AZ Lemonade Stand is just one of several companies started by middle school friends Kyle Hollenbeck and Tom D’Ambrosio, an impressive roster that includes Aioli Gourmet Burgers, Modern Tortilla and Oakwood Fired Pizza. The duo started AZ Lemonade Stand in 2021 and have grown the brand to 15 flavors, including mango, cranberry and peach. We recently dished with Hollenbeck about his growing business and what he has in store for Dish Fest on March 9.
What will you be serving at Dish Fest this year?
We’re going to be showcasing this year’s innovations. We have AZ-ZERO now, lemonade made with monk fruit and zero sugar. We have two flavors: original and strawberry, our two most popular besides prickly pear. Chef Tom [D’Ambrosio] is still working on a way to do the prickly pear and keep it zero sugar. We also have our 32-oz. glass Mason jar and a 16-oz. plastic version.
Has there been a big demand for zero calorie lemonade?
A lot of people said to us, “Man this is so great, but it has too much sugar for me, so I cut it with ice or water.” People want healthy options. We thought If we could keep the premium taste, without the diet taste… It was important to us to stay true to the flavor.
What do you enjoy about doing festivals like Dish Fest?
You have to be out there sampling – the term is called liquid to lips. That’s the easiest way to grow a brand. I enjoy doing these events because it gives us an opportunity to get in front of so many different types of customers.
What’s your favorite dish to cook at home?
We own a pizza concept called Oakwood Fired Pizza and I can’t stretch out a pizza to save my life. My son loves making pizza and we do that together. I definitely love the Italian side of food. We were in Rome a couple of years ago and ate cacio e pepe. That’s what I’m trying to conquer right now. My wife is obsessed with it.
What kind of music do you listen to while cooking?
I have the Frank Sinatra channel on my Serius radio. I’m Irish and German so I have to find my inner Italian when I’m cooking. That’s why I put on Frank Sinatra. I also like old school hip hop and some of the new stuff is good too.
