KÖE Organic Kombucha Announces National Expansion

KÖE Kombucha today announced significant expansion in its national distribution footprint. Under new partnership deals, KÖE is available through best-in-class natural, broadline and DSD distributors, infiltrating convenience, drug and grocery retailers across the U.S.

Notable new retail placements include: select 7-Eleven locations (3,000), United Markets, Safeway Mid-Atlantic, Bristol Farms, Natural Grocers, Foodland, Super 1 Foods, RI Jordan Oil Company, Pioneer Petroleum, Royal Farms Convenience Stores, Henderson Oil Company, Clipper Petroleum, B-Kwik and Re-Fuel. New DSD partners include: Honickman Beverage Group, Admiral Beverage, expanded UNFI coverage, Breakthru Beverage Group (FL), Northeast Sales, Canteen, Lipman Brothers, A.B. Beverage Company, Southwest Distributing and Grey Eagle.

“KÖE’s positioning and offering is unique – surprisingly delicious, accessible flavors with all of the health benefits of traditional kombucha but none of the unpleasant vinegar aftertaste. Now a strong base of consumers is catching on. And the best part is they’re not the typical kombucha drinkers – and they’re shopping across a variety of store formats,” said Louisa Lawless, Chief Strategy Officer at Stratus Group’s KÖE Kombucha. “We’re bringing a totally new audience to this category. KÖE is gaining the attention of major beverage distributors as we consistently grow our sales momentum and velocities across channels.”

KÖE has taken an omni-channel approach, experiencing considerable growth in both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar sales. According to IRI in the period ending July 11, the US Kombucha Category declined -2 percent , while KÖE grew an impressive +72 percent . By channel, KÖE grew +87 percent in Grocery and +69 percent in Convenience. In the past four weeks, KÖE also posted +350 percent gains in Drug. KÖE is also the second largest contributor to overall Kombucha growth in the Drug channel.

In the DTC space, KÖE continues to experience strong sales of 12-packs on Amazon and increased purchases from Instacart, Shipt and retailer-owned grocery pickup and delivery programs.

Consumer demand has also led to the launch of KÖE’s two new flavors – Watermelon and Tropical – hitting store shelves this month. All of KÖE’s authentically fermented, lightly sparkling flavors are packed with billions of premium, live, probiotics. KÖE is USDA Organic, non-GMO Project Verified and contains just 35 calories and 8 grams sugar per serving. KÖE’s convenient cans are shelf-stable for 12 months.

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