AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As Me & the Bees Lemonade celebrates 10 years delivering premium, all-natural and purpose-driven lemonade to loyal followers across America, the company looks to a healthy future. With Founder and CEO Mikaila Ulmer dreaming like a kid to make a difference in the world, the family-owned and -operated company has grown by more than 500 percent from its humble beginnings and now ranks as the number one ready-to-drink lemonade growth brand.
Rather than celebrating with cake like most 14-year-olds, Mikaila is marking the Austin-based company's 10th anniversary by calling all bee lovers to make a tax-deductible donation to the Healthy Hive Foundation. Mikaila and Me & the Bees will match all donations made through the end of the year -up to $10,000- to her non-profit that helps save the bee population. She announced this challenge while speaking at MogulX, the modern growth experience conference for entrepreneurs in New York City on Saturday, September 21.
"The support we have received from our fans and bee-lievers is more than I could have dreamed of, and I dream big," said Mikaila. "Thanks to all of our customers, partners and retailers, we are set up to continue to scale to make an even greater impact."
As Makaila has grown, so has the company and so have the company's efforts to save the honeybee. Starting today, Me & the Bees is further scaling its business while also paying tribute to its home state. Texas-based H-E-B has started offering Me & the Bees' new Classic flavor lemonade in its more than 3,500 checkout area grab-and-go coolers, for a special introductory price of $1.99.
"I knew Mikaila was smart from the start. The continuous growth of her company has been so impressive and has become an inspiration to other budding entrepreneurs out there," said Brand Consultant and "The People's Shark," Daymond John. "Me & The Bees continues to outperform in the beverage category while meeting the needs of today's health conscious consumer. Cheers to another 10 years and beyond!"
Me and the Bees' four signature "fun yet functional" lemonade flavors of Ginger, Iced Tea, Mint and Prickly Pear have been recently reformulated, resulting in up to 25 percent less sugar and 33 percent fewer calories without compromising the original family recipe's flavor. Mikaila will also launch her new beeswax lip balm product in five flavors at select retailers, with 10 percent of net proceeds supporting the Healthy Hive Foundation. It is currently available at meandthebees.com.
Deepening her relationship with Microsoft, Mikaila will now begin using cutting edge cloud technology to monitor bees' health and movement and will work with schools on STEM projects. She is working with San Francisco State University on a research project to better understand the impact of recent wildfires on honeybees.
"Microsoft is passionate about encouraging Generation Z to embrace the power of technology to improve our planet and quality of life on it," said Asta Roseway, principal research designer at Microsoft Research. "By using technology, dedication, and the kind of dream-big ideas only kids could have, Mikaila is proof that—just like the bees—you're never too small to make a difference."
From 2009 starting with two bee stings to 2019, Mikaila:
- Got stung by two bees in one week, which caused her to do some research to learn that bees are dying and there was a need help to save their populations
- Created a honey-sweetened lemonade using her Great Granny Helen's recipe and started selling it on her front lawn and by participating in Acton Children's Business Fair and Lemonade Day Austin, both of which spark entrepreneurship in children.
- Got her product picked up by a local pizza parlor and then by Whole Foods Market, which awarded her a local producer loan to further grow her business
- Spoke at hundreds of events ranging from small beekeeping classes in Austin to introducing President Obama at the United State of Women Summit
- Appeared on Shark Tank where Daymond John committed to serve as a mentor and invest $60,000
- Received angel funding from 10 current and retired NFL football players resulting in over $1M in investments
- Was named one of TIME Magazine's 30 Most Influential Teenagers in 2017
- Reformulated her lemonades to meet demand for healthier beverages, resulting in up to 25 percent less sugar and 33 percent less calories
- Advocated for Texas HB 234, which made it legal in 2019 to have a lemonade stand in front of homes
- Formed a strategic partnership with Microsoft to embrace technology to help save the bees
- Created the Healthy Hive Foundation dedicating 10 percent of the company's profits to the non-profit
- Progressed to 10th grade at St. Stephens Episcopal School in Austin where she continues to perfect her Spanish fluency and enjoys science and rock climbing
"The Small Business Administration cites that about two-thirds of companies survive two years in business, half of all businesses will survive five years, and only one-third will survive 10 years," added Mikaila. "Me & the Bees Lemonade did more than survive – it is buzzing along, and we are well poised for continued tremendous growth for the next decade to come."
About Me & the Bees Lemonade
In 2009, when Mikaila Ulmer found her Great Granny Helen's flaxseed lemonade recipe in a 1940s family cookbook, she was excited to give it a try. In 10 years, what started as a lemonade stand in a front yard in Austin, Texas has quickly grown into a national brand with distribution on more than 1500 shelves throughout the United States. Formerly known as Bee Sweet Lemonade, Me & the Bees can be found at select Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, Earth Fare, Fresh Market, Natural Grocers, and World Market stores, H-E-Bs across Texas, Kroger in Houston, at various local retailers and restaurants, and online at http://www.meandthebees.com. The purpose-driven company offers ready-to-drink premium "lemonade that tastes good and does good" in 12-ounce sustainable glass bottles in five flavors: Ginger, Iced Tea, Mint, Prickly Pear and the newly introduced Classic. The clean-label, shelf stable lemonades contain no high-fructose corn syrup, no preservatives or additives, and are made with premium ingredients including U.S. Grade-A honey, real lemon juice, and flaxseed, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Me & the Bees Lemonade seeks to help educate consumers about the bees' role in the ecosystem and the alarming decline in the bee population. It donates a percentage of net profits to the Healthy Hive Foundation, Mikaila's non-profit organization dedicated to increasing honeybee awareness and promoting safe environments where bees can thrive through research, education and preservation. "Buy a Bottle. Save a Bee."
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SOURCE Me & the Bees
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