private beverage company

AriZona Iced Tea

Industry Food

A private beverage company selling iced tea and drinks, notable for a durable 99-cent can commitment but without locked-in stakeholder governance. AriZona Iced Tea remains weak because of person-dependent governance, toxic or materially harmful products, and ideological disavowal, even where the product or service has practical value.

Why this matters: AriZona shows real consumer-price restraint, but the restraint remains discretionary rather than locked into governance.

Letter grade D Extractive Medium confidence (AI) Rubric gcd-rubric-v1 Last reviewed May 6, 2026

Final Score 19* D - Extractive

DEXTRACTIVE19 pts

* Tentative scaffolding score. Not human-checked or final.

Base Material27

Bonus+0

Cap35Ownership <= 2 and Governance <= 2

After Cap27

Penalties-8

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Evaluation Overview

D - Extractive

The score turns mainly on Extraction, with the largest penalty coming from Reversibility.

Strengths

Extraction5/10
Loss-Bearing Fidelity5/7
Market Conduct5/5

Penalties

Reversibility-5
Toxic Products-2
Ideological Disavowal-1

Evidence state

ConfidenceMedium confidence (AI)
ThoroughnessDeveloped (AI)
Linked claims14
Direct axis claims14
Coverage12/12

Scoring Axes

Axis	Score	Why this score
Ownership ? Control rights: shareholder-dominated at 0, worker cooperative control at 10.	1 / 10	Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. That keeps AriZona Iced Tea low on Ownership: decisive control remains with shareholders, private owners, executives, or state insiders rather than affected people. The value is above zero only where the linked record still shows some real function, constraint, or public value on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 12 scored entries below, 65 tied, 149 above on Ownership. Linked evidence context AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. [1] Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. [2] AriZona presents itself as a privately held beverage company founded in 1992. [3]
Governance ? Binding decision authority: centralized control at 0, democratic stakeholder control at 10.	1 / 10	AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 2 scored entries below, 68 tied, 156 above on Governance. Linked evidence context AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. [1] context Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. [2] AriZona presents itself as a privately held beverage company founded in 1992, and public reporting describes ongoing founder and family control rather than worker, customer, or public governance. [4]
Extraction ? Surplus allocation, wage share, CEO pay ratio, margins, and structured extraction judgment.	5 / 10	AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. That places AriZona Iced Tea in the middle of Extraction: the institution creates real value but still leaves room for rent extraction, unequal bargaining, or surplus capture. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 95 scored entries below, 19 tied, 112 above on Extraction. Linked evidence context AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. [1] context Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. [2] AriZona's 99-cent can commitment shows consumer-price restraint, while the same pricing decision remains a discretionary private-owner commitment rather than a binding stakeholder structure. [5]
Labor Sovereignty ? Worker power: coercive conditions at 0, co-determination or ownership at 7. Employee dissatisfaction matters only when source-backed evidence shows concrete limits on worker agency, such as coercive scheduling, retaliation, wage theft, harassment, unsafe conditions, suppression of worker voice, or extreme turnover.	2 / 7	AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. That keeps AriZona Iced Tea low on Labor Sovereignty: labor remains managerially controlled, replaceable, or exposed to coercive employment and contracting conditions. The value is above zero only where the linked record still shows some real function, constraint, or public value on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 8 scored entries below, 36 tied, 182 above on Labor Sovereignty. Linked evidence context AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. [1] context Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. [2] AriZona's public company materials identify a privately held beverage business, with no reviewed evidence of worker ownership or democratic labor control over company decisions. [6]
Solidarity with the Unemployed ? Treatment of exits and nonworkers, including severance, redeployment, and non-competes.	2 / 7	AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. That keeps AriZona Iced Tea low on Solidarity with the Unemployed: the model provides little protection for people who leave, are excluded, or cannot bargain from employment. The value is above zero only where the linked record still shows some real function, constraint, or public value on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 31 scored entries below, 49 tied, 146 above on Solidarity with the Unemployed. Linked evidence context AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. [1] context Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. [2] AriZona's 99-cent can commitment preserves access for price-sensitive consumers, but the reviewed record does not show employment access, mutual-aid, or worker-transition protections. [7]
Loss-Bearing Fidelity ? Willingness to absorb costs to preserve values, workers, users, and public obligations.	5 / 7	AriZona publicly defends the 99-cent can price as a long-running commitment maintained through packaging, logistics, and margin choices, provides evidence for the relevant scoring judgment. AriZona publicly defends the 99-cent can price as a long-running commitment maintained through packaging, logistics, and margin choices, provides evidence for the relevant scoring judgment. That places AriZona Iced Tea in the middle of Loss-Bearing Fidelity: there is some willingness to preserve obligations, but the record still leaves meaningful risk-shifting concerns. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 119 scored entries below, 43 tied, 64 above on Loss-Bearing Fidelity. Linked evidence context AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. [1] context Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. [2] AriZona publicly defends the 99-cent can price as a long-running commitment maintained through packaging, logistics, and margin choices, provides evidence for the relevant scoring judgment. [8]
Market Conduct ? Pricing fairness, switching costs, lock-in, and rent extraction.	5 / 5	AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. That places AriZona Iced Tea high on Market Conduct: pricing, access, switching, and bargaining practices show restraint compared with ordinary rent-seeking competitors. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 180 scored entries below, 46 tied, 0 above on Market Conduct. Linked evidence AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. [1] context Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. [2] AriZona publicly markets its long-running 99-cent can price commitment. [9]
Product Integrity ? Preservation of quality rather than degradation for monetization.	3 / 5	AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. That places AriZona Iced Tea in the middle of Product Integrity: the product has real use value but is compromised by incentives, monetization, lock-in, quality degradation, or risk. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 37 scored entries below, 23 tied, 166 above on Product Integrity. Linked evidence context AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. [1] context Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. [2] AriZona sells widely accessible beverages with a durable low-price can commitment, while sweetened beverages remain part of the core product category. [10]
Scale Integrity ? Whether growth improves or degrades fairness and accountability.	3 / 5	AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. That places AriZona Iced Tea in the middle of Scale Integrity: scale brings useful reach but also weakens accountability, transparency, or local constraint. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 50 scored entries below, 58 tied, 118 above on Scale Integrity. Linked evidence context AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. [1] context Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. [2] AriZona has maintained a nationally recognizable beverage brand and low-price can identity over decades without converting that restraint into democratic or locked governance. [11]

