NEW YORK — The Ryl Co., parent company of Ryl Tea that was founded in 2022 by Blodin Ukella, has raised $15 million in a Series B funding round to “significantly expand its national footprint.” The round, followed by a $7.5 million Series A round in early 2024, brings the company’s total funding to $30 million.
Ryl Tea will expand its national footprint and increase distribution to over 40,000 stores by the end of 2025.
“The Ryl Co. is surging into an exciting phase of hyper-growth, and this capital raise will assist us in scaling to new heights, especially as we expand our retail presence and national distribution,” said Leigh Feuerstein, chairman of The Ryl Co. “Under the direction of founder and CEO Blodin Ukella, the team’s deep connection with consumers has set the stage for great success. Blodin is a remarkable leader with a clear vision and indefatigable energy, and we’re backing him with unbridled confidence in his ability to fuel Ryl’s expansion.”
Ryl Tea is a functional ready-to-drink iced tea that is formulated with stevia leaf extract and steviol glycosides, monk fruit extract, natural flavors, ascorbic acid and citric acid.
The beverages each feature zero sugar and less than five calories and were designed to offer wellness benefits.
The company said it formulates its beverages with a proprietary antioxidant super blend that offers vitamin C and a high concentration of naturally occurring tea polyphenols.
Iced tea flavors include peach, southern sweet, raspberry, half & half, green citrus among others.
Ryl Tea also markets immune support teas that feature 500 mg of vitamin C, vitamin d and zinc and come in flavors juicy orange, pink lemonade and blueberry.
Beyond distribution, Ryl Tea also is expanding its product lineup in May and will add more team members, with plans to surpass 100 employees by the end of 2025. The company currently is hiring personnel in operations, marketing sales and product development categories.
“This round isn’t just a financial milestone — it’s a signal of confidence in our mission, our momentum and our belief that Ryl Tea is on track to redefine what a modern beverage brand can be,” Ukella said. “We are in the ‘leap’ phase of our business journey — scaling rapidly with new distribution channels, exciting marketing initiatives and product development. This investment will help us expand our offerings and expand our distribution by 4 times, all while maintaining the same level of quality and commitment to our customers’ health and well-being.”Enjoying this content? Learn about more disruptive startups on the Food Entrepreneur page.
