Kickback Expands SoCal with Los Angeles Distributing
CBD beverage maker Kickback announced last week it has partnered with Los Angeles Distributing (LAD) to expand the brand’s lemonade line throughout the Southern California region.
According to Kickback founder and CEO Pierre Real, the brand is currently available in about 350 stores nationwide, of which about 80 are in the Los Angeles area. The brand also has distribution in New York, Texas and Tennessee and is in discussions with a U.K. distributor.
The partnership with LAD, he said, will likely expand the brand into several hundred new accounts by the end of the summer, with a focus on independent retailers in populous neighborhoods.
“In L.A. we’re focused mainly in the natural food stores, restaurants, cafes, a lot of the trendier areas,” Real said. “I’ve noticed it does really well in the Arts District near downtown, on Melrose or in Santa Monica — the ‘hip places’ we get a lot of repeat buys and loyal customers in those areas.”
Founded as Kickback Cold-Brew in 2016, the company initially produced a line of ready-to-drink CBD-infused coffees and teas, but the products were discontinued last year due to issues with shelf life. The company has since dropped “Cold-Brew” from its name and relaunched with a line of shelf-stable lemonades. The new line is available in Lemony Lemon, Mellow Mango and Strawberry Sunshine flavors and each variety contains 25 mg of hemp extract per 12 oz. bottle.
Real added that the company is currently developing additional flavors for the lemonade line. The company also produces lines of CBD-infused ground coffee and loose leaf tea.
Though the brand is still unable to enter certain key retailers which will not carry CBD-infused food and beverage products, Kickback is available in several small chains including Erewhon, Real said. But despite many major chains’ reticence to embrace CBD, pending FDA approval, he noted that the brand has continued to see rising interest from retailers.
“[Competing CBD beverage brands] have really opened different territories for us, it’s helping us in the independents a lot,” Real said. “With all the sparkling waters and canned products and glass-bottled juices, store owners are seeing CBD as a category now and they want to try out different types of CBD drinks with their customer base.”
Doctor D’s Launches Canned Line in Over 1,200 Stores
Colorado-based probiotic drink maker Doctor D’s announced last week that it has launched its “eco-friendly” canned line into 1,251 stores nationwide as the company seeks to completely phase out glass bottles by the end of the year.
According to a press release, the BPA-free cans are made with 70% recycled content and provide a “clean new look” that better highlights the brand’s functional benefits. The new packaging is currently available in Publix stores and Whole Foods Rocky Mountain region.
The water kefir-based beverage line includes Concord Grape, Berry Lavender, Crisp Apple, Hibiscus Cooler, Tart Cherry and Ginger Brew varieties. The company will launch Lime Mint Mojito in Whole Foods this month.
“We aimed to reflect our commitment to the environment with our new packaging to reduce our carbon footprint,” said co-founder and CEO Stuart Dimson. “In alignment with using clean and responsibly sourced ingredients for our beverages, we believe that our health and health of the planet are one and the same. The cans come with the added bonus of making everyone’s fast-paced lives a little easier with a more convenient container that maintains freshness for longer.”
Goodwolf Water Kefir Makes Distribution Gains
Oregon-based water kefir maker Goodwolf announced last week that it has added 100 new stores since the beginning of the year. The startup brand has also signed a broker agreement with Yin Yang Naturals, added West Coast KeHE distribution centers and entered the UNFI Next program.
According to a press release, the brand is now available in small chains including Mother’s Market, Erewhon, Lassens and Good Eggs and has also been approved for a regional Whole Foods launch later this year.
The brand will also launch two new flavors this year: Habanero Fire and a seasonal Tulsi Rose Lemonade.
KeHE to Carry Alkaline88 Aluminum Products
The Alkaline Water Company announced that it has expanded its distribution partnership with KeHE and national broker C.A. Fortune to carry the brand’s Alkaline88 line of aluminum bottle packaged products, according to a press release.
“Our eco-friendly aluminum bottles will now be available through some of our long-standing partners and the most reputable players in the all-natural and organic channel,” said president and CEO Richard A Wright. “We expect the addition of KeHE to accelerate the interest in our aluminum bottles, and expand our reach to the environmentally-conscious consumer. We remain committed to executing on our strategy and firmly believe that our journey to becoming one of America’s trusted household brands will result in significant shareholder value creation.”
Lumen Adds Whole Foods
Hemp seed oil shot brand Lumen announced on Instagram last week that it has added Whole Foods Market stores in California. The brand will be available in 29 locations in the Los Angeles area.
Elemental Beverage Co. Adds Whole Foods
Massachusetts-based “snapchilled” coffee maker Elemental Beverage Co. announced this month that it has launched in 40 Whole Foods North Atlantic stores, including stores in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The brand’s line of single-origin coffees will retail for $5 per 12 oz. can.
“We’re thrilled to introduce Elemental’s premium, single-origin coffee to the North Atlantic region of Whole Foods and look forward to the opportunity to expand even further across the country as we continue to develop and grow our production capabilities,” said Ryan McDonnell, Chief Beverage Officer at Elemental. “Customers are responding well to the pure and amplified flavors, aroma and freshness preserved by Snapchilling. The rare high-quality, single-origin coffees we offer and the transparency with which we’ve labeled our ready-to-drink cans has really resonated with our consumers.”