Kent’s Soda: 9-year-old autistic boy starts business to help others

Kent Melville of Vermont is the 9-year-old name and brains behind the local soda business, Kent's Soda.

Kent has autism.

His personal motto is "anything is possible."

In the summer of 2010, Kent ran a profitable lemonade stand. As summer came to an end, he plotted his next business move, asking his parents, Aaron and Michelle Melville, if he could sell sodas to local businesses and stores.

His parents acknowledged that his idea was one worth exploring when he was older.

Kent disagreed.

"Dad, I have everything I need right now, but there are lots of other kids with autism that can't do the things they want or need. I want to be able to help them get some of the things they want with the money we earn. Can't we start now? I don't want to wait."

Kent's plea was the inspiring pitch that helped move Kent's Soda forward. Aaron Melville, an attorney who teaches business courses, brought Kent with him to a Lyndon State College class where they turned their business plan into a class assignment. At the conclusion of the academic exercise, Kent listened to each business plan and critiqued the proposals.

Eventually, faculty members and graphic-arts students at the school helped create the final business plan and bottle design as part of an incubator project.

Aaron cites Paul Newman and TOMS Shoes as inspirations, pointing to both brands' dedication to giving back.

The beverages are now available at a farm near his home, a local restaurant, Kent's personal soda stand and on the official website.

Kent isn't just the face behind the brand. Each of the line's available flavours were chosen by the young soda-lover.

Bottles of root beer, cream soda, orange soda, lemonade and raspberry lime are currently available. Strawberry and diet root beer are coming soon. And root beer orange is in the works.

"I tried it," Kent told The Caledonian-Record. "It was delicious."

Kent's Soda is dedicated to the "positive social development of children with autism" and donates a portion of its sales to clubs, camps and programs for children with autism and their families.