Penalties

Penalty	Applied	Why this penalty
Reversibility ? Applied when positive conduct depends on current living leaders, founders, family owners, or other person-contingent governance rather than durable structure. Range: -5 to 0.	-5	AriZona Iced Tea's favorable conduct depends partly on current leaders, founders, family owners, executive discretion, or other person-contingent control rather than a fully locked democratic stakeholder-control structure. AriZona Iced Tea's favorable conduct depends partly on current leaders, founders, family owners, executive discretion, or other person-contingent control rather than a fully locked democratic stakeholder-control structure. That warrants a severe Reversibility penalty because favorable conduct depends on current people or discretionary leadership rather than locked stakeholder structure. The value is near the floor because the conduct appears central, large-scale, repeated, or institutionally powerful rather than incidental. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 0 scored entries below, 95 tied, 131 above on Reversibility. Linked evidence context AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward. [1] context Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans. [2] AriZona Iced Tea's favorable conduct depends partly on current leaders, founders, family owners, executive discretion, or other person-contingent control rather than a fully locked democratic stakeholder-control structure. [12]
Toxic Products ? Current sale of products whose ordinary use, exposure, ingredients, residues, packaging, or formulation creates toxic, addictive, or consumer-safety risk. Food products receive at least light scrutiny for artificial colors, artificial flavors, petro-derived additives, pesticide residues, contaminants, endocrine-disrupting packaging, and ultra-processed formulation. Ordinary adult nightlife or alcohol service is not penalized by itself without evidence of predatory marketing, youth targeting, addiction-extractive design, or unusual product-safety misconduct. Range: -5 to 0.	-2	AriZona Iced Tea currently sells sweetened beverages as a core product category; the product category creates ordinary toxic, addictive, or consumer-safety exposure under the directory's toxic-products screen. AriZona Iced Tea currently sells sweetened beverages as a core product category; the product category creates ordinary toxic, addictive, or consumer-safety exposure under the directory's toxic-products screen. That warrants a substantial Toxic Products penalty because ordinary use, exposure, ingredients, residues, packaging, or formulation creates material toxic, addictive, or consumer-safety risk. The value is substantial but not at the floor because the linked record shows serious conduct without the strongest aggravating factors on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 14 scored entries below, 9 tied, 203 above on Toxic Products. Linked evidence AriZona Iced Tea currently sells sweetened beverages as a core product category; the product category creates ordinary toxic, addictive, or consumer-safety exposure under the directory's toxic-products screen. [13]
Ideological Disavowal ? Concealed ideology presented as neutrality, expertise, professional necessity, public-service administration, market inevitability, or non-ideological common sense while exercising power. Range: -3 to 0.	-1	AriZona Iced Tea's public framing is assessed as ideological-disavowal evidence because AriZona Iced Tea shows bounded neutrality theater: some contested choices are softened through… AriZona Iced Tea's public framing is assessed as ideological-disavowal evidence because AriZona Iced Tea shows bounded neutrality theater: some contested choices are softened through expertise, public-interest, professional, market, safety, or institutional language, but the record does not show dominant concealment of. That warrants a limited Ideological Disavowal penalty because the institution presents situated, contested choices as neutrality, expertise, inevitability, safety, or common sense. The value is limited because the linked record shows a real problem but not one that dominates the profile on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Ideological Disavowal 0 to -3 recalibration: 0 for explicit standpoint or no penalty-level neutrality theater; -1 for bounded softening of contested choices; -2 for strong neutrality theater by a powerful institution; -3 for major gatekeeping or coercive power presented as neutral, necessary, objective, or non-ideological. Uncertainty This recalibration uses public self-presentation and profile evidence; later review should add direct language-analysis evidence for high-impact institutions. Linked evidence AriZona Iced Tea's public framing is assessed as ideological-disavowal evidence because AriZona Iced Tea shows bounded neutrality theater: some contested choices are softened through expertise, public-interest, professional, market, safety, or institutional language, but the record does not show dominant concealment of standpoint. [14]

