In 2009, reality-TV celebrity Bethenny Frankel founded Skinnygirl Cocktails on the premise that women want low-calorie, great-tasting Margaritas. In 2011, Deerfield, Ill.-based Beam Suntory acquired the brand, which has since grown to include 21 low-calorie products in the vodka, wine and ready-to-drink categories, according to Brendan Lynch, senior marketing director at Beam Suntory.
“…in collaboration with Bethenny and our marketing and sales team, the brand has grown aggressively, driven in part by strong, rapid innovation into new categories and flavors,” Lynch says. “Bethenny’s simple idea has turned into a business empire of Skinnygirl brands, as Beam has rapidly developed the brand into one of the fastest growing spirits brands on the market today.”