Hard Luck Candy has conquered Michigan with its flavored vodka and is looking west. The Grosse Pointe-based liquor company has recently entered the California market and has its sights set on Chicago and other major U.S. markets.
"I'd like to be in six more states by the end of the year," says
Chris George, vice president of
Hard Luck Candy.
Hard Luck Candy has come a long way since it was born in the
Hard Luck Lounge in Grosse Pointe a few years ago. In a little less than two years, it has become a common sight on the shelves of liquor stores and bars across Michigan. It is now in Michigan's Kroger, Meijer and Hollywood Market stores.
"We're in between 900 and 1,000 locations in Michigan," George says. "Six months ago we were in 600-700 locations in Michigan."
Hard Luck Candy's team of eight people is working with both local and national public relations firms to spread the word about its vodka. Its products primarily consist of Red Fish (a berry flavor), Root Beer Barrel, Orange Dream (orange and vanilla) and Lemon Drop (sweet and sour).
Source: Chris George, vice president of Hard Luck Candy
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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