MILWAUKEE — KJ Holding Corp., owners of Calypso Lemonades, has acquired plant-based beverage startup Mela Water. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mela to the beverage platform we have built behind Calypso,” said David Klavsons, chief executive officer of Calypso. “Mela is a great brand with strong consumer appeal that is delivering outstanding growth. Mela’s exceptional taste, unique flavors, tropical vibe, and functional hydration make it a strong complement to our Calypso brand. We believe our national and international DSD network coupled with our commercial and supply chain capabilities will significantly accelerate Mela’s growth.”

Mela Water, launched in 2021 by founder Dominic Purpura, is offered in varieties including original watermelon, watermelon and passionfruit, watermelon and pineapple and watermelon and ginger.

Mela Water’s watermelon waters are formulated with watermelon juice, organic cane sugar, ascorbic acid, electrolytes, antioxidants and feature no added sugars.

“We are excited to join the Calypso platform as we enter the next phase of our growth,” said Dom Purpura, chief executive officer and founder of Mela Water. “Our team has done a fantastic job building the brand over the last several years gaining significant distribution with leading retailers while sustaining strong unit velocities. It’s now the perfect time to join the Calypso platform and leverage their infrastructure to scale the brand nationally and internationally.”

King Juice Co. was founded in 1985 in Milwaukee and launched Calypso Lemonade in 2000.

Mason Wells, a private equity firm, acquired King Juice Co. in 2017. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

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