Costco Goes Craft with Soda Expansions
Costco’s soda selection is getting some new additions. The mass channel retailer has expanded its offerings of Jones Soda Co. CSDs to its warehouses across the Southeast and in Puerto Rico.
The expansion includes four of Jones top selling flavors – Orange & Cream, Cream Soda, Green Apple and Berry Lemonade – available in 12-pack variety cases of 12 oz. glass bottles. The launch covers six Southern states, including Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama, alongside Puerto Rico.
“We’re seeing strong consumer thirst for differentiated beverage offerings in the club channel,” said Scott Harvey, CEO of Jones Soda Co. “Our Southeast launch with Costco not only brings Jones to new markets—it demonstrates the scalability of our brand in a premium, family-friendly multipack format that delivers both excitement and value.”
The expansion comes as Jones has reported softening sales. In its Q1 2025 earnings report earlier this year, the company announced revenue fell from $5 million in Q1 2024 to only $4.6 million. The company attributed the decline to a one-time pipeline fill in the prior year.
Though it’s still working on establishing its Pop Jones functional line, Jones has been returning to basics in at least one regard this summer: dropping its cannabis-infused Mary Jones line, divesting the intoxicating beverage brand to MJ Reg Disrupters LLC.
Jones isn’t the only independent CSD brand adding to its Costco footprint. Probiotic soda maker Culture Pop announced today it will be available in all 99 Costco locations in the Northeast region this fall.
The expansion includes an exclusive 15-count variety pack featuring the brand’s Orange Mango & Lime, Strawberry Rhubarb and Black Cherry flavors. The region covers 11 states and the District of Columbia, including all of New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland.
“Launching in Costco is a milestone for Culture Pop,” said Culture Pop founder and CEO Tom First in a press release. “As a Massachusetts-based brand, we’re excited for even more people across the Northeast to experience what makes our soda different. We want shoppers to read our ingredient statement because we’re proud of how we make Culture Pop.”
Shonen Soda
Another independent CSD brand is adding stores as well. Shonen Soda, a startup producing Japanese-inspired cream sodas, has launched in more than 200 Miniso locations across the country.
The rollout into the variety store chain marks the first national chain launch from the brand and includes all three of its flavors: Banana Cream, Orange Cream and Berry Lemon Cream, each sold in 12 oz. cans.
According to a press release, the brand’s ambition is to build on emerging interest around Japanese and other Asian beverage flavors (such as sparkling water brand Sanzo, matcha drinks and other products), while also looking to show that it isn’t “just a trend” but that Japanese beverages are “carving out a permanent place in the future of American soft drinks.”
Leisure Hydration Hits Costco
It may not be a soda, but one more beverage maker announced a Costco expansion this week: Leisure Hydration is entering the chain in SoCal and Hawaii as part of end of summer rotations.
“This is the first time we are selling multi-packs at retail and not only is the value amazing, but we couldn’t [be] more excited with how our packaging came out,” said co-founder and CMO Steve Michaelsen on LinkedIn.
Michaelsen added that the new multipack design features “hints” to an upcoming brand refresh as well.
“If you’re in SoCal or Hawaii now through the end of September check us out, grab a few cases, and hydrate at your leisure,” he added.
Sap’s Enters Piggly Wiggly
Hydration beverage brand Sap’s Original is going deeper down south with Piggly Wiggly, according to CEO Jordan Wilson.
On LinkedIn, Wilson said that Sap’s became the grocer’s top-selling electrolyte beverage within 30 days of launching in the chain this summer.
“We started this brand because Big Sports Drink has missed the mark for decades,” Wilson said. “It’s time for change and customers are clearly looking for better options that actually work. Sap’s is the best way to hydrate, recover, and keep moving without overthinking it.”
More Distribution News from Across the Industry
- Tonic brand BRĒZ has added its non-hemp infused Elevate, Flow, and Dream varieties to Wegmans Food Markets in the Northeast.
- Laurel’s Coffee is hitting Whole Foods Market stores nationwide, bringing its footprint to over 1,000 doors.