Verde. is the top-performing non-alcoholic brand at the 2026 San Francisco Ready-to-Drink Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Kelly Egolf, Founder & CEO

Verde.® / Invictus Unlimited, LLC

(505) 821-3403

verdefood.com

Verde.® Cold-Pressed Bar Juice and Mixers is the top-performing non-alcoholic brand at the 2026 San Francisco Ready-to-Drink Competition

Albuquerque-based cold-press producer takes 9 medals for cold-pressed single-ingredient juices and cocktail mixers.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — June 29, 2026 — Verde.®, the Albuquerque-based producer of cold-pressed bar juice and cocktail mixers, today announced that nine of its products received medals at the 2026 San Francisco Ready-to-Drink Competition (SFRTDC), widely regarded as the leading competition for innovation and excellence in the ready-to-drink and craft mixer category. Verde.® earned four Gold medals, four Silver medals, and one Bronze medal, making it the top performing non-alcoholic brand in the competition.

"We're proud, honored, and honestly a little humbled to land among brands like Fever-Tree, Q Mixers, and Fresh Victor in this category,” said Founder and CEO Kelly Egolf. “Companies like that have set the bar for what non-alcoholic mixers can be, and for a small Albuquerque producer to earn nine medals right alongside them is a huge moment for our team."

The San Francisco Ready-to-Drink Competition is produced by The Tasting Alliance, the world's foremost authority in blind beverage evaluation with more than 40 years of competition history. Products are evaluated by a distinguished panel of industry judges on taste, balance, creativity, and craftsmanship. Earning recognition at the SFRTDC places Verde. among the most respected craft beverage producers in the country.

Medal Results for Verde.® Cold-Pressed Bar Juice & Mixers

Verde.® products are available nationally through broadline foodservice distributors like Sysco, US Foods, and Performance Food Group, and regional and specialty distributors for foodservice operators. The full product line spans 100% single-origin citrus and tropical juices, craft cocktail mixers, and lemonade bases, all sold in 1-liter foodservice format.

Verde Food is a New Mexico True Certified producer headquartered at 5600 Venice Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113. For wholesale inquiries, distributor information, or product samples, visit verdefood.com.

About Verde.®

Produced entirely in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Verde.® is a brand owned by Invictus Unlimited, LLC. Under the manufacturing name of New Mexico Fresh Foods, the company’s products are never heat-treated, made from whole fresh fruit, and delivered through broadline distributors to bars, restaurants, and hospitality operators nationwide. Verde.® saves operators money on fresh-squeezing fruit for craft cocktails by eliminating labor and waste.

About The Tasting Alliance

Founded in 1980, the San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC) set the gold standard for professional wine evaluation, establishing the rigorous blind judging process that The Tasting Alliance continues to uphold across all its competitions. For over four decades, it has remained a trusted authority, celebrating wines from around the world and helping brands gain credibility, visibility, and consumer trust. The judging panels are made up of active industry professionals, sommeliers, buyers, and tastemakers.

The San Francisco Ready-to-Drink Competition launched in 2022 in response to the explosive growth of the RTD market, reflecting consumers’ increasing demand for convenience, quality, and innovation. From classic cocktails and hard seltzers to cutting-edge creations featuring hemp and alternative ingredients, the competition celebrates the full spectrum of ready-to-enjoy beverages and mixers. With expert judges evaluating taste, balance, and creativity, this event highlights the best in a rapidly evolving category that continues to redefine the drinking experience.

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