12-Year-Old Innovates New Hydration Drink Line; Becomes Flavorman’s Youngest Beverage Creator

Joey DiRocco, Brand Ambassador of Sparklytes, helped create a new line of flavored hydration drinks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. and DUNSTABLE, Mass. (July 29, 2024) – Flavorman, a leading custom beverage development company, recently created a recipe for their youngest client, 12-year-old Joey DiRocco of Dunstable, Massachusetts. Over several months, Flavorman’s Beverage Architects collaborated with DiRocco and his parents, Justin and Francesca Navarro, to develop Sparklytes, a line of flavored hydration beverages that prioritizes all-natural ingredients and sweeteners. The formula includes coconut juice, lemon juice, monk fruit, and other carefully selected components. Sparklytes will be available in six flavors: peach mango, lemon-lime, blue raspberry, blueberry lemonade, cherry, and orange.

This project was driven entirely by DiRocco’s passion for sports and his philanthropic spirit.

“I asked my parents how to create my own sports drink, and they told me to Google it, so I did, and the rest is history,” said DiRocco. “I wanted to help raise money for a nonprofit that supported me when I was in third grade, and now I’ll be able to do that through Sparklytes.”

DiRocco envisions a successful venture that will allow him to give back to Easterseals Massachusetts, a nonprofit providing essential services for adults and children with disabilities. Born with cortical visual impairment, congenital nystagmus, and septo-optic dysplasia, DiRocco has difficulty seeing without his glasses. Easterseals Massachusetts helped him in third grade by providing assistive technology, including an iPad, text-to-speech software, and a scope to enhance his independence in reading and writing. Their support fueled his ambition to create Sparklytes.

Sparklytes’ brand mission is to encourage consumers to spread kindness, raise disability awareness, and promote a healthy lifestyle. Flavorman first partnered with DiRocco in 2023, and the company is proud to help make his dream a reality.

“At Flavorman, we spend every day being the steward of someone’s dream. It is such an awesome and fulfilling responsibility, and to have the opportunity to be that steward for someone like Joey is simply amazing. This is why we do what we do,” said Scott Weddle, CEO of Flavorman.

Justin and Francesca Navarro plan to scale up the Sparklytes recipes from Flavorman to commercial levels. With backgrounds in technology, they own Sparkworx, a business consultation company that will serve as the parent company of Sparklytes.

“We want Joey to be successful and eventually take over the family business. As parents, this is our way of giving back to him. We’re so proud of him,” said Justin and Francesca Navarro.

About Flavorman

Founded by David Dafoe in 1992, Flavorman is an industry-leading custom beverage development company based out of Louisville, KY. “The Beverage Architects” ™ create custom-made recipes and flavors for each individual client. For over 30 years, Flavorman has led the beverage industry as the single-source partner in beverage architecture and product development. Flavorman’s clients range from start-up entrepreneurs to major international players in the global marketplace. Flavorman’s 77,000 square-foot headquarters is one of the largest beverage development facilities in the United States, including a state-of-the-art, fully equipped flavor laboratory, research & development laboratory, warehouse, and production facility. Flavorman’s in-house capabilities, industry expertise and product innovation offer its clients a wide range of services to  turn their great ideas into money-making beverages.