Hydrating the Functional Beverage Category: M Kombucha’s New Best-in-Class Elixir Delivers Powerhouse of Electrolytes and Optimal Taste

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Hydrating the Functional Beverage Category: M Kombucha’s New Best-in-Class Elixir Delivers Powerhouse of Electrolytes and Optimal Taste

Powered by Buoy® Hydration, M Kombucha Launches ‘Beyond Hydration,’ a Refreshing Kombucha Elixir Enriched with Electrolytes, B Vitamins, and Antioxidants.

San Diego, CA (September 9, 2020) – Active and healthy lifestyle consumers who demand peak performance from sports drinks now have a new choice when it comes to hydrating after a yoga class, workout, or long run. Emerging beverage brand M Kombucha and start-up company, Buoy Hydration, have partnered together and are pleased to announce their high-quality, electrolyte-dense ‘Beyond Hydration’; a functional kombucha flavored with fresh, organic cold-pressed Grapefruit and Ginger.

Molecular biologist and M Kombucha’s Co-founder, Adi Ramon, realized the beverage category was missing clean and refreshing hydration, “It made perfect sense to create a truly hydrating kombucha, one that would complement M’s existing functional beverage line designed for health-conscious and active consumers.” According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, more than 75% of Americans are dehydrated, leading to chronic illness, fatigue, and other ailments. This surprising statistic prompted the founders of Buoy Hydration and M Kombucha to collaborate and create ‘Beyond Hydration.’

M Kombucha’s ‘Beyond Hydration’ is powered by Buoy Hydration’s formula of low-sodium, all-natural, hand-harvested sea salts, including 87 micronutrients and trace minerals. Unlike other leading sports drinks and hydrating powders that lose key minerals due to processing, ‘Beyond Hydration’ is able to keep the good nutrients in, while replenishing the body with natural electrolytes, B vitamins, and antioxidants – in the most refreshing way.

Dr. Lianli Li, Ph.D., President of Gateway Pharmaceutical in St. Louis, Missouri, helped Buoy Hydration founders create their proprietary blend of electrolytes. “Dehydration prevents your brain and body from functioning properly, and most of us are living our lives under the optimal hydration level,” says Dr. Li. “The combination of M Kombucha and Buoy gives consumers the proper hydration they need, and together, ‘Beyond Hydration’ works wonders in boosting brain function and enhancing the nervous system.”

When Water Isn’t Enough: A Thirst-Quenching Experience
Ramon recalls a personal experience she had with ‘Beyond Hydration’ and how it positively impacted her life. “We were hiking in the desert near Ojai on a hot day, and I was drinking plenty of water, but it wasn’t enough. Later that night, I began having symptoms of severe dehydration - headache, upset stomach, fatigue, and nausea. After plenty of rest and countless glasses of water, I still wasn’t feeling better. That’s when I remembered I had brought ‘Beyond Hydration’ with us in the cooler in the car,” adds Ramon. “As soon as I drank a cold ‘Beyond Hydration,’ I could instantaneously feel the benefits by replenishing what my body had depleted, and it brought me back to life.”

Electrolytes, which are naturally bitter, can pose a challenge when it comes to taste. That explains why the founders of Buoy Hydration have meticulously spent the past three years, ensuring their hydration formula did not compromise the taste of any drink. "Americans are simply not getting the proper hydration they need. Habitually consumers reach for sugar-packed sports drinks and processed powders to help keep them refreshed without receiving the benefits of natural electrolytes," says Buoy Hydration Co-Founder Daniel Schindler. "At Buoy, we squeeze back in what life takes out of you. Our product is all-natural and made without sugars or flavors."

What’s Inside?
Each batch of M Kombucha’s ‘Beyond Hydration’ is made with three servings of Buoy Hydration, Fair Trade Black and Green Teas*, Purified Water, Kombucha Culture*, Fair Trade Evaporated Cane Sugar* (needed for kombucha fermentation), Cold-Pressed Grapefruit* and Ginger* (* Organic Ingredient). The Kombucha, enriched with Buoy's Hydration formula, includes Low-Sodium Sea Minerals, Herbal Extracts*, and B Vitamins, providing a unique and efficacious hydration elixir that no other kombucha brand offers:

Low-Sodium Sea Minerals (Sodium, Chloride, Magnesium, and Potassium):

• Electrolytes and minerals are crucial to delivering water to the body’s cells. Without enough sodium and chloride in the body, it won’t be able to balance fluids. 

• Buoy Hydration sources its natural sea salts from France. Sea salt helps healthy pH levels, balances electrolytes, supports brain, muscle, and nerve function, aids in detoxification and digestion, and prevents dehydration.

• As an electrolyte, potassium has a positive impact on the brain, and with proper potassium levels, more oxygen will reach the brain, boosting cognitive function. Muscle cramps are common for people who don’t get enough potassium.

Herbal Extracts (Acacia, Star Anise, and Rosemary):

• Acacia is used for medical purposes and acts as a prebiotic to increase beneficial bacteria and is excellent for metabolic and gut health.

• Star Anise is rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C. It helps fight free radicals and is known as a natural way to fight off colds and the flu, plus it’s a digestive aid, alleviates cramps, and reduces nausea. 

• Rosemary is not only commonly found in kitchens but is an ancient medicinal herb that also aids in digestion and memory while boosting the immune system.

