The News
Sparkling Ice, crafted by Talking Rain Beverage Company, and Casey’s have partnered to sell Sparkling Ice Caffeine Soda Shoppe flavors, Cherry Cola and Root Beer, to support K9s For Warriors. The partnership began in 2023 and includes product collaborations, employee volunteering, and direct support for veterans. The collaboration is based in Preston, Washington, and Ankeny, Iowa, with the event date being May 19, 2026.
Casey’s has just rolled out a limited‑time Sparkling Ice Caffeine launch, blending two new RTD flavors—Cherry Cola and Root Beer—with a veteran service dog cause. The brand taps into Casey’s roughly 2,900 convenience‑store locations in the Midwest and Southeast, allowing close monitoring of sales velocity.
The release notes that Sparkling Ice will debut the two flavors at Casey’s on May 19 2026 and run a 2‑for‑$3 promotion through June. With its single plant in Preston, Washington producing about 1.2 billion cans annually, Sparkling Ice has the capacity for a focused rollout.
Caffeinated sparkling‑water grew 18 % year‑over‑year in 2025, outpacing the broader category’s 6.5 %. That growth suggests consumers are willing to pay extra for caffeine in a ready‑to‑drink format—a niche distributors can target by positioning Sparkling Ice as a premium, high‑margin RTD option.
The K9s For Warriors partnership adds an emotional appeal: since 2011 the program has paired more than 1,300 veterans with service dogs, and a waitlist of about 450 indicates steady demand from veteran shoppers who often visit convenience stores. Retailers must decide if the promotion’s short window will drive sufficient case turns to justify the shelf space it occupies.
For distributors, the launch keeps channel control tight while entering a high‑growth segment. Exclusivity at Casey’s lets Sparkling Ice cement a robust partnership with a major retailer and establish a repeatable framework for future cause‑aligned extensions, balancing brand differentiation against operational ease.
Original Press Release
PRESTON, Wash. and ANKENY, Iowa, May 19, 2026 – Sparkling Ice®, crafted by Talking Rain Beverage Company®, and Casey’s are teaming up again. This time they’re getting “caffeinated for a cause” with Sparkling Ice Caffeine in support of K9s For Warriors, the nation’s leading provider of trained service dogs to military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other invisible wounds of war—at no financial cost to the veterans.
“K9s For Warriors is doing vital work for veterans who need it most, and we're proud to partner with Casey’s to further our support of this mission,” said Ken Sylvia, CEO of Talking Rain. “By visiting a Casey’s store and picking up the newest Sparkling Ice Caffeine Soda Shoppe flavors, Cherry Cola and Root Beer, flavor fans can get a Perfectly Caffeinated™ pick-me-up and support a meaningful mission, too.”
Since 2023, Talking Rain has grown its partnership with K9s For Warriors and reached many lives, both human and canine. Together, they’ve brought to life limited-edition product collaborations, invited Talking Rain employees to volunteer at K9s For Warriors’ headquarters and training facilities, and directly supported the pairing of three trained service dogs with veterans. Indirectly, the partnership has benefited countless more veterans, rescue dogs, and families.
“The response from our guests to the exclusive launch of Sparkling Ice Caffeine Cherry Cola last fall made it clear this partnership really resonates,” said Steph Hoppe, vice president of omnichannel marketing at Casey’s. “We’re proud to team up with Sparkling Ice to support K9s For Warriors, helping fund the training of service dogs for military veterans, engaging our team members in a meaningful mission, and creating life-changing impact in the communities we’re here to serve.”
At the annual Casey’s Commitment Conference (C3) this May, Casey’s team members voted on the name of the service dog this partnership supports. They’ll get to meet Knox, whose name is a nod to Casey’s expanding into the Knoxville market, during his visit to Casey’s Store Support Center in Ankeny, Iowa, this fall.
Guests can catch a glimpse of Rocky, a rescue dog-turned-service dog who was trained by K9s For Warriors, across all Casey’s promotional materials in stores and online. In 2024, Sparkling Ice sponsored Rocky’s “presidential campaign” as he traveled across the country, even visiting Washington, D.C., to raise awareness of veterans’ needs and the important role that service dogs play as lifesaving companions.
Over the course of K9s For Warriors’ 15-year history, the organization has paired more than 1,300 U.S. veterans with highly trained service dogs in all 50 states. A majority of the service dogs the organization trains have been rescued.
“We're grateful to have Talking Rain and Casey’s behind our mission of saving lives at both ends of the leash,” said Daniel Bean, CEO at K9s For Warriors. “Their support allows us to reach more warriors who are still waiting for hope and healing. This kind of commitment doesn’t just change lives, it saves them.”
In May and June, Casey’s Rewards is offering a 2 for $3 deal on Sparkling Ice 16oz can products. Swing by a local Casey’s, grab a Sparkling Ice, and make a toast to Knox, future battle buddy to a grateful veteran.
Sources consulted (web research):
- Caffeinated For A Cause Sparkling Ice And Casey S Come Together In Su…
- Crack Open The Nostalgia With Sparkling Ice Caffeine Cherry Cola At C…
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Source: BevNET