healthy lifestyles. I participate in triathlons, and she runs marathons. It killed me that she was ingesting the chemicals in diet soda because I want to live forever with her, and the soda was the only thing standing in the way. ZEVIA started out as just a great idea, but as I saw the potential, the need, and the ability to fill that void I knew we had to make it happen. We started with laboring to find the purest most natural ingredients in the world. Stevia is an herb from the rainforest hundreds of times sweeter than sugar without calories. It was the perfect ingredient to rid diet sodas of the artificial sweeteners that bothered me so much. Building the company has been so much fun. I enjoy every part of it. I feel like we are making a difference in people’s lives.”
That’s our story, what’s yours? Let us know how YOU have kicked the diet soda habit with Zevia® - NATURE'S ANSWER TO DIET SODA™.
Chill and Enjoy!