Bevscape: The Latest Beverage Brand News

Sprouts ‘Mainstreams’ THC Drinks With 120-Store Launch

Sprouts Farmers Market is one of the first national grocery chains to offer intoxicating hemp beverages.

The natural channel retailer began selling drinks from eight hemp-derived THC brands – including Cann, Magic Cactus, Nowadays, Wynk, Howdy, Delta, Highpour, and Nektr Infusions – across about 115 stores in Texas and Florida in January.

Depending on distributor coverage, not all brands will be in every store or state.

Sprouts’ hemp drinks set spans a range of dosages – 2mg, 5mg and 10mg of THC – and contain other cannabinoids like CBD (cannabidiol) or CBG (cannabigerol).

“Occasion-based drinking is where the industry is headed,” said a Sprouts representative. “There is an occasion for alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, and now hemp-derived THC. Differentiation is what makes Sprouts special and we will be trailblazing this category by being one of the first national grocery chains to launch this category in Florida and Texas.”

The scale of Sprouts’ multi-state and triple-digit launch is notable in comparison to Target’s October test-run in 10 stores throughout the Twin City metro area.

For Magic Cactus, the new retail partnership is a significant addition to the brand’s roughly 350-store footprint. All four Magic Cactus varieties are sold in four-packs for $15.99 at all 120 participating Sprouts stores.

“Since we launched two years ago, we’ve been waiting for a mainstream grocery to come on board, because that’s really where low-dose shines,” Magic Cactus founder and CEO Jonny Locarni told BevNET. “Now that time has finally come, so we’re hoping to open access up to as many people as possible.”

Conversations began in October with Sprouts indicating it wanted to launch the set in January, Locarni said. “We were lucky enough to secure a placement in the set and moved to sign statewide distribution agreements with Sprouts-authorized retailers in both Florida and Texas.”

Elsewhere, Nowadays has brought its 12 oz. and 16 oz. RTDs in 5mg and 10mg THC, respectively. The brand is offering its Berry flavor and a variety pack, both in six-can formats. The brand initially launched exclusively in Sprouts’ Florida stores.

Sprouts, which operates over 400 stores nationwide, is the latest national grocery retailer to dip its toes into hemp-derived THC drinks, following the Target launch in October. That same month, c-store chain Circle K announced it would begin selling THC drinks in as many as 3,000 stores this year. However, barring any changes, sales of drinks and other consumable products containing more than 0.4mg total THC-class cannabinoids per container will be illegal as of November 2026.

Suja Files For IPO

Another cold chain company is heading for a public market exit.

Suja Life, Inc. announced in November it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The cold-pressed, organic juice and shot brand, which also includes Vive and Slice as part of its fresh, healthy beverage platform, joins baby food brand Once Upon a Farm as brands notifying the regulatory agency of an incipient investor road show.

The IPO remains subject to the completion of the SEC review process, as well as market and other conditions.

It’s been a long journey to an exit for Suja investors. The company started in San Diego in 2012. Under original CEO Jeff Church, the brand was one of an early vanguard of juice companies using High Pressure Processing (HPP) to maintain freshness and flavor in its products.

In 2015, beverage giant Coca-Cola invested $90 million in the company, but ultimately passed on purchasing it. In 2021, private equity firm Paine Schwartz bought out existing shareholders and acquired the brand. Under the direction of CEOs Bob Deborde and now Maria Stipp, who joined in 2024, the company cleaned up operational inefficiencies and has returned to growth.

Suja’s sales have been growing; in two major categories classified by retail data firm Circana, its fruit drinks totalled $149 million – up 35% – and its vegetable drinks were $74 million – up 22% – for the 52-week period ending Oct. 5, 2025.