When life hands you lemons, there’s only one thing to do – celebrate National Lemonade Day! This citrusy holiday is a special occasion in Arizona, where lemonade proudly holds the title of the official state drink.
AZ Lemonade Stand, a drink company founded by Arizona food and beverage professionals Tom D’Ambrosio and Kyle Hollenbeck, is marking a milestone of its own. The business was born from a passion for crafting the perfect anytime beverage, and after two years of perfecting its concept and recipes, AZ Lemonade Stand launched in August 2022. By the end of that year, it had sold 1,698 jars of lemonade, mainly through its food trucks and at Aioli Gourmet Burgers.
By the end of 2023, sales skyrocketed to 489,000 jars. On August 20, 2024 – at the two-year mark – AZ Lemonade Stand is on track to finish 2024 with an astounding one million jars sold.
“I’m thrilled and proud of our success over the past two years, and I can’t wait to see where the next years will take us,” D’Ambrosio said.
AZ Lemonade Stand offers a flavor for everyone’s palate, with 15 unique flavors ranging from the classic lemon – to strawberry kiwi – to the distinctly Arizonan prickly pear and huckleberry. Each 32-ounce drink is packaged in a signature glass mason jar.
“I cannot stress enough how excited we are about this growth. We have sold over one million jars and are in over 1,000 stores across Arizona,” Hollenbeck said. “We can not wait to see what the future holds for us – this is a legacy for our kids!”
Tom and Kyle’s entrepreneurial spirit is a force to be reckoned with. In the past decade, the duo has launched nearly a dozen food truck concepts, two commercial kitchen commissaries, and three restaurant locations.
AZ Lemonade Stand signed a distribution deal with Hensley Beverage Company earlier this year, further accelerating their brand growth across Arizona. Most recently, they became the official concessions partner of the Phoenix Rising.
Community support has been the heart of AZ Lemonade Stand’s success. The company gives back to the community through charity sponsorships, limited-flavor releases, and support for groups like #LOVEPUP, JoyBus, Malama Maui, and more.
“Community support and giving back have always been essential to our business practices. We’re thankful to our local community for supporting our businesses, so we give back as much as possible,” Hollenbeck said.
AZ Lemonade Stand beverages can be found at its brick-and-mortar location, 739 E. Dunlap in Phoenix, or one of over 1,000 retail locations across the state, including AJ’s Fine Foods, Aioli Gourmet Burgers and Basha’s Grocery Stores. For more information, visit azlemonadestand.com.
