A Sophisticated Beverage for Everyone

TÖST (pronounced “toast”) offers a sophisticated line of non-alcoholic sparkling drinks designed to elevate any occasion that is crafted with all-natural ingredients. Available to purchase in more than ten countries, over 9,000 U.S. locations, and on its website and other online platforms. 

TÖST’s story begins with a group of friends, including several MICHELIN star chefs looking to fill a specific gap in the beverage market: a sophisticated, non-alcoholic drink that offered the same sense of celebration and complexity as wine or champagne paired well with fine foods or be enjoyed on their own.

They created an inclusive, bubbly drink crafted from a blend of white tea, ginger, and citrus, that invites everyone to raise their glass and celebrate together. “We are proud to be a part of pioneering the path of the vibrant non-alcoholic space today,” says Chie Addington, the Chief Administrative Officer.

In 2017, Brooks Addington became CEO, and his wife Chie supported the business behind the scenes, managing back-office operations. Determined to share TÖST with the world, the Vermont-based business hit the ground running—Brooks personally loaded cases into the trunk of his car and went door-to-door, introducing the delicious, alcohol-free drink to stores and restaurants. 

Brooks, TÖST’s CEO, has been featured in Bloomberg, VOGUE, The Washington Post, Marie Claire, and the New York Times discussing the successes and huge acceptance of TÖST. TÖST currently has a strong distributor network and is continuing to grow with major distributors and retailers including Whole Foods, Sprouts, and other major grocery and natural food markets. Additionally, TÖST is offered by many national restaurants and stadiums.

Success on the Rocks

Whether drinking TÖST for a specific occasion or as a daily refreshment, consumers can rest assured that they’ll be enjoying a refreshing alternative to traditional alcoholic options.

TÖST’s Chief Financial Officer, Allen Goldman, says, “We’re a celebratory beverage that’s perfect to bring to any type of event.”

It seems TÖST’s customers agree. “We’ve been looking at anywhere between 50 to 100% growth, year over year. And we’re projecting that going forward, as well.”

However, TÖST didn’t always have the technology to handle that growth. The TÖST team was unable to manage their operational needs while relying on Excel spreadsheets and manual processes.

“We use a co-packer, and we have 10-15 raw materials that get made into our finished product. We were putting our Bill of Material (BOM) on an Excel spreadsheet account for the build of the finished product. We couldn’t really add freight costs and other types of costs into that finished inventory, so we weren’t getting the best control over our cost of goods. By combining the great functionality of CIN7 with our current accounting system, we were able to streamline the process and properly capture and report our inventory costing.”

Success Straight Up

In July 2022, Allen, Chie, and the TÖST team implemented Cin7 with the help of the Cin7 Academy and Cin7’s support team. They were able to get up and running within an impressive one-month timeframe, making it a toast-worthy experience.

“Quite candidly, the implementation was one of the easier system implementations that I’ve been associated with.”

Chie considers Cin7 to be a step above the rest. “The more we learn about the system, the more we like it. We work with a lot of software companies, and Cin7 just stands out as an intelligent, well thought out system.”

Allen agrees. “My background is in finance, and I’ve worked with many systems in the past. What I found is that Cin7 is logical. From a user standpoint, every step of the process makes sense.”

The benefits of using Cin7 included Cin7’s seamless integration with QuickBooks, which Allen describes as “flawless.” TÖST can now enter and track customer orders, issue purchase orders to vendors, and handle the inventory receiving process in one system.

They can also:

• Easily track and control their inventory
• Fully understand and operate with true costs
• Efficiently send invoices and attach all required information (e.g., Bill of Lading, POs, etc.)
• Effortlessly handle bank audits 

Additionally, Allen says it was paramount that they have a BOM assembly feature for building out their products quickly, and Cin7 didn’t disappoint. 

“With Cin7, we're able to create builds instantly, eliminating the need to manually manage spreadsheets and make complex stock adjustments. Additionally, the platform allows us to allocate various costs to inventory values, providing a significantly more accurate and comprehensive view of our inventory.”

By alleviating its accounting, sales, purchasing, and inventory challenges, Cin7 has saved the TÖST team countless hours and expenses while reducing human errors and creating a more streamlined, efficient, and successful business. 

“I think our key to success is through data analysis, efficiency, and execution,” says Chie. “Cin7 has it all, and that has led us to success.”

Toasting the Future

On May 5th, TÖST introduced its third flavor—Sangria. With its sophisticated, refreshing profile, the new release adds a flavorful twist to the lineup and continues TÖST’s tradition of offering elevated, alcohol-free options. An operational move made easier with Cin7’s assistance

Chie compared the way Cin7 streamlined and organized their operations to the KonMari Method by Marie Kondo. She explained, “I wanted to clean things up, but it felt overwhelming—there was just too much to manage. Cin7 did it for us, and now we have a clear, organized foundation that gives us complete control over our inventory, sales, and purchasing.”

And Allen says he “can’t give Cin7 enough praise.”

The TÖST team is committed to providing their customers with a delicious, non-alcoholic beverage that can be savored by anyone, anytime, and Cin7 is proud to be a major ingredient in the cocktail of their success.