Austin company started during pandemic now thriving

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Austin grows so too does the economy and that is one reason why more and more businesses are calling the Capital City home.

One business that has seen recent success is St. Cecilia Soda Company, a business that started during the pandemic.

"First day we started making sodas in our kitchen," said Michelle Beebe, co-owner of St. Cecilia Soda Company.

That experimenting with flavors in the kitchen has now grown to their products being found in multiple places.

"We currently have 3 flavors," Beebe said.

Sunsipper, Daytripper and Revelation are the flavors, all three sparkling water that can be sipped on alone or mixed with another beverage.

"The sales have gone through the roof," Beene said.

Michelle Beebe, Tania DeGregorio and Kate McClennon are the trio behind the sparkling water flavors, which come in a flashy can and were done by a local artist.

"Everyone loves the Coca Cola's and the big guys, but it is so cool that so many local businesses and even the larger ones will give us a chance," DeGregorio said.

In a growing city like Austin, St. Cecilia Soda Company is not the only business thriving or choosing the capital city as a home base.

"There have been about 5,000 business starts in Austin over this past year," said Ed Latson, CEO of Opportunity Austin.

Latson says there are a number of businesses that are choosing Austin because of its quality of life and the available workforce for high-tech and skilled jobs.

"You have more than 400,000 students within 100 miles of the city, three of the best top-performing universities in the state," Latson said.

Latson says the Consumer Packaged Goods industry is also seeing growth.

"I think there is going to be 200 CPG companies that start this year and a number of them grow to be significant contributors to our economy and brands," said Latson. "You look at Siete Foods, which just got purchased by Pepsi, a locally owned business for over a billion dollars."

While there are a number of factors that helped St. Cecilia get their start, they said their Austin connections and love for their city have helped them continue their success.

"Austin is home for me and I have a lot of love and respect for the authenticity and just the feeling of Austin," said Beebe.

St. Cecilia is expecting to release a few new flavors in March.

For more on the company, click here.

To find out more about Opportunity Austin and the work they do, click here.