MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF. — The Venturing & Emerging Brands (VEB) unit of Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co. has acquired a stake in L.A. Aloe L.L.C., maker of a line of certified organic aloe water beverages called Aloe Gloe.
Introduced in 2012, Aloe Gloe has experienced a two-year growth rate of 64%, according to research from Nielsen. The beverage is available in four flavors: Crisp Aloe, coconut, lemonade and white grape. Aloe Gloe is certified organic, kosher and gluten-free.
The investment by Coca-Cola deepens the company’s existing relationship with Aloe Gloe.
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| Dino Sarti, co-founder and c.e.o. of Aloe Gloe |
“From the start, our goal was to create a unique aloe beverage that could be accessible to everyone,” said Dino Sarti, co-founder and chief executive officer of Aloe Gloe. “This partnership with Coca-Cola will allow us broader access to consumers who will be able to experience this amazing organic product. We are proud to offer a high-quality, 18-calorie per serving organic option at an affordable price and are eager to revolutionize the organic beverage market to be more inclusive of all consumers.”
Established in 2007, Coca-Cola’s VEB unit focuses on identifying and nurturing brands with billion-dollar potential.
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| Scott Uzzell, president of VEB |
“Our minority investment in Aloe Gloe gives VEB a further entry in the emerging market segment for plant-based beverages,” said Scott Uzzell, president of VEB. “We look forward to partnering with Aloe Gloe to help them capture growth from this exciting consumer trend.”
L.A. Aloe is based in Southern California and sells Aloe Gloe in the United States and Canada direct to retailers and via its strategic direct-store delivery partner, Coca-Cola Refreshments.
In addition to L.A. Aloe, Coca-Cola has invested in and partnered with such brands as Honest Tea, Suja Juice, Zico coconut water and fairlife ultra-filtered milk.
