Agreed! but just to be certain the 20,000 outlets means there are 20,000 stores that have agreed to sell product if products are delivered there. Building distribution is a multi step process. I like the way they are doing it by first getting retail outlets to agree then getting distributors signed up to deliver product to those stores. Product is not in all of those outlets though as that takes time to get distributor relationships in place and many may not sign up until there is more than just lemonade to deliver. Every square foot on their trucks count. Its hard for me to believe that they got that many retailers to commit really on just lemonade. The CW will help but my guess is that those retailers really like the idea of the unique function beverages AND the potential for expanded product line with CW and other beverages. If management didn't have the track record they have I don't think they would have gotten that many stores to sign up. I also think that if the soda industry were strong, they wouldn't have been able to lead with lemonade. Stores want the new thing.
Its taken them longer to get the functionals right which I believe is why they made the point of stating that all of their retailers who signed up are still with them.
If they screw the pooch on the functional again, I for one will be getting out. They must execute on the flagship product line. Success with that will create untold success with the other product lines as Pulse will become a household name. I just hope they don't get too cute with the reformulations of Pulse functionals. As an example, the cucumber/grape flavor seemed a strange bust. Give people straightforward flavors that they already know and already like in flashy containers and the uniquely 'good for you nature' of the product will do the rest. If they do it right Pulse functionals will be better and ultimately bigger than Vitamin Water....IMO. Imagine that.
