Caliwater Heads For the East Coast
Cactus water brand Caliwater, which relaunched this year under the leadership of actors Oliver Trevena and Vanessa Hudgens, is heading for the East Coast with a new expansion into New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland stores.
According to the company, the drink’s Ginger & Lime and Wild Prickly Pear flavors are now available in three Village Super Market, Inc. banner stores in those four states, including 29 ShopRite, five Fairway Market and three Gourmet Garage locations.
“We are so excited to expand to the East Coast, with one of the country’s top respected retail entities,” Trevena and Hudgens stated in a press release. “We are so thrilled to be able to continue to bring our cactus water beverage to new customers and clientele, a beverage that will truly benefit their daily lifestyle and diet with all of its health benefits and delicious, hydrating flavor. We appreciate Village Supermarkets sharing in our vision of this important functional beverage as the wellness landscape continues to evolve in the beverage category.”
Originally founded in 2014 and at one point sold in over 3,000 retail locations nationwide, Caliwater struggled to gain traction in its original iteration but in April was relaunched in California with new packaging and formulations by Trevena and Hudgens, who serve as co-founders of the new version of the company. In August, the brand raised $2 million in a celebrity-backed seed round, bringing in brand ambassadors such as Gerard Butler and Glen Powell.
The drinks are organic and contain 25 calories per 12 oz. can with a suggested retail price of $2.99. In addition to the East Coast expansion, Caliwater is available online via Amazon and in various hotel and restaurants including Resorts World’ Zouk Group properties, Élia Beach Club at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Cara Hotel, Ysabel, Laurel Hardware, Craig’s, and Alfred Coffee among others. It is also sold in retail on the West Coast in Erewhon.
THC Seltzer Brand Wynk Adds Maine Accounts
Cannabis seltzer brand Wynk is branching out around the country, now adding dispensary accounts in Maine, the company told BevNET in an email.
The THC-infused drinks will be available in medical and recreational dispensaries in Maine, and are being produced in partnership with AfterGlow Edible Co.
Launched earlier this year by founders Casey Parzych, Shawn Sheehan and Angus Rittenburg, each 8.4 oz. can of Wynk contains a “microdose” 1:1 ratio of 2.5 mg each of THC and CBD with a projected onset time of 10 to 15 minutes after consumption. The drinks are available in Black Cherry Fizz, Juicy Mango and Lime Twist flavors.
“THC microdosing is a way to achieve a relaxed feeling without an extreme high,” VP of marketing Susan Silver said in a statement. “We’ve balanced the ratio of THC and CBD and put it into a refreshing beverage that gives cannabis newbies or anyone curious about alcohol alternatives that perfect feeling of relaxation in one sippable little can.”
Maine is the fifth state expansion for Wynk, following Arizona (Vext Science), Massachusetts (Resinate Inc.), Missouri (5150 Infusions/Bold Lane Logistics) and Ohio (Appalachian Pharms). As well, the company said it will be opening up locations in New Mexico by the end of December via Everest Cannabis Co. and will begin sales in Arkansas in the first week of January in partnership with Bold Cultivation. The brand is currently available in over 170 total locations. Further in the pipeline, Wynk expects to open up sales in Florida, Nevada, Oklahoma, Illinois and Michigan in Q1 of 2022.
NotCo’s NotMilk Opens Up New Grocery Locations
Chilean plant-based milk maker NotCo is expanding its U.S. presence. The company announced this month that its Whole and 2% varieties will be rolling out to HEB and Publix stores next month.
Initially launching in November 2020 in Whole Foods Market stores nationwide, the company said its products are now sold in over 3,300 stores. Other retail partners include Sprouts, Wegmans, Star Market, D’Agostino’s, Kings/Balducci’s, Harmons, New Seasons, Earth Fare, Bristol Farms, Rouses, Weis and Gelsons.
This summer, the company closed a $235 million Series D funding round, intended to support its U.S. expansion and also scale the proprietary A.I. technology it uses to develop its product formulations.
The expansion comes as NotCo broadens its platform into plant-based meat alternatives, having recently launched its NotChicken line in the Latin American market, with products like NotChickenBurger and NotChickenFillet.
Hope and Sesame Expands Kroger Placement
Planting Hope, the parent company of sesame milk brand Hope and Sesame, announced this week that it will launch its latest product, a multiserve, refrigerated plant-based milk, in Kroger stores nationwide.
Kroger currently carries Hope and Sesame’s shelf-stable carton line, which includes original, unsweetened and chocolate varieties. The retail chain will now be the first to launch the brand’s 48 oz. refrigerated sesame milk line, including Unsweetened Original and Unsweetened Vanilla flavors. The launch includes select Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers and Mariano’s locations.
“Entering Kroger with our brand-new Non-GMO Verified refrigerated lineup of Hope and Sesame sesamemilk marks an important milestone for Planting Hope as we continue to scale operations and rapidly expand our retail footprint,” said Planting Hope co-founder and CEO Julia Stamberger in a press release. “We are excited to further our mission of providing ultra-nutritious, plant-based, planet-friendly food and beverage options to the loyal customers of the Kroger family.”
The news comes a month after Planting Hope completed a $9 million IPO and began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange on November 15.
Ace+Freak Partners with Getir
British canned cocktail startup Ace+Freak announced today that it has partnered with grocery home delivery service Getir, making the brand available nationwide in the U.K.
In a deal brokered by beverage alcohol importer Ten Locks, Getir will carry the brand’s Mint & Elderflower Spritz, Ginger & Lemongrass Mule and Watermelon & Cucumber Sangria varieties. The drinks were developed by award-winning mixologist Tomas Soden and are made with high quality craft spirits.
Getir, a Turkish grocery delivery startup, began operations in the U.S. last month, beginning with services in the Chicago market, with plans to expand to New York and Boston in the near future.
“Getir and Ace + Freak share an ethos of disruption and a hyper-focus on millennials,” said Becky Davis, head of commercial at Ten Locks, in a press release. “Bringing together the two creative, top quality and razor-sharp propositions mean we can insert Ace + Freak into lesser tapped territories; impromptu get-togethers, outdoor drinks and drinks at home.”