While Mela Watermelon Water may seem like a promising product, there are a number of concerns that potential consumers should be aware of before making a purchase.

First, it is important to note that while watermelon does contain some natural sugars, it is not typically considered a significant source of nutrients. In fact, one serving of Mela Watermelon Water contains only 5% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, and no other vitamins or minerals.

Second, Mela Watermelon Water contains added sugar in the form of organic cane sugar. While this may be a better option than artificial sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup, it is still important to monitor your sugar intake, especially if you are trying to manage your weight or blood sugar levels.

Third, the price point for Mela Watermelon Water is relatively high compared to other similar beverages. At around $3 per bottle, it may not be a sustainable option for consumers who are looking for an affordable way to stay hydrated.

Finally, it is worth noting that Mela Watermelon Water is not a particularly innovative product. There are a number of other brands on the market that offer similar fruit-based beverages, many of which are available at a lower price point.

Overall, while Mela Watermelon Water may be a refreshing and tasty option for some consumers, it is important to consider the nutritional content, sugar content, price point, and the competition before making a purchase. As with any food or beverage product, it is important to read labels, do your research, and make informed decisions about what you put into your body.

At present, Little Saints products are available in over 500 stores across the United States, which is a promising start. However, this number is still relatively small compared to some of the established players in the beverage industry. In order to compete, Little Saints will need to focus on expanding its distribution network and increasing brand awareness.

One potential area for improvement for Little Saints is its product line. While their organic juices and teas are certainly a positive, the functional beverage market is highly competitive, and it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. In order to succeed, Little Saints may need to consider expanding their product line to include other functional beverages such as functional sparkling water or functional shots.

Another challenge facing Little Saints is pricing. Their products are currently on the higher end of the spectrum, which may limit their appeal to price-sensitive consumers. In order to succeed, Little Saints will need to find a way to bring down their prices while still maintaining their high standards for quality and taste.

In conclusion, Little Saints is a promising beverage brand with a lot of potential. However, there are several challenges that they will need to overcome in order to succeed in a highly competitive market. If they can successfully address these challenges and continue to innovate, I believe that Little Saints has the potential to become a major player in the functional beverage industry.

One of the key aspects that sets All Phenoms apart from its competitors is its use of natural, plant-based ingredients. Their drinks are free of artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners, making them a healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks.

All Phenoms has quickly become a popular choice among health-conscious consumers, and the company has raised significant funding to support its growth. In its first year, the company raised $5 million in seed funding, allowing them to expand its product line and reach new markets.

The strongest markets for All Phenoms are currently in the United States and Canada, where they have gained a dedicated following among fitness enthusiasts, office workers, and busy parents. The company's products are available in a variety of natural food stores and online platforms, making them accessible to a wide range of consumers.

In conclusion, All Phenoms Functional Sparkling Water is a promising new entrant in the functional beverage industry. With their commitment to using natural ingredients and their growing popularity, I believe this company has a bright future ahead. If you haven't tried their products yet, I highly recommend giving them a try – you won't be disappointed!

On to the good stuff! If you follow my functional beverage tiktok, then maybe you saw my review of wildwonder. I scooped up a Mango Gold flavor from my local Sprouts Farmers Market.

Wildwonder, “a better drink for gut health,” was formed in San Francisco by an amazing woman, Rosa Li. It’s a great story. Her grandma hails from China and Rosa grew up enjoying her tonics and elixirs which inspired her to create her own beverage.

This is not her first try in this arena. She originally was the founder of Rosali Tea which does not seem to exist anymore. Wildwonder has been running strong for 5 years! They’ve raised a little over 2 million, from CSA partners in 2021. It seems like they’ve been able to achieve this with under 10 employees! Impressive!

Looks like they are located in over 700 stores nationwide! Makes sense, they taste delicious. Besides the taste, they are going full-fledged on the DTC to play and I love it. They have incorporated some great technology within their website. They also provide the option to wholesale straight from the website, which I have not seen yet. Using a program called Faire, is very neat!

I must admit, I walked by this brand an awful lot before jumping at it. I noticed it often at Sprouts, and never pulled the trigger. It may cater more to a female demographic, which is great either way. I enjoyed the taste and I’ll certainly repurchase. They have 6 flavors to choose from, and you can watch the sharks taste them tonight, 1/13. I’m very bullish on this company!

