We partnered with Arriba Chelada and Athletic Brewing Co. to launch Nada Chelada, the first non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink michelada. The collaboration blended Arriba's rich cultural heritage with Athletic's clean, modern non-alcoholic beer leadership. We orchestrated every detail from co-branding strategy to campaign storytelling. The result was a highly craveable product that sold out twice in weeks, successfully defining an entirely new beverage category.

CHALLENGE

Arriba Chelada was entering a new phase of growth and needed a strategic overhaul to scale its retail and food service presence. Simultaneously, a unique collaboration opportunity arose with Athletic Brewing Company to co-create a non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink michelada — defining a category that did not yet exist. The core challenge lay in carefully balancing two highly distinct brand identities without letting one overshadow the other. The product needed to look authentic, modern, and instantly craveable, while remaining visually distinct from the loud, flashy legacy competition dominating the market.

RESULTS

The final design balanced heritage and innovation, achieving a co-branded visual identity that felt natural and premium. The black background allowed the vibrant rim and logo to pop on-shelf, instantly communicating refreshment and culture. Every design detail was intentional — the gradient flames from Arriba’s mark, the minimalist Athletic typography, and the cohesive color flow that unified both brands. Ajnci’s campaign created not just a beverage, but a lifestyle narrative — positioning Chelada Nada as the first true non-alcoholic michelada experience in a can.

Launched in late 2023, Chelada Nada sold out within weeks of release. A second production run quickly followed — and sold out again. The collaboration gained organic social traction, resonating with both Athletic Brewing’s NA beer audience and Arriba’s Hispanic-inspired flavor fans. The limited-edition drop validated a new category opportunity for both partners, proving that co-branded, culturally rooted RTDs can perform on par with mainstream beverage launches — while authentically representing both brand stories.