B Vitamins (B1, B5, and B6):

• Vitamin B1 is a crucial component to helping electrolytes flow in and out of cells and supports the proper functioning of the nervous system and muscles.

• Vitamin B5 helps sharpen memory and reduces brain fog, and produces acetylcholine, which functions as a neurotransmitter that helps the brain and nervous system function. 

• Vitamin B6 is needed for neuron transmission in your brain and helps serotonin production, which improves brain performance and mood.

About M Kombucha
Founded in San Diego, California, M Kombucha is passionate about elevating people’s health and well-being through delicious and refreshing functional beverages designed to meet today's consumer needs. The Company is devoted to sustainable, organic, and Fair Trade practices and collaborates with specialty companies to add efficacious formulations to their craft beverages. M is taking Kombucha to the next level with ingredients like probiotic spores, prebiotic fiber, adaptogens, medicinal mushrooms, and botanicals while staying committed to taste and ultimate enjoyment. Visit mkombucha.com to find retail locations in CA or to order online.

About Buoy Hydration
With Buoy, hydration is just a half-second squeeze away. Buoy’s mission is to hydrate the 75% of chronically dehydrated Americans and give back to the communities that need clean, effective hydration. For every bottle sold, Buoy gives back to verified 501(c)3 nonprofits. Buoy believes in the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. Part of creating a sustainable business means sourcing the best ingredients that give people who use Buoy robust, functional health benefits. Additionally, Buoy is Carbon Neutral and uses 75% of post-consumer recycled materials for each bottle. For more information, please visit justaddbuoy.com.

Media Contact:

Heather Collins, h | c marketing, 303.250.4797, heather@hcollinsmarketing.com, heather@mkombucha.com or heather@justaddbuoy.com

MetaBrand to Provide “Concept-to-Market” Solutions to Brands

Industry veteran and Steaz co-founder Eric Schnell aims to “democratize” product development, manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing for early-stage companies in natural and organic beverages, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements.

November 14, 2012 – Edison, NJ – Beverage and supplement industry veteran Eric Schnell knows a thing or two about the trials and tribulations of launching all-natural consumer products, and in particular, all natural beverages and nutritional supplements. As Co-founder of Steaz Teas and liquid herbal supplement brand "I Am enlightened nutrition," and advisor to a number of other companies, he’s dedicated his career to steering natural products industry brands from concept to reality.

Now, with the launch of his latest venture, MetaBrand, Schnell is leveraging his long-standing relationships in the industry to help democratize product formulation, manufacturing, and distribution processes, as well as sales and marketing strategies, for emerging entrepreneurs in the all-natural beverage and supplement channels.

Operating from its 4,000-sq.-ft. facility in Edison, NJ, MetaBrand will offer turnkey, “concept-to-market” solutions for start-up and early-stage natural brands. Employing state-of-the art extraction and manufacturing technologies and working closely with its supply chain partners, “MetaBrand will help companies quickly and efficiently develop winning formulations for product concepts that are on-trend and efficacious, regulation compliant, and scalable,” said Schnell.

Helping Entrepreneurs Meet Natural Products Demand

The MetaBrand launch comes at a time of unprecedented demand for natural products, which has sparked grocers to place greater emphasis on healthier food and beverage options. From 2009 to 2011, the natural and organic food and beverage market grew 20 percent, according to a Mintel report titled “Natural and Organic Food and Beverage: The Market,” and natural food and beverages showed resilience during tough economic times in mass merchandise, food, drug and convenience channels, as well as natural and specialty markets, the October 2011 report added.

Yet, despite the growing demand, many natural product concept originators struggle to see their ideas through to market.

“There are countless great ideas out there in the natural beverage and supplement circles, but so few of these ideas ever evolve into a profitable product that people can buy on store shelves,” said Schnell. “The originators of these great ideas generally lack the experience or the financial wherewithal to tackle challenges such as full-scale product formulation, manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and distribution. At MetaBrand, we’ve pioneered a way to turn these great ideas into a reality in a highly efficient manner.”

Leveraging a broad base of experience and relationships earned over more than 15 years in the industry, Schnell has assembled a veteran team of over 30 advisors to facilitate all aspects of product development, manufacturing, and launch. From food scientists and compliance experts to marketing, branding, finance, admin and sales support, every facet of the “concept-to-market” process is covered. In the future, MetaBrand will look to add a private equity arm of the firm, facilitating or directly providing startup capital for promising projects that require financial backing.

“MetaBrand is truly unique in that it is the first comprehensive service provider in the natural beverage and supplement channels,” Schnell adds. “There is no other company that I am aware of that can offer startup brands as much collective industry expertise in such a highly efficient, cost-effective manner.”

About Metabrand

Created by natural products industry veteran and Steaz Teas Co-founder Eric Schnell, MetaBrand, based in Edison, NJ, offers turnkey “R&D to retail” services to start-up and early-stage natural and organic beverage and supplement brands, including product formulation and development, manufacturing, distribution, and sales, marketing and promotional strategies. With a team of more than 30 advisors and long-standing industry relationships, MetaBrand helps companies quickly and efficiently develop winning formulations for natural product concepts that are on-trend and efficacious, regulation compliant, and scalable. For more information on MetaBrand, visitwww.metabrandcorp.com, info@metabrandcorp.com, tel 888.611.5573.