Lady Bird Soda

Building a Brand That Stands Out

The first experience consumers have with a beverage isn't the first sip. It's the package. When Atlas Cheek and Daniel Barnes launched Lady Bird Soda in 2022, they knew distinctive packaging would be critical to helping the brand stand out. From its Texas-inspired name to its custom embossed glass bottle, every detail was designed to create a memorable first impression.

"We knew without a differentiated product we weren't going to have a chance," said Cheek. "We spent a lot of time and money on branding because we knew it had to stand out."

To bring that vision to life, Cheek sourced custom glass directly from a manufacturer in China, teaching himself customs procedures, freight forwarding, and international logistics along the way. While the process worked, managing every step of the supply chain became increasingly complex as the business grew.

"I just wanted to simplify my operational structure as the business scaled,” said Cheek.

Making the Switch Worthwhile

About three months after Lady Bird entered the market, TricorBraun Packaging Consultant Sabrina Shepherd discovered the emerging brand on LinkedIn. Atlas was managing nearly every aspect of the business himself, from packaging and logistics to fundraising and sales. While he wasn't ready to make a change immediately, the two stayed in touch as Shepherd explored ways to simplify Lady Bird Soda's operations without increasing costs.

"I knew if I could simplify sourcing, logistics, and warehousing while keeps costs competitive, it would create long-term value for Lady Bird," said Shepherd.

As global trade uncertainty grew, Cheek became increasingly interested in bringing production closer to home, but only if the transition preserved the distinctive package he'd invested in and also made financial sense for the business.

TricorBraun was able to move Lady Bird's custom glass production from China to Mexico while delivering a cost-competitive solution. The team transferred the existing bottle design to the new manufacturing partner, updated the embossing to reflect the company's evolving brand identity, converted the closure from pry-off to twist-off, and managed the changeover from start to finish.

"TricorBraun was able to move our glass sourcing from China to Mexico at a price that made sense for our business. It made the decision to switch an easy one," said Cheek.

Simplifying Operations Behind the Scenes

The supplier change also simplified day-to-day operations.

TricorBraun began warehousing Lady Bird's glass inventory in San Antonio, just a short drive from the company's co-packer in Blanco, Texas. Instead of coordinating international shipments, managing warehouse inventory, and scheduling deliveries for every production run, Cheek now provides a production forecast while TricorBraun manages the logistics.

"You give Sabrina a glass forecast, let her know when production runs are coming up, and she has the glass where it needs to be, when it needs to be," said Cheek. "It allowed me to free up time to focus on growing the business."

For a growing brand with a lean team, removing those day-to-day packaging responsibilities created valuable time to focus on sales, customers, and expansion.

With inventory positioned just miles from the co-packer, TricorBraun delivers glass according to Lady Bird's production schedule, helping to maintain supply continuity while removing much of the day-to-day coordination from the customer's team.

The same hands-on support carried through to production. When Lady Bird's co-packer requested changes to pallet configuration, TricorBraun specialists visited the production line, observed operations firsthand, and worked directly with the manufacturer to optimize the pallet design, improving efficiency without disrupting production.

A Partnership That Continues to Grow

As Lady Bird grows, its packaging strategy continues to evolve. TricorBraun is partnering with the company on the next generation of its glass packaging, supporting new bottle formats that help the brand serve both retail and foodservice channels.

"Sabrina is incredibly detail-oriented and reliable. She's become an extension of our team," said Cheek.

For Shepherd, that's exactly what a successful partnership looks like.

"Our goal is to become an extension of our customers' teams," said Shepherd. "The most rewarding part of this partnership has been helping Lady Bird simplify its packaging program so the team could stay focused on growing the business."

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