Drink Delta: Charlotte Alum Brews a
Bold Alternative to the Usual Pour
Story by Jenny Matz
When Jack Sherrie ’19 was studying computer science at UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing and Informatics, he couldn’t have predicted that he’d one day be running a fast-growing beverage company. But like many entrepreneurs, he saw an opportunity, and he built something bold.
Delta Beverages, Sherrie’s Charlotte-based THC beverage brand, has gone from a startup experiment to a company on track to hit $100 million in revenue in 2026. What began with scrappy equipment in a small warehouse has become one of the most recognized players in the hemp-derived beverage space.
Jack Sherrie '19, Founder, Delta Beverages
From Code to Cans
Sherrie’s entrepreneurial spark started early. As a teenager, he taught himself to code and built websites that earned him unexpected paychecks from Google AdSense. By the time he entered UNC Charlotte, he knew he wanted to create something of his own. While his parents nudged him toward dentistry, Sherrie pivoted to computer science, promising his mom he’d earn his degree … and then follow his own path.
That path turned out to be far from predictable. “I realized if I wanted to compete, I needed to get into an industry that was just emerging,” he said. The passage of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, which, among its provisions, removed hemp from the list of federal controlled substances, opened the door. With little more than a $5,000 refining machine and a lot of grit, he jumped into the hemp market.
Building from the Ground Up
Sherrie’s first space was a 1,500-square-foot warehouse. He couldn’t afford state-of-the-art equipment, so he improvised, retrofitting imported machinery, teaching himself extraction techniques, and working nights to keep the business alive.
Investors eventually noticed. One early backer was a former BP executive, who saw in Sherrie’s makeshift operation a sharper, more effective process than labs built with millions in capital. That seed money helped Sherrie transform his operation from extraction to finished products and ultimately, beverages.
But not without hurdles. Competitors tried to poach his team. Regulators shifted packaging rules overnight. Access to capital was scarce. “We survived by doing everything ourselves,” Sherrie said. “We had to learn fast and stay flexible. That resilience is what sets us apart.”
Cracking the Market
The first breakthrough came when Rhino Market, a Charlotte staple, agreed to stock Delta Beverages. From there, Sherrie built a grassroots sales model, calling stores directly, shipping orders himself and using AI tools to scale a lean team’s output.
What’s in the can: Each sparkling Delta beverage delivers a clean, consistent experience: zero sugar, zero calories, gluten-free and alcohol-free, made with natural flavors and precisely measured doses of hemp-derived THC in 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg options. “We wanted something that felt good and fit a healthy lifestyle,” Sherrie said. “No mystery ingredients, just sparkling water, flavor and balance.”
That health-forward simplicity helped the brand stand out in a crowded market. Today, Delta is in thousands of stores across multiple states with more than 60 distributors. The brand also caught the attention of major players: Anheuser-Busch became an early investor, and national venture firms are now lining up behind Sherrie’s vision.
Brewing the Future
By 2026, Sherrie projects Drink Delta will reach $100 million in revenue. The company is preparing to expand internationally as it goes head-to-head with beverage giants rumored to be entering the space.
Through it all, Sherrie credits UNC Charlotte for giving him both the technical foundation and the entrepreneurial ecosystem that fueled his start.
“I was in an AI class at UNC Charlotte when I first realized how much technology could change everything,” he said. “That mindset has shaped how we’ve built Delta.”
For Sherrie, what started as a bold bet has become a brand poised to change the way people think about what’s in their glass.
3 precise doses. 8 refreshing flavors. From unwinding after work to celebrating your best friend’s engagement to debating the merits of mercantilism, There’s a Delta for That™.
KEEP UP WITH JACK SHERRIE AND DELTA BEVERAGES
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