Nantucket Nectars co-founder to speak

The Seminar Series on Entrepreneurship presents a talk by Nantucket Nectars co-founder Tom First at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, in Chase Hall Lounge, 56 Campus Ave.

First will discuss the history and business practices of his company, which has grown dramatically during its nearly 14 years. First and college friend Tom Scott (Ernst and Young’s 1997 Entrepreneur of the Year) started making juice at home in Nantucket in the winter of 1989. They developed a juice that rivaled a peach drink that First had tried in Spain.

While seeking a source of supplemental income in the off-season of their primary business, which provided services to boats visiting Nantucket Harbor, the two Toms decided to sell their juice from their boat the following summer.

The company was a local hit and grew rapidly. In 1997, it made the Inc. Magazine ranking of the fastest-growing U.S. companies and was covered by the New York Times, People magazine, CNN and CNBC. Today Nantucket Nectars employs more than 150 and has markets in more than 40 states, as well as Canada, Europe and the Caribbean.