Business1 min read

Boy began building coffee brand at 9; it now reaches over 400 retailers

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Sanborns developed the business after Ethan showed an interest in drinking coffee alongside a medical diagnosis requiring nutritional supplementation. Officially founded in July 2023, the brand generated $75,000 in direct-to-consumer and Amazon sales before making the transition to physical retail aisles. The product line relies on water-decaffeinated organic Arabica coffee, prebiotic fiber, and essential minerals sold in Caramel, Chocolate, and Original flavors. A strategic partnership with Daniel Lubetzky helped fund commercial growth and expand distribution to exceed 400 stores by 2026.

Key points

  • The founders leveraged an initial $75,000 in online direct-to-consumer sales to establish…: The founders leveraged an initial $75,000 in online direct-to-consumer sales to establish market demand before entering retail.
  • Strategic guidance from KIND Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky helped scale physical distrib…: Strategic guidance from KIND Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky helped scale physical distribution across hundreds of store locations.
  • Family involvement in product formulation allowed the brand to successfully bridge childh…: Family involvement in product formulation allowed the brand to successfully bridge childhood nutrition with kid-friendly flavor profiles.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

While most kids his age were still figuring out what they liked, Ethan Sanborn was helping his father build a beverage business. What started as a family endeavour to create a coffee-flavored drink for kids has gradually blossomed into Kiid Coffee, a growing brand that got national exposure from the TV show Shark Tank. By 2026, the company had expanded its retail presence to more than 400 stores, giving the young founder an opportunity to take a childhood idea into the wider consumer market.

Ethan Sanborn established Kiid Coffee with his father

The Sanborn family had a personal insight that led to the creation of Kiid Coffee. Ethan liked the taste of his father's coffee and sometimes wanted some himself. But a little boy would not do for traditional coffee. So

David Sanborn, his father, began to investigate a different sort of beverage.

Ethan also broke both his legs separately, according to Food Republic. Later the family learned that nutritional deficiencies were a contributor and began paying more attention to his diet. So David started working on a drink that…

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