John Ferolito

John Ferolito is an American entrepreneur who is co-founder of the Arizona Beverage Company, maker of Arizona Iced Tea.

AriZona Iced Tea

Ferolito joined with partner Don Vultaggio in the 1970s to establish a Brooklyn-based discount beer and soda delivery company, starting with a used Volkswagen bus and adding trucks as the business grew. The company ventured into flavored seltzer and its own brand of malt liquor in its early years. AriZona Iced Tea, the company's flagship product, was first introduced in 1992.

AriZona buyout

After a falling-out between the two founding partners, Vultaggio prevailed in a 2012 suit against Ferolito. The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division ruled that the company could buy out Ferolito's half-interest, which Ferolito had sought to sell to major international beverage companies. While Vultaggio's attorneys pointed to a 2007 estimated value of $430 million for the company, Ferolito estimated that the company that had become Beverage Marketing USA Inc. was worth as much as $6 billion.

Golf injury lawsuit

On a 1994 golf outing at the East Orange Golf Course, Ferolito hit a mulligan, and struck Jeffrey Schick in the eye, knocking him unconscious. Schick sued, claiming that Ferolito had been negligent. The incident occurred at the 16th hole of the East Orange Golf Course, where Ferolito and his partner had joined together with another pair of players.