With each blend, Scott mentions he began experiencing increased euphoria, energy, and additional clarity to begin his days. After 2 years of discovery, he released Odyssey Elixirs in a few different flavors. Their mission is to “create functional mushroom-based beverages that are potent, organic, sustainable, and most of all; delicious.” They like to incorporate other powerful ingredients that are not just mushrooms.

I was lucky to try the Sleep Elixir which has Reishi and Chaga mushrooms.

Of note, I am not able to locate this SKU on their website.

There are some other flavors I noticed on the shelves that I also cannot locate on their website directly. They are, however, in almost 3,000 stores nationwide!

As far as the effects; I can’t speak to much of noticing anything. I drink it in the afternoon and I remember feeling a bit more relaxed. The highlight for me again, was the chamomile honey. Some of the adaptogenic mushroom drinks I have tried give off a subtle mushroom taste. Not this drink!

This one was a delightful treat, or as their mission says, delicious!

One thought is the continuity I am seeing across the internet. On their website, they have about 4 flavors. In the store I go to get this drink, Bristol Farms, I will see some of those core flavors, and other flavors like the one in the image above.

On a release from 2021, I see a number of latte-like flavors? Not clear on the disparity; their distributors are/were KeHE and UNFI among others and they already work with some major retail partners.

Apparently, Psychedelic water went viral on TikTok earlier this year. This was the first drink I encountered after Hop Water piqued my interest. I have tried this one and it is delicious. The shine of the can draws you and they keep the rest of the design respectably minimal.

I’m also not the first to report on this innovative beverage. Multiple media outlets took notice earlier this year. Whatever happened on TikTok to make it go viral, it was enough for Urban Outfitters to start selling it online, and in-store.

The creators want consumers to know that “‘psychedelic’ is a state of mind that fuels creators, mavericks, groundbreakers, risk-takers, and free-thinkers.” They hit the shelves in early 2021 and reportedly sold nationwide. According to the internet, their CEO is Pankaj Gogia and the company was started in 2019 and is based out of Wilmington, DE. Pankaj resides in Toronto according to LinkedIn.

The adaptogens they incorporate include kava root, damiana leaf, and green tea leaf extract.

Kava can be used to treat anxiety and can be mildly euphoric. This helps explain why Psychedelic Water’s tagline is Mood-Boosting. Damiana leaves are typically found in Central and South America. These leaves have also been known to boost your mood and also cause some arousal. Some might say it is a natural aphrodisiac. Green Tea is then an obvious source of all kinds of antioxidants. The idea is to relieve stress with a subtle hint of energy.

I hope you’re thinking, “Why is it called Psychedelic Water if it doesn’t make you trip?” Great question. Short Answer: Marketing. Long answer: Marketing. Another answer is that the non-alcoholic beverage market is growing. Alcohol substitutes are more important than ever! Do Cannabis beverages fall into that category? There seems to be a cannabis beverage category, and then a non-alcoholic beverage category. I think we need an adaptogen beverage category, don’t you?

I have been curious about these new CPG products hitting the shelves of grocery stores. I have been consuming a number of them from a local Bristol Farms which seems to really embrace this new category of consumables.

My interest first peaked after I spoke with someone who I later found out had worked with a company called HopWater. I am not a huge fan of how beer tastes, but I started to take notice when I read that Constellation Brands had acquired a minority stake in the brand. Kudos to them.

This was around the summer of 2021. The company was founded in 2020 in Los Angeles. In that time, it’s believed that the non-alcohol category grew 37% in 2020 and there were not a lot of competitors around. Now there are a ton of offerings I hope to take you through with this newsletter. Hop Water is still private and has raised just over $7 million between 4 investors, which is awesome, considering one of them is Constellation.

Shoot let’s focus on Hop Water. A successful beverage that incorporates adaptogens. Not my favorite, but we can only go up from here. (I’ve never tried it…)

From their website, “HOP WTR is sparkling water brewed with a blend of Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, and Azacca hops, infused with adaptogens and nootropics to take you from stressed to decompressed, without a drop of alcohol. It’s the ultimate booze-free, calorie-free refreshment of choice for beer lovers. The Healthy Way to Hops.”

I’m not a beer lover, anymore, so I am not their ideal customer. But this got me thinking, could I find something with these ingredients that taste good, at least to me? I question whether they should be included in a new category with CBD, or if they should continue to be a part of this non-alcohol segment.

Since this is my first post, and my next one will be within two weeks, this post will undoubtedly get an update in the future. Let me know what I should’ve mentioned in the comments. Talk soon!

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