Thirstie expands US and international presence

On-demand drinks delivery service Thirstie has expanded its footprint in the US after acquiring Chicago-based DrinkFly, at the same time as launching its services in Canada.

Thirstie has acquired its Chicago-based rival, DrinkFly

Founded in 2014, DrinkFly is the largest alcohol delivery service in Chicago and also has a presence in Minneapolis, Dallas, Houston and New York.

Thirstie, an app that allows consumers to order alcoholic drinks from a range of retailers, has witnessed rapid growth since its launch in 2014 and is now operational internationally after recently launching in Ontario, Canada.

“Because of Thirstie’s experience in the market, we are confident the transition will be seamless for DrinkFly users, with the same great service, delivery time and fee structure they’ve become accustomed to from DrinkFly,” said DrinkFly founder and CEO Devaraj Southworth.

Thirstie will now acquire DrinkFly’s users, who will have access to Thirstie’s digital magazine, The Craft, as well as the company’s on-demand website and mobile app.

Thirstie said it aims to double DrinkFly’s month-over-month growth, which was 55% as of January 2016.

Since November 2014, Thirstie has experienced 34% month-over-month customer growth and now serves 20 markets. Average order growth has increased 41% with an average order size upwards of US$75 and 60% repeat usage.

The terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed. In March last year, Thirstie secured US$1.1 million from private investors to expand its business.

As the on-demand alcohol delivery sector continues its rapid growth across the US, online retail giant Amazon recently revealed plans to offer one-hour delivery of alcoholic beverages for the first time.