Bawi

Sparkling agua fresca brand Bawi has landed in select Whole Foods Market stores in its home market of Texas, as well as Chicago and Northern California locations.

Los Angeles-based Taste Salud has been marketing its agua fresca powder stick packs since 2021, but its recently launched collaboration with iconic Mexican soda brand Jarritos on a pair of releases represents a new phase of growth.

The New York City DSD house’s trio of new signings in key categories — OWYN, Jolene and Spindrift — signal that it has the clout to attract experienced brands that need support up-and-down the street.

Agua fresca maker Bawi has raised a $3.5 million seed round led by a $1.5 million infusion from Brand Foundry as the Austin-based brand scales operations for a distribution push in 2025.

Startup brand Agua Bonita is still growing, but it’s been flanked by other brands in a category that has received widespread attention from all reaches of the beverage industry, from startups such as Bawi and Frescos Naturales, to launches from corporate giants like Coca-Cola and BlueTriton Brands.