Beverage Industry Leader Brent Albertson Takes On Expanded Mizkan America Responsibilities

Schaumburg, Ill., January 27, 2026—In Summer 2025, Mizkan America, Inc. (Mizkan America), announced the acquisition of Chicago-based ZING ZANG®, America's #1-selling Bloody Mary brand*, for an undisclosed sum. Since its acquisition, the company has continued to operate independently. The ZING ZANG portfolio includes a wide range of popular non-alcoholic drink mixes.

Today Mizkan America is excited to announce an expansion of duties for Brent Albertson, Chief Executive Officer, ZING ZANG. Effective Jan. 26, 2026, in addition to ZING ZANG, Brent now also oversees all aspects of Mizkan America's "Inspired Mixology" pillar, which also includes driving the expansion/growth of ANGOSTURA® bitters, a global cocktail icon. In this expanded role, Brent continues reporting to Mizkan America President and Chief Executive Officer, Diego Palmieri. Mizkan America has been the exclusive distributor of ANGOSTURA bitters in North America for more than a decade.

Diego Palmieri shared, "The acquisition of ZING ZANG last year has been a key driver in expanding Mizkan's growing presence and leadership in mixology. Brent has built the ZING ZANG business over the past nine years, becoming the leader in its category. The synergy that we can create by combining these two incredible brands under one Leadership/Sales Team is sure to propel Mizkan America's 'Inspired Mixology' offerings to new levels of sales' success and, importantly, customer and consumer delight. I'm confident that Brent's seasoned expertise in this category will not only unlock but accelerate the potential of our 'Inspired Mixology' offerings."

Brent Albertson echoed these sentiments, "My experience working with the team at family-owned Mizkan America over the past months has been terrific. I have tremendous respect for the Leadership Team and their longer-term vision for the drinks business. I'm excited to bring our 'Inspired Mixology' strategy to life and deliver our valuable customers so much more with these two iconic brands."

For these two marquee brands in Mizkan America's "Inspired Mixology" platform, Brent will focus on:

• 1+1=3 Sales' Focus: Deepen relationships on the front end to drive synergy with distributors and retailers by combining ANGOSTURA and ZING ZANG into a "one-voice" approach that drives incremental focus, growth and category impact
• Innovation: Innovate and renovate in the super-premium and premium mix, mocktail, drink-syrup and bitters areas
• Brand Awareness: Expand consumer awareness and trial through unique initiatives in airlines, national accounts, resorts, sports/entertainment, co-promotions and social-media areas
• Partnerships: Co-promote and collaborate with strategic spirit and CPG brands that expand usage and build brand equity

Under Brent's leadership over the past nine years, ZING ZANG climbed from the #4 traditional mix brand in the U.S. to #1 and doubled in size. He also brings almost 30 years of beverage-industry experience from drinks' powerhouse, Diageo, to his expanded Mizkan America role.

"Inspired Mixology" defines Mizkan America's desire to bring together the company's deep bench of expertise, insights and creativity, combined with the company's leading brands, ANGOSTURA and ZING ZANG, to reimagine the cocktail/mocktail experience—at home, the bar and beyond—to help consumers and professional mixologists alike create fun, flavorful and on-trend libations.

ZING ZANG offerings play across a broad spectrum of mixers. Its lineup of premium, bold-tasting products at an affordable price point is also aligned with the current trends in the category. ZING ZANG products are made with real fruit and vegetable juices and natural sweeteners. The company's full portfolio of award-winning products is available at the company website.

ANGOSTURA bitters has long served as the catalyst for enlivening premium cocktails, from classic to contemporary to tiki compositions. Just a dash of the legendary Aromatic, Orange or Cocoa bitters breathes exotic island life and rich flavor into any cocktail. ANGOSTURA bitters is a key component in iconic cocktails, adding incredible depth of flavor to favorites like the Old Fashioned, Vieux Carré, Espresso Martini and more.

As noted, for the foreseeable future, ZING ZANG, LLC will continue to operate as a separate business from Mizkan America.

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About Mizkan America

Based in Schaumburg, Ill, Mizkan America, Inc., is the US operating company of the Mizkan Group, a global, family-owned company that has been Bringing Flavor To Life™ for more than 220 years, always guided by the company's Two Principles (Offer customers only the finest products; and Continuously challenge the status quo). As one of the leading makers of condiments and sauces in the United States, Mizkan America maintains 12 manufacturing facilities that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty Asian and food-ingredient trade channels. Since their U.S. debut in 1977, Mizkan America has experienced dramatic growth and their portfolio now includes a wide variety of vinegars, Italian and Asian sauces, cooking wines, wine reductions and sushi seasoning. Mizkan America brands include: RAGÚ®, Bertolli®, Holland House®, Nakano®, Mizkan®, Born Simple® and Zing Zang®. Mizkan America is also the exclusive distributor/sales agent for Angostura® bitters in North America. For more information, visit the company website.

About ZING ZANG

ZING ZANG® is the leading Bloody Mary brand and a top non-alcoholic cocktail-mix brand in the U.S. Renowned for its premium-quality mixers, ZING ZANG offers a wide range of products, including the best-selling Bloody Mary Mix, Blazing Bloody Mary Mix, Dill Pickle Bloody Mary Mix and an authentic Michelada Mix. ZING ZANG also has an "AMAZING" lineup of mixers that includes Classic Margarita, Mango Margarita, Strawberry Margarita-Daiquiri, Sweet & Sour and Piña Colada—all made with real fruit juices and naturally sweetened without high-fructose corn syrup.

Founded in 1997 and based in Chicago, Illinois, ZING ZANG products are available nationwide with 300,000 points of distribution in over 120,000 retail and on-premise locations. For more information, please visit the company website.

About the House of ANGOSTURA®

The proud history of the House of ANGOSTURA® began more than 200 years ago in 1824, when founder Dr. Johann Siegert first produced aromatic bitters in the city of Angostura in Venezuela, today called Cuidad Bolívar. Recognized over the centuries by the granting of Royal Warrants of Appointment to the royal households of Great Britain, Prussia, Spain and Sweden. ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, ANGOSTURA® orange bitters and ANGOSTURA® cocoa bitters are the world's market leaders, an integral ingredient in premium cocktails, and a mainstay of cocktail culture. Angostura's international range of rums, produced at the only rum distillery in Trinidad, includes distinctive, exquisitely blended rums: Angostura Special Reserve 15-Year-Old Rum, Angostura Founders Reserve 1824® Rum, Angostura Grand Reserve1919® Rum, Angostura® 7-Year-Old Rum, Angostura® 5-Year-Old Rum, Angostura® 3-Year-Old White Rum and Angostura Tamboo Spiced Rum, blended by masters with years of experience and training in original traditions using closely guarded formulas and techniques. Other products include the multiple award-winning Amaro di ANGOSTURA®, which leverages our unsurpassed heritage as a blender of the finest bitters and rums, and our carbonated beverage, Angostura® Chill, and its innovative array of flavors.

*Note: Circana data Calendar Year 2025 Ending 12-28-2025