All-natural soft drinks brand Zevia, the number one sparkling drink in the natural channel in the US, is looking to break into the UK market and has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Tree of Life.
With a listing already secured in all nine UK Whole Foods Market stores, Zevia is targeting the grocery, convenience, health retail and pharmacy categories, as well as the foodservice and food-to-go channels with a range of four drinks using its unique all-natural, no calorie, no sugar formula.
Zevia was launched in the US in 2007 and has taken the market by storm, growing into a $60 million brand in 2013. With product in over 16,000 stores stateside, it was named the best selling soda in Whole Foods Market and is the only independent brand in the US top 20 diet soda list, coming in at number 14.
Created as an alternative carbonated drink for those who want to avoid added sugars and artificial sweeteners, Zevia has developed its own unique Stevia-based sweetening system which has proved to be such a winning formula with consumers in the US. All its flavours are carefully chosen to enhance the drink's overall sweetness while reducing any aftertaste that is commonly associated with Stevia products.
Commenting on the launch in the UK, Mike Kilcourse, Commercial Director at Tree of Life said: "Zevia's launch into the UK comes at a time when consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the health benefits of reducing their intake of sugar and artificial sweeteners. There have been a number of high profile launches over the last 12 months in the fast growing Natural Sourced Sweetener soft drink category, but Zevia's continued success in the US and its commitment to natural sweetener innovation, has proved that consumers buy this product as much for its great taste as they do for the health benefits, giving it a much greater appeal."
Zevia is one of a number of US brands that natural and organic wholesale distributor, Tree of Life is currently working with on an exclusive basis. "The US has a vibrant and growing natural, organic and health market, with established brands such as Zevia that have a wide and loyal following. We are working to bring these exciting products to the UK, so that we can replicate that success in the UK," adds Mike Kilcourse.
Zevia is available immediately in four flavours: Orange, Black Cherry, Grape and Strawberry in 355ml cans, priced at (RRP) 1.29 each.
