Kwik Shop Stores Stock First Organic Drink Line

HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- The Kroger Co.'s Kwik Shop stores are carrying a new organic drink line called MADE, and the convenience store chain doesn't have to go very far to stock the shelves.

Hutchinson, Kan.-based Kwik Shop and Arkansas City, Kan.-based beverage manufacturer KanPak LLC collaborated to introduce the new line of USDA-certified organic beverages into the stores. MADE Drinks are produced, packaged and shipped from Arkansas City to Kwik Shop's distribution centers, according to an announcement by the companies.

"We are thrilled to use an organic drink made right here in the Sunflower State and offer it to our on-the-go shoppers who want a delicious, environmentally responsible option," said Dennis Abshier, senior category manager for Kwik Shop Inc. "The fact that we can source it from a neighboring company is a huge bonus."

MADE is the first organic drink line to be carried by Kwik Shop. With a combination of organic green tea and fruit juices, it is a unique beverage option for customers who want something that tastes good, but also is produced with a conscience. KanPak said it packages the drink aseptically, which allows it to be bottled in a way that does not require refrigeration, so energy is saved.

"KanPak clearly has achieved international recognition, [and] it's a great feather in their caps to have a product produced in [their] backyard available at local stores," stated Charley Snell, founder of Chicago-based MADE Drinks Co. "Every penny a manufacturer can save is a price break passed on to the customer, and aseptic beverages are one way retailers are finding efficiencies."

Beginning June 1, several flavors of MADE Drinks became available at most Kwik Shop locations in Kansas. Additionally, the beverages will be available at stores in Nebraska and Iowa.

Kwik Shop is one of five U.S. convenience store divisions operated by The Kroger Co.