Buquet joins the Cult

Houma Anheuser-Busch distributor Buquet Distributing Company has begun delivering Cult Energy Drink to area stores, said Buquet general manager Carleton Casey.

New Orleans-based NOLA Beverage Group acquired exclusive U.S. rights to distribute Cult, which was developed in Denmark in 1998. The drink, which contains caffeine derived from the South American guarana plant, is currently available in Mississippi and Florida, besides Louisiana, and in nine countries.

Other nonalcoholic beverages distributed by Buquet include Icelandic water, Nesquik and drank, a lightly-carbonated beverage containing several herbs, Casey said. The Nesquik is packaged in aseptic containers requiring no refrigeration.

Both Nesquik and drank are recent additions to Buquet’s line of products the company distributes. The company, in Houma for more than 50 years, has more than 750 accounts.

Buquet had handled Monster Energy Drink at one time. However, the distribution was sold to Coca-Cola.

“But we picked up Cult,” Casey said.

“Cult came to us. We have so many companies coming to us wanting us to distribute,” he said. “I don’t take everything. I’m particular.”

NOLA Beverage Group ships Cult to Buquet’s facility in Houma. From there, the product is taken to outlets in the company’s delivery area of Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary parishes, Grand Isle and parts of Assumption Parish.

In Louisiana and Mississippi, Cult is distributed to around 15,700 retail outlets in 59 parishes and counties, according to a company release.

Promotions for Cult, which also contains ginseng, state that the product is a utility drink that counteracts exhaustion and weariness.

Cult Energy Drink is being distributed by Houma’s Buquet Distributing Company. According to Buquet general manager Carleton Casey, the caffeine drink replaces Monster Energy Drink, which was sold to Coca-Cola. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER