Hapi Water, a sugar-free, naturally flavored drink for kids developed by a Nashville dentist, launched out of Texas in 2015. Now based in Fort Worth, the brand just snagged coveted shelf space in Target stores nationwide.
“We’re excited that Target, one of the most iconic retailers in the country, has added Hapi Water to its curated selection of offerings,” Hapi Drinks CEO Todd Fitzgerald said in a statement. “Our partnership with Target advances our mission of making healthy and great-tasting beverages available for families across the country.”
Today’s announcement follows Hapi Water’s expansion into other new retailers, including its entry last month into Harris Teeter, a leading grocery chain with 250 stores in the Southeastern U.S.
Hapi Water is now sold in more than 1,500 stores across the U.S.
Comes in 6-ounce pouches in boxes of eight
Hapi Water comes in 6-ounce pouches, sold in boxes of eight. At Target, customers will have access to Hapi Water beverages in three flavors: Pure Punch, Apple Joy, and Grape D’Vine. The product line also includes Sunny Strawberry Kiwi.
Hapi Water was created as a healthier alternative to sugary drinks often served to kids, including juice pouches and boxes, which can contain high amounts of sugar per serving. For example, an 8-ounce box of Juicy Juice 100% Juice Fruit Punch has no added sugars and is made from several different fruit juice concentrates, yet it still contains 27 grams of sugars.
To appeal to a kid’s sweet tooth with zero sugars, Hapi Water contains both erythritol, a sugar alcohol, and stevia leaf extract. One 6-ounce serving of Hapi Water is fortified with 90% of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C, the company says.
Co-founded in 2011 by Nashville dentist
Hapi Water was co-founded in 2011 by Nashville dentist Dr. K.B. Parkes as a way to fight sugar-induced cavities and juvenile diabetes in children. Austin-based Karsten Idsal, a former U.S. Army infantry officer, joined the company in 2014 as co-founder and CEO.
The company raised $1.5 million in September 2020 in a venture fundraising round from 12 investors, according to the Austin Business Journal. In May 2018, the company raised $850,000 in funding from two angel investors, according to Forbes.
In 2019, Hapi Drinks received a $100,000 grant from PepsiCo’s North American Nutrition Greenhouse accelerator program, Forbes added.
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