Bonus Credits

No bonus credits applied in this version.

Confidence Basis

Confidence is computed from the evidence trail and review state, not typed into the profile by hand.

Medium 79/100

14 verified linked claims 14 direct axis claims 0 disputed claims 12/12 components covered

This confidence label measures the source-backed evidence trail. AI-scaffolded scores remain tentative until human review.

Claim confidence 15/20

14 verified linked claims

Source quality 12/18

Best source per verified claim, weighted by institutional reliability

Direct axis-specific claims 14/18

14 direct claims across 12 active components

Dispute load 12/12

0 disputed claims on this entity

Recency 10/10

Newest accepted timestamp: May 13, 2026

Reviewer status 7/12

Human-reviewed components score higher than AI scaffolding

Component coverage 10/10

12/12 evidence-bearing components have direct support

Evidence State

Profile stateAI draft / human-pending

VerificationUnverified

ConfidenceMedium confidence (AI)

ThoroughnessDeveloped (AI)

Correction routeUse “Challenge this rating” for factual errors, missing counterevidence, source problems, or calculation mistakes.

Company responseCompany representatives can submit source-backed corrections; payment never changes scores or reviewer authority.

Claims and Sources

Claims are the evidence record. Each claim needs a source link, axis category, status, confidence level, and timestamp before it can support a score.

* Tentative scaffolding score. Not human-checked or final.

1AriZona states that its 99-cent Big Can price commitment shaped logistics and operating choices from 1996 forward.

Market Conduct Verified High confidence Human-reviewed May 5, 2026

AriZona: Why is AriZona Iced Tea Still 99¢?General web source · 58%

2Reporting describes AriZona as a private family-owned business and notes its large aluminum use for 22-ounce cans.

Ownership Verified Medium confidence Human-reviewed May 5, 2026

NBC Los Angeles: Arizona Iced Tea founder continues to commit to 99-cent priceGeneral web source · 58%
Forbes: Arizona Beverage Company Celebrates 25 Years Of Great Buy 99-Cent CansGeneral web source · 58%

3AriZona presents itself as a privately held beverage company founded in 1992.

Ownership Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 5, 2026

AI scaffold

AriZona - About UsOfficial self-description · 68%

4AriZona presents itself as a privately held beverage company founded in 1992, and public reporting describes ongoing founder and family control rather than worker, customer, or public governance.

Governance Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 13, 2026

AI scaffold

AriZona About UsOfficial self-description · 68%

5AriZona's 99-cent can commitment shows consumer-price restraint, while the same pricing decision remains a discretionary private-owner commitment rather than a binding stakeholder structure.

