Nashville-based Horticulture Co. posted 112.5% year-over-year growth in case volume through mid-2026, the company said Tuesday, as its hemp-derived THC beverages secured shelf space at five new retail chains and expanded into five additional legal-THC states.
Retail Footprint
The company has added ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Sprouts Farmers Market, BP Thorntons, Lowes Foods, and GPM Investments to a distribution roster that already includes Circle K, Total Wine & More, and Spec's Fine Wine & Spirits. Horticulture Co. now holds the position of leading hemp beverage brand by volume at Spec's and the top-selling brand across Circle K's nationwide convenience network — a channel that represents tens of thousands of U.S. doors. New state markets include Connecticut, Delaware, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Missouri, broadening the company's footprint beyond its initial Southeast base in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
The cross-channel approach — spanning liquor, convenience, specialty grocery, and e-commerce — reflects a distribution playbook increasingly common among fast-scaling functional and alternative-alcohol brands aiming to capture consumers trading away from traditional beer, wine, and spirits.
Portfolio and Celebrity Tie-Ups
The company's commercial growth is anchored by two flagship brands. Tempter's Elevated Spritz targets the alcohol-alternative occasion with 5 mg and 10 mg THC offerings across three strain-linked flavors: Citrus/Sativa, Strawberry/Hybrid, and Blueberry/Indica. The second line, IVERSON THC Craft Sodas, was developed in partnership with NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson and cannabis brand Viola; its 10 mg, 16-ounce cans carry flavor names — Bubba Chuck Berry, Cran-Apple Crossover, and 96 Nectarine — built around Iverson's personal lore. Basketball executive and cannabis entrepreneur Al Harrington is also named as a partnership in progress.
Celebrity equity has become a tangible commercial lever in the hemp-beverage segment, where brand recognition and trust signals carry disproportionate weight with retailers evaluating unproven SKUs. Horticulture Co.'s dual-athlete approach gives the portfolio visibility in both the wellness-oriented specialty channel and the high-velocity convenience tier — two audiences with different but complementary purchase drivers.
Rebekah Stevenson, Head of Packaged Beverage at Circle K, pointed to alignment on product standards as the basis for the chain's commitment. "Partnering on the national rollout of Allen Iverson's hemp beverage line alongside Tempters allows us to meet growing demand with a product that aligns with our values — innovation, quality, and safety," she said.
Market Context
The hemp-derived THC beverage category has expanded rapidly since the 2018 Farm Bill created a federal pathway for hemp products below 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, with the 2024 regulatory cycle bringing additional scrutiny alongside continued shelf-space growth. For operators and buyers tracking the convergence of cannabis and adult-beverage retail, Horticulture Co.'s Circle K and Spec's placements illustrate how the category is migrating from specialty dispensaries into mainstream off-premise channels.
Saf Sadiq, President of Horticulture Co., framed the trajectory in terms of shifting consumer preference: "As consumer preferences evolve beyond traditional alcohol, we see an opportunity to lead that transformation through great-tasting products, iconic brands, and responsible innovation that can scale nationally."
The company did not disclose absolute revenue figures or case-volume totals alongside the 112.5% growth rate.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
