Douglas Fulton
Douglas Fulton is a beverage operator and the founder of The Brand Accelerator, an advisory practice that helps beverage founders and leadership teams commercialize and scale. He is also a co-founder of Luminary Beverage and the author of the GROW books.
A NOTE FROM DOUGLAS
Operator and beverage architect.
I have helped more than 100 brands in non-alcoholic, functional, hemp THC and cannabis beverages, always at the start of a new category, not chasing it.
I have built three beverage platforms, one public and two private, from concept to scale. Most founders face each step for the first time, with their own money on the line.
The Founder Operating System™ is how we work through it together: a starting map and ten modules, from first idea to exit. As a colleague of mine puts it, I help you “navigate the potholes so you don’t end up in the ditch.”
BEVERAGE
Three beverage platforms. One public, two private.
The Tinley Beverage Co.
Co-CEO and board director
2017 to 2021 Public (CSE)
Built a 20,000 sq. ft. licensed production facility into the largest contract manufacturer of cannabis beverages in California. Chaired the company’s internal committee on California regulatory affairs. Tinley now trades as Beckett’s Inc.
Emergent Beverages
Co-Founder and Co-CEO
2022 to 2025 Private
His shares were bought out by a hospitality venture group.
Luminary Beverage
Co-Founder
2025 to present Private
A separate company from The Brand Accelerator.
Industry bodies: former founding member and board member of the Hemp Beverage Alliance. Emergent Beverages was a founding member of the Coalition for Adult Beverage Alternatives (CABA). Advisory board of Frontier Risk, 2025 to 2026.
BEFORE BEVERAGE
From cola to cable, and back.
In December 2003, TIME ran a Global Business story titled “From Cola to Cable.” It covered a Romanian drinks company that competed with Coca-Cola and had decided to build a television network. The executive hired to run it was Douglas Fulton.
That job put a television executive inside a beverage company for the first time. Fourteen years later he moved to beverage for good.
FEATURED IN
Press and appearances.
TIME
“From Cola to Cable,” Global Business · December 2003
Free Spirits podcast
“How to Scale THC & Functional Beverage Brands with Strategic Supply Chain Integration” · April 2025
Zuber Lawler Going Global
“Looking Ahead: Strategies for Success in the Global Cannabis Beverage Market”· March 2025
Proactive
“The Tinley Beverage Co. looks further afield as it entrenches its position in the California market” · July 2022
Cannabis Tech
“The Incredible Rise of THC-Infused Beverages in 2024” · January 2024
AUTHOR
The GROW books.
Two playbooks for building beverage brands in new categories: Vol. 1 on launching cannabis beverages, Vol. 2 on better-for-you and functional brands.
Tell us about your brand.
Douglas reads every request himself and replies within two business days.
The introductory call is free.
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