The soft drink market is tough, you are fighting against two huge incumbents with a lot of power and money. Being purchased be one of them after you achieve a c

The soft drink market is tough, you are fighting against two huge incumbents with a lot of power and money. Being purchased be one of them after you achieve a certain level of (local) success is one of the few options for a successful exit. I've worked with a small soda company that folded after a dozen years. The incumbents did everything from buy their space out from their retailers to scoring a monopoly with towns for public areas and schools. Selling low-margin (often with seasonal swings) products that have to be kept cool, with a limited shelf-life, and overcoming the retail and distribution hurdles is an achievement.