San Diego healthy juice startup Suja Life announced Wednesday a major new investment and national distribution agreement with the Coca-Cola Co.
Coca-Cola is making a minority investment, as is the Wall Street merchant banker Goldman Sachs. The terms of the investments were not disclosed.
The Atlanta-based beverage giant will begin distributing Suja juice nationwide through its Odwalla chilled direct store delivery system.
“When we started our home-delivery juicing company in San Diego about three years ago, we couldn’t have imagined the incredible growth and consumer demand that we face today,” said Jeff Church, co-founder and CEO of Suja. “We soon realized that for us to take the business to the next level in providing organic, cold-pressured juice to even more people, we needed to find the correct strategic partners.
“As these new partnerships begin, nothing will change in Suja’s promise to its fans: our juice will always be organic, non-GMO, cold-pressured, and free of any additives,” he added.
Suja produces a variety of juices, smoothies and teas priced at under $4 per bottle. The company has sold 40 million bottles so far.
“Suja’s commitment to excellence in its beverages, operations and mission has positioned it as a leader in the rapidly-growing organic juice segment,” said Mike Saint John of Coca-Cola North America. “This, coupled with the resources of the Coca-Cola Co. including our unmatched distribution system, will expand availability of this delicious beverage.”
Attorneys with DLA Piper’s San Diego office represented Coca-Cola in the investment and distribution agreement.
