Who Owns Happy Dad ?

During the hot and humid days of summer, which are indeed upon us, most of us would typically love to relax and kick back, enjoying planning weekend activities and whatnot. However, when you think about it, all that planning, a lot of the time, amounts to nothing but sitting idly.

You might have to get a new bathing suit for the beach, probably clean the gunk out of the BBQ, and invite many close friends for a good time. But one of the most important things you will always have to consider is drinks! It will be hot, and the drinks must suit the occasion.

However, planning to get suitable types of drinks could prove to be a bit tricky. You need to consider the type of alcohol that will suit your pool party, backyard excursion, or beach event. Some people may lean towards the good old beer, while others may get a 12-pack of seltzer.

This is essentially where Happy Dad comes into play. It is an astoundingly popular hard seltzer brand that is taking over the drinks industry in the US.

It is a new brand that has quickly become a hit among people all over the US. The company was founded by a group of friends who are also YouTube content creators and run a popular channel known as the Nelk Boys. Let’s examine who owns Happy Dad and how it became a sensation.

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A Peek Into the Interesting Background of Happy Dad Seltzer

If you’re frequently on YouTube and follow many influencers or other entertainment channels, you may have heard of or come across NELK, which is short for (Nick, Elliot, Lucas, and Kyle.

Together, these friends run a pretty fun channel where they prank unsuspecting bystanders. The channel was created in 2010 by all of the founding members and has since accumulated more than 7 million subscribers.

With the channel’s success, the Nelkboys also decided to sell merchandise and introduce individual brands, such as “Full Send,” diving into entrepreneurship, selling, and marketing items their fans were enthusiastic about.

However, in 2021, the group decided to do something that would become legendary. They founded Happy Dad with the help of Sam Shahidi (who is currently the company’s CEO), John Shahidi, and Kyle Forgeard. All of the individuals hold notable business acumen.

The concept for Happy Dad was essentially brainstormed by the founding members of Nelk (Kyle Forgeard and Stepehen Deleonardis) in 2020. They wanted to introduce something bold and memorable and penetrate the seltzer industry, giving people a refreshing, tasty,

Even more interesting is that the group came up with the Seltzer formula through trial and error and built the branding and marketing strategies from scratch.

From Shelf to Incredible Success

The philosophy behind who owns Happy Dad was simple. The group saw the powerful potential of popular and impact-producing YouTube creators and influencers who were also starting multi-million-dollar businesses, rivaling Fortune 500 companies.

It is a brilliant move and makes a ton of business sense. Modern brands are looking for famous influencers who can organically grow their brand reputation, captivating audiences on a trust and reputational basis rather than depending on heavy advertising.

For the founders of Happy Dad, it was simple. They wanted to start a business within the creator economy, launching a brand that resonated with them. The popular beverage Prime is a good example. The brand is owned by two globally reputed social media influencers and content creators, KSI and Logan Paul.

The company made $250 million a year or two ago! Similarly, Mr. Beast Burger made a gross profit exceeding $105 million in 2022 and now has more than 1,500 ghost kitchens in the US. But unlike these brands, seltzers and alcoholic drinks are a bit difficult to bring to market, explained Sam Shahidi (CEO of Happy Dad).

You have to contend with many challenges, such as alcohol distribution, liquor laws and licensing, and plenty of other formalities that may wrench your marketing. However, the Nelkboys navigated these challenges and primed their brand for growth, creating it as an independent entity and becoming one of the five best seltzer companies in the last year or so.

Regarding who owns Happy Dad, it is also important to know that the company sold more than 2.5 million hard seltzer 12-packs a year after it was founded in 2021. In 2021, when it was starting, Happy Dad sold more than 690,000 12-packs.

Moreover, the brand has become a cherished, loved, and avidly followed company on Instagram. Happy Dad has more than a million Instagram followers! The company operates in 16 US states and plans to open new franchises in six more states, including Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, and DC.

Clearing the Air of Confusion Revolving Around Who Is The CEO of Happy Dad

A while ago, fans spotted Steve (Stephen Deleonardis) in one of the Happy Dad breweries, raising the question of whether Steve is the company’s CEO. However, when it comes to who owns Happy Dad, it is vital to note that the company was started by a group of friends, which means each member of Nelk and others are all equal owners.

However, the Nelkboys unanimously decided to appoint Sam Shahidi CEO while making John Shahidi President. This was mainly because the two brothers had extensive experience running and managing businesses.

Smart Marketing and Future Prospects

Another profound element that was a major accessory in helping the brand rise to popularity was the company’s marketing strategies and logo design. The members thought it would be best to keep everything simple and relatable, hence the simple logo. They wanted to market the brand as a 60s drink—and they succeeded.

The brand worked phenomenally well, further evident when the company arranged a tattoo artist for one of its breweries, offering fans free Happy Dad tattoos. In addition, since being a hit in the US, the company has expanded and diversified its business ventures. In 2022, Happy Dad launched a clothing line, selling more than $3 million in products.

However, it is essential to know that Happy Dad is more than just a hit brand. It has transformed into a lifestyle company.

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