Startup CPG Newswire:
Banagua Named “Best New Brand” by Beverage Digest, Emerging as One of the Fastest-Growing Beverage Startups

PRESS RELEASE — NEWS PROVIDED BY Rob Smithson for Banagua

NASHVILLE, TN (2026) – Banagua, a single-ingredient banana water brand, is quickly establishing itself as one of the most compelling new entrants in the better-for-you beverage category. Launched less than six months ago, the brand has already secured placement in more than 2,000 retail doors nationwide and continues to build momentum through strong consumer adoption and industry recognition.

Banagua was recently named Best New Brand by Beverage Digest, and was also selected as a finalist at the most recent BevNET Live, placing the brand among the most closely watched new beverage launches in the country.

Retail expansion has been swift and broad. Banagua is currently available across multiple Albertsons divisions, including Pavilions and Vons, as well as Kroger, Fresh Thyme, and INFRA stores nationwide, with an upcoming launch into Sprouts Farmers Market Forager sets scheduled for the spring. By early spring, Banagua will exceed 2,000 retail locations, a pace of growth that industry observers have described as highly unusual for a first-year brand.

The company’s early success is being driven by a simple but differentiated proposition: better-tasting hydration made from one ingredient only. Banagua is crafted using a proprietary enzyme-assisted extraction process that isolates the naturally occurring water found inside bananas, delivering electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium without added sugar, concentrates, or preservatives.

Founded in Nashville by Vanderbilt MBA classmates Rob Smithson and Jose Carlos Herrera, Banagua was born from the discovery of a unique production facility in Thailand utilizing advanced extraction technology and a zero-waste manufacturing model. The remaining banana biomass is upcycled into biopolymer materials that replace single-use plastics across parts of Asia, aligning the brand with both wellness and sustainability priorities from day one.

“What’s resonating with consumers is the simplicity,” said Smithson, co-founder of Banagua. “It tastes great, it hydrates naturally, and people understand exactly what’s in it. One ingredient is easy to trust.”

The founding team partnered with Ethnix Group founders Johan Madriz and Merari Villatoro to form Wildcoast Ventures, LLC, bringing together deep expertise across beverage operations, retail execution, and national distribution. That combination has helped Banagua scale quickly while maintaining strong velocities at shelf.

With continued retail rollouts, strong early turns, and growing awareness among both consumers and retailers, Banagua is positioning itself as a category-defining alternative to traditional coconut water and enhanced hydration products.

As the brand looks ahead to spring and summer resets, Banagua’s leadership remains focused on disciplined growth, retailer partnerships, and delivering a hydration experience that stands out in a crowded market.

About Banagua

Founded in 2025, Banagua is launching a new hydration category built around the world’s most popular fruit: the banana.
Made from real bananas using a proprietary extraction process, Banagua delivers clean, refreshing banana water and lightly flavored varieties with no concentrates, no additives, and no funny stuff. It was created as a simpler, better-tasting alternative to coconut water and overbuilt hydration drinks.
Based in Nashville, Banagua is built around one idea: do less, better. One real fruit, a lineup of flavors, and a product designed to drive repeat purchase and real shelf velocity. In 2025, Banagua was named Beverage Digest’s “Best New Brand.”

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