Passaic, NJ (April 2026) — ZZAI, a West African sparkling beverage brand founded by Zainob Fashola of Faaji LLC, today announced the launch of its debut product line alongside a live Kickstarter campaign seeking $120,000 to fund its first full production run. The brand makes its trade debut at the Summer Fancy Food Show 2026 at the Javits Center in New York City.
ZZAI launches with four sparkling beverages: Chapman, Zobo, TamTam, and Obì, each rooted in a distinct West African flavor tradition. Chapman is a sparkling spiced citrus drink drawn from Nigeria’s most beloved celebration beverage. Zobo is sparkling hibiscus and ginger, born in Nigerian kitchens and once the best-selling drink in Nigeria. TamTam blends mango and tamarind, two ingredients with deep cultural roots across West Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. Obì is a sparkling African bitters built around the kola nut, one of the most culturally significant ingredients in West African tradition. All four are made with real cane sugar and contain no artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives. Each SKU is 12 fl oz, 50–72 calories, gluten free, and non-GMO.
The Kickstarter campaign is live now at kickstarter.com/projects/zzai/zzai-west-african-sparkling-beverages. Early backer pricing starts at $40 for a 12-pack — a launch-only rate ahead of retail pricing. Every reward ships July 2026 and is guaranteed to fulfill regardless of funding tier reached.
Fashola brings eighteen years of product development experience to ZZAI, having run one of Nigeria’s largest beauty operations before founding an organic skincare manufacturing company in Lagos. The brand is supported by the Rutgers Food Innovation Center and six months of dedicated product development. Production is already underway.
“I grew up with these flavors,” said Fashola. “Chapman at every celebration. Zobo from the kitchen. I came to the US and couldn’t find them anywhere. That became the mission: to bring West Africa’s most iconic drinks to shelves in a format that belongs anywhere in the world.”
ZZAI is positioned in the premium independent beverage space, targeting retailers, specialty food buyers, and foodservice accounts across the New York and New Jersey market at launch. Wholesale inquiries are welcome at the Fancy Food Show.
Back ZZAI on Kickstarter: kickstarter.com/projects/zzai/zzai-west-african-sparkling-beverages
About ZZAI
ZZAI is a West African sparkling beverage brand founded by Zainob Fashola, Founder of Faaji LLC. Four flavors rooted in real cultural tradition — Chapman, Zobo, TamTam, and Obì. Real cane sugar. No artificial anything. Rooted in culture. Made to be enjoyed. drinkzzai.com · @drinkzzai on Instagram and TikTok
Media Contact:
Zainob Fashola, Founder
drinkzzai.com
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