Hydration Beverage waterdrop Rings NASDAQ Bell
In a momentous occasion, waterdrop, the pioneer in hydration and beverage, has rung the NASDAQ market opening bell in celebration of its rapid growth in the United States. A symbol of the brand’s strategic U.S. expansion and emergence as a leader in the industry, this event underscores waterdrop’s commitment to sustainable hydration both in sports and in daily life.
“It’s an honor to commemorate waterdrop’s achievements by ringing the NASDAQ opening bell and orchestrating a Times Square tennis takeover,” said Martin Murray, CEO & founder. “The morning at NASDAQ marks a milestone for waterdrop as we expand our global presence and further our reach in the United States. Djokovic’s role as an investor and brand ambassador reinforces our shared vision of eliminating plastic bottles and sugary beverages from the industry, on and off the court. This signifies our dedication to a sustainable future, not just in the beverage world but also in our endeavor to promote healthier lifestyles. We look forward to inspiring positive change and making strides towards a more sustainable world!”
In addition to its D2C channel, waterdrop, a European brand by origin, is expanding its stateside retail footprint with the recent opening of a Mall of America location. With a strong presence in over 20,000 retail outlets, such as Walmart, Target and HEB, alongside a network of over 40 of their very own waterdrop brick and mortar stores worldwide (including the United States, Europe, United Kingdom and Singapore), the brand’s omni-channel reach is on a continuous upward trajectory, driven by ambitions for even broader expansion.
To further mark the occasion, waterdrop is taking over NYC’s Times Square with its brand ambassadors to serve sustainable hydration with a dynamic pop up tennis court, complete with a captivating “hydration station” offering a variety of Microdrink beverages. Consumers will be able to play on court, sip at the hydration station, and celebrate waterdrop’s deep ties with tennis just ahead of the US Open.
In tandem with the brand’s activation in New York’s Times Square, waterdrop has recently earned the reputable titles of Official Hydration Partner and Gold Partner of the 2023 ATP Tour. These strategic partnerships solidify waterdrop as a trailblazer in sustainable hydration within the realm of sports, both on and off the court. The collaborations bring forth ingenious on-court hydration benches, specialized hydration products for players and staff, and active involvement with the ATP’s medical team, highlighting waterdrop’s commitment to holistic wellness.
waterdrop has been at the forefront of the hydration revolution since 2016, envisioning a world where consumers turn to their faucets instead of the beverage aisle. Its dissolvable, sugar-free Microdrinks, reusable water bottles, and innovative smart water filtration systems have been praised by consumers for supporting a healthier and sustainable lifestyle as waterdrop® has saved over 30 million plastic bottles to date!
waterdrop is a fast-growing hydration brand based in Vienna, Austria, disrupting the beverage industry with its innovative waterdrop Microdrink and global hydration platform. The company’s mission is to encourage people to drink more water in a sustainable way, with its sugar-free, flavored cubes dissolving in water to enrich it with natural fruit & plant extracts and valuable vitamins.
waterdrop is significantly reducing plastic use and CO2 emissions, thanks to its individual recyclable packaging for each cube. The company also partners with Plastic Bank, pledging to collect one plastic bottle for every 12-pack sold. waterdrop has grown to have more than 2 million online customers and over 300 employees, with product listings in over 20,000 retail outlets and more than 40 waterdrop® stores worldwide. For more information, visit www.waterdrop.com.
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Sol-Ti Founder O’Donnell Steps Down as President, CEO
Sol-ti founder Ryne O’Donnell along with the board of directors has appointed former chief executive officer of Pressed Juicery, Pawan Kalra, as president & CEO of the company. O’Donnell steps into new role as founder, chairman and chief vitality advocate, nine years after founding the company.
“The board and I led an exhaustive search to find the ideal leader for Sol-ti’s future. Pawan’s experience and background provide the optimal blend of commercialization expertise, manufacturing and operational excellence with financial acumen – skillsets which drive meaningful growth to build upon our existing national distribution foundation,” said O’Donnell.
O’Donnell continued, “Furthermore, Pawan brings people together, leveraging individuals’ strengths to improve team performance. It is also important that the leader of our organization believes in leading a healthy lifestyle and commitment to sustainability, both attributes that drew us to Pawan.”
Most recently, Kalra was at Pressed Juicery for over six years in various leadership positions including CFO and COO, and culminating in his role as CEO, which he held for more than three years. Prior to Pressed Juicery, he was CFO at Pinkberry in which he was instrumental in navigating through growth and liquidity.
“What is unique about Pawan is his experience in leading companies through growth phases while improving profitability. His accomplishments at Pinkberry – which spanned across 20+ countries with 260+ locations as well as at Pressed Juicery – where he led the company through its expansion into grocery and retail distribution, market expansion of their 100+ brick and mortar stores, and driving their digital growth strategy is downright impressive,” said O’Donnell.
Kalra added, “I’m thrilled to be joining the team at Sol-ti as we embark on the next chapter of the brand’s growth journey. As I’ve had an opportunity to spend time with Ryne over the last few months, I was drawn to Sol-ti’s authentic commitment to help consumers lead a healthier lifestyle without compromise. I look forward to bringing the brand into more homes nationally.”
According to IRI, Sol-ti has increased distribution to 55,000+ Points of Distribution in the US, spanning 8,500+ retail locations and producing a record revenue period for the company, last 12 weeks ending June 18.
Sol-ti is distributed nationally in more than 8,500+ retail locations and is headquartered in San Diego, Calif.
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Southern Glazer’s Donates $50K for Maui Fire Relief
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is donating a total of $50,000 to two charities, Maui Strong Fund – Hawaii Community Foundation and Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui, to support Maui fire relief efforts after recent wildfires caused heartbreaking devastation across the island.
Southern Glazer’s is donating $25,000 to the Maui Strong Fund – Hawaii Community Foundation, which is providing financial resources that can be deployed quickly, with a focus on rapid response and recovery in Maui. The company is also donating $25,000 to the Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui to help provide immediate assistance to the hardworking restaurant, bar and hospitality workers displaced by the devastating wildfires that have impacted West Maui communities from Lahaina to Kapalua, home of the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival.
In addition to this corporate donation, grassroots efforts have been led by Southern Glazer’s employees to raise nearly $50,000 for a fellow team member who lost their home during the disaster.
“The outpour of support we’ve received from community members, supplier partners, and our Southern Glazer’s family is so greatly appreciated,” said Warren Shon, executive vice president and Hawaii general manager, Southern Glazer’s. “The road to recovery for Maui will be long, but I know that we’ll continue to work together to support our neighbors and organizations that are working around the clock to rebuild our beautiful and resilient island.”
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company. The company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Canada, as well as brokerage operations through its WEBB Banks division in the Caribbean, Central and South America.
In 2022, Southern Glazer’s was listed as one of Forbes Best Employers for Diversity. In 2021, Southern Glazer’s was selected as a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, as well as named by Newsweek as a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve and enjoy its products responsibly.
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