Extraction Verified High confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 13, 2026

AI scaffold

AriZona: Why is AriZona Iced Tea Still 99¢?General web source · 58%

6AriZona's public company materials identify a privately held beverage business, with no reviewed evidence of worker ownership or democratic labor control over company decisions.

Labor Sovereignty Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 13, 2026

AI scaffold

AriZona About UsOfficial self-description · 68%

7AriZona's 99-cent can commitment preserves access for price-sensitive consumers, but the reviewed record does not show employment access, mutual-aid, or worker-transition protections.

Solidarity Unemployed Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 13, 2026

AI scaffold

AriZona: Why is AriZona Iced Tea Still 99¢?General web source · 58%

8AriZona publicly defends the 99-cent can price as a long-running commitment maintained through packaging, logistics, and margin choices, provides evidence for the relevant scoring judgment.

Loss Bearing Fidelity Verified High confidence Human-reviewed May 5, 2026

AriZona on the 99-cent priceGeneral web source · 58%

9AriZona publicly markets its long-running 99-cent can price commitment.

Market Conduct Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 5, 2026

AI scaffold

AriZona homepageGeneral web source · 58%

10AriZona sells widely accessible beverages with a durable low-price can commitment, while sweetened beverages remain part of the core product category.

Product Integrity Verified High confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 13, 2026

AI scaffold

AriZona: Why is AriZona Iced Tea Still 99¢?General web source · 58%
AriZona About UsOfficial self-description · 68%

11AriZona has maintained a nationally recognizable beverage brand and low-price can identity over decades without converting that restraint into democratic or locked governance.

Scale Integrity Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 13, 2026

AI scaffold

AriZona: Why is AriZona Iced Tea Still 99¢?General web source · 58%
AriZona About UsOfficial self-description · 68%

12AriZona Iced Tea's favorable conduct depends partly on current leaders, founders, family owners, executive discretion, or other person-contingent control rather than a fully locked democratic stakeholder-control structure.

Reversibility Verified Medium confidence Human-reviewed May 5, 2026

AriZona: Why is AriZona Iced Tea Still 99¢?General web source · 58%
NBC Los Angeles: Arizona Iced Tea founder continues to commit to 99-cent priceGeneral web source · 58%
Forbes: Arizona Beverage Company Celebrates 25 Years Of Great Buy 99-Cent CansGeneral web source · 58%

13AriZona Iced Tea currently sells sweetened beverages as a core product category; the product category creates ordinary toxic, addictive, or consumer-safety exposure under the directory's toxic-products screen.

Toxic Products Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 6, 2026

AI scaffold

AriZona - About UsOfficial self-description · 68%
CDC: Sugar-sweetened beverages and healthPrimary public record · 100%

14AriZona Iced Tea's public framing is assessed as ideological-disavowal evidence because AriZona Iced Tea shows bounded neutrality theater: some contested choices are softened through expertise, public-interest, professional, market, safety, or institutional language, but the record does not show dominant concealment of standpoint.

Ideological Disavowal Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 9, 2026

AI scaffold

AriZona Iced Tea official siteGeneral web source · 58%
AriZona - About UsOfficial self-description · 68%
AriZona: Why is AriZona Iced Tea Still 99¢?General web source · 58%

Alternatives

Competitors

AGOOD61 Three Stone Hearth worker-owned community-supported kitchen · same market AGOOD60 Cheese Board Collective worker cooperative · same market AGOOD60 ChiFresh Kitchen worker-owned prepared-meal cooperative · same market AGOOD59 Alvarado Street Bakery worker-owned bakery · same market AGOOD59 Arizmendi Bakery worker cooperative bakery · same market AGOOD59 Rainbow Grocery Cooperative worker cooperative grocer · same market AGOOD58 Equal Exchange worker cooperative · same market AGOOD58 Niles Pie Company worker-owned pie shop and bakery · same market

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Audit Log

Recent public changes for this company or group. The full audit log is part of the Transparency record.

May 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC ai-scaffolding toxic-products-assessment

Added tentative AI-generated Toxic Products penalty -2 and directory value for current toxic, addictive, pesticide, livestock, chemical, or consumer-safety product exposure.

May 5, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC ai-scaffolding ai-scaffolding-score

Added tentative AI-generated claim-backed score components for a previously listed under-review company or group.

May 5, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC ai-scaffolding initial-evaluation-quality-pass

Added sourced claims and revised tentative AI score components during the initial evaluation completion pass.

View Full Audit Log