By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A fast-growing vodka company has surpassed a major investment milestone with more than a half-million dollars poured into the Rockford-based brand.
Rock’n Vodka, a smooth spirit made from 100% sugarcane, has now raised more than $505,000 from more than 330 investors since launching its investment opportunity through StartEngine in mid-May. You can still invest in its $1.07 million crowdfunding campaign.
“It’s a big milestone in the StartEngine world. Not many people get there, but it’s a huge milestone for us,” said Andy Roiniotis, who is part of a local ownership team that includes Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famer Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick. “It means that we have 300-plus walking billboards. It means that 300-plus people who believe in our brand.”
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The new investors have helped Rock’n Vodka accelerate its growth. The multi-award-winning vodka has seen 117% sales growth in the past year and a 300% growth in its Facebook following. It also made the July cover of Food & Beverage Magazine, which reaches roughly 14 million people each month. Nielsen was pictured playing his famed five-neck guitar on the cover.
“We’re in eight states and we’ve already caught the eyes of the major distributors in the entire nation,” Roiniotis said. “We’re making a lot of strides. We’re doing all the right things to build the brand; we’re spending money in the right areas and we’re creating a lot of jobs.”
It’s available in more than 730 locations now, including major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Binnys, Schnucks and Casey’s that carry its 750mL bottles. It’s also available in Canada and ships to 42 states.
“It’s really in its infancy, but it’s big,” Nielsen said.
Nielsen spoke to the Rock River River Current from his home last week on a rare day off for the still-touring rocker.
“We’re too dumb to quit,” he joked about Cheap Trick still touring as it nears its 50th year.
He recently wrapped up a tour with Rod Stewart and is now moving around places such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Little Rock, Arkansas, and more before he returns home for the Hard Rock casino groundbreaking and then jetting off to Europe and then Japan.
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Despite the packed schedule, Nielsen is more than just a figurehead to market the brand. He helps Roiniotis make connections in the industry, he attends meetings with restaurant and bar owners and brings global attention to the brand. He also does publicity events, such as an upcoming bottle signing Oct. 22 in Antioch.
“He says he’s not that involved, but when he’s available, he’s involved,” Roiniotis said.
Rock’n Vodka was launched in 2019 by Denny Trakas and Andy and Isabelle Roiniotis. Nielsen and Roiniotis were brought together through their mutual investment in the Rockford Casino, where Rock’n Vodka is the best-selling vodka.
Nielsen said he joined the company because he saw an opportunity to support a local brand and create jobs for people in his hometown. He has other area investments, too, including the Stockholm Inn in Rockford and Piece Pizza in Chicago. He was also a partner in Reverb.com, which was sold to Etsy in 2019.
“I don’t do it for a lot of stuff,” he said. “It just seemed like a good opportunity to support something local.”
The pair’s affiliation with Hard Rock has paid dividends, too. Rockford Casino: A Hard Rock Opening Act was the first casino that stocked Rock’n Vodka. It’s now also at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, as well as Sioux City and Oklahoma and nine of the Hard Rock Oklahoma’s affiliates.
“It’s big for us because we’re small,” Nielsen said of the partnership.
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Nielsen has been working on bringing a casino to Rockford for roughly 15 years. It’s now near fruition with a groundbreaking expected to happen later this month. He described Hard Rock’s opening here as “an overnight sensation that took a lot of overnights to do.”
The company also takes pride in giving back to the local community. For example, it partnered with Bellator star Corey Anderson, a Rockford native, to raise money for Vets Roll, a nonprofit that helps veterans take the trip of a lifetime.
The vodka, which is distilled four times and finished at Rush Creek Distilling in Harvard, will expand to new locations soon. “Every 30 days we’re growing,” Roiniotis. “It’s a local product that’s becoming an international product.”
How to invest in Rock’n Vodka
You can visit Rock’n Vodka’s investor page on StartEngine by clicking HERE. The minimum investment is $300.
Learn more about the company on its website, rocknvodkas.com.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.