Jones Soda Co., the original craft soda known for its unconventional flavors and user-designed label artwork, announced the promotion of longtime executive team member Eric Chastain to serve as president of the new Jones Soda Beverage Division. The position was created as part of a leadership expansion related to the upcoming launch of a new cannabis-infused beverage and edibles business that was announced in July.
Chastain joined Jones Soda in 2001 as vice president of operations and has served as chief operating officer since 2014. As COO, he has managed day-to-day operations including supply chain and production, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, product development and customer service. He has also developed and managed the company’s growing fountain beverage and international export businesses, helped expand the direct-to-consumer business including the MyJones personalized label program, and worked closely with the marketing team to develop and execute strategic brand-building and revenue-generating programs.
In his new position, Chastain is responsible for continuing to drive the growth of the core Jones Soda beverage portfolio, including running all operations, supervising all functional areas, and executing the three-year strategic plan adopted last year for the craft soda side of the business. He will also help the new Jones Cannabis Division leverage the company’s brand equity and other synergies to build a strong presence in the cannabis beverage and edibles sector.
