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Arizona Beverage Company
A timeline and history of AriZona Iced Tea with visuals.
1971
John Ferolito and Don Vultaggio start Ferolito, Vultaggio & Sons as a beer distribution business in Brooklyn. They use a used Volkswagen bus and deliver discounted beer and soda to homes and stores in tough neighborhoods. They build street-level know-how from this endeavor.
1980s
The partners transition from distribution to production. They launch controversial malt liquor brands Midnight Dragon and Crazy Horse. These products generate their first significant profits while teaching them manufacturing and marketing lessons that will later shape Arizona Iced Tea.
1990
Vultaggio spots a Snapple delivery truck unloading cases and recognizes the iced tea market opportunity. Their first attempt, Wesley & Spencer tea in 16-ounce bottles, fails to differentiate from established competitors like Snapple.
1991
Vultaggio sees a 24-ounce Gatorade can and recalls delivering Schlitz malt liquor in similar large cans during his trucking days. This sparks the idea to use oversized cans to stand out against Snapple's smaller 16-ounce format.
May 1992
AriZona Iced Tea debuts with four flavors in distinctive 24-ounce cans priced at 99 cents. The name comes from Vultaggio's association of Arizona with healthy, warm environments, though he had never visited the state. Sales are immediate.
1993
AriZona expands to over 30 states with three size options. The company introduces the 20-ounce Tall Boy bottle format. Sales concentrate in four key markets: New York, New Jersey, Detroit, and Miami, reaching over 10 million cases sold.
1994
Arizona Iced Tea reaches all 50 states with annual sales hitting $300 million. The company relocates its headquarters from Brooklyn to Woodbury, New York. After the move, they launch Arizona Cowboy Cocktails with flavors like Mucho Mango and Strawberry Punch, plus lemonade and chocolate drinks.
1995
In a move to expand beyond original tea options, Arizona introduces its ambitious Soda Shop line featuring Chocolate Cola, Vanilla Cola, Chocolate Covered Cherry Cola, and Root Beer Float in 19-ounce bottles. The company also adds ginseng-flavored tea in cobalt-blue bottles.
1996
AriZona launches its Green Tea iced tea, which quickly becomes a top seller and establishes a new category for the brand. The company also experiments with Mississippi Mud beer, but faces declining market share in the competitive beverage landscape.
1997
AriZona discontinues its carbonated beverage production after poor performance, refocusing on its core iced tea business. The company begins selling through national retail chains, marking a shift from independent distributors to major commercial partnerships.
1998-2012
Legal disputes emerge between founders Ferolito and Vultaggio over company control and sale rights. After years of court battles, Vultaggio buys out Ferolito, maintaining company independence and employee security while preserving the brand's direction.
2001
AriZona strikes a licensing deal to produce Arnold Palmer Iced Tea. A half-tea, half-lemonade blend. Initially unsuccessful, the product eventually becomes a major revenue driver, reaching $100 million in sales by 2010.
2018
After 25 years without advertising, AriZona begins its first marketing initiatives on its anniversary. The company launches collaborations with Adidas for 99-cent sneakers and creates branded magazine content.
2020
AriZona diversifies beyond beverages by launching fruit snacks in mixed fruit, Arnold Palmer, and green tea varieties. This marks the company's first major expansion into food products, leveraging its brand recognition.
2025
Founder Don Vultaggio considers raising the iconic 99-cent price for the first time due to tariffs on Canadian aluminum. The potential change threatens to end a 33-year pricing tradition that has become synonymous with AriZona Iced Tea.
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