Startup CPG Newswire:
Once Upon A Coconut Partners With L.A. Libations For Retail Expansion

PRESS RELEASE — NEWS PROVIDED BY Mick Olinik for Once Upon A Coconut

ORLANDO, FL (DECEMBER 2025) – Once Upon a Coconut (OUAC), a coconut water brand, announced a strategic partnership with L.A. Libations (LAL), a beverage incubator and accelerator, to expand retail presence.

The partnership combines OUAC’s mission-driven brand with LAL’s expertise in beverage incubation, retail strategy, and distribution expansion. With LAL’s support, OUAC is expanding its national footprint, including a launch in all 2,300+ Albertsons stores beginning March 1, 2026. The brand is also experiencing continued growth in Sprouts Farmers Market, with LAL supporting its presence across the retailer. Together, the companies will strengthen retailer relationships, broaden OUAC’s direct store delivery (DSD) footprint, and execute long-term investment strategies designed to scale the brand nationwide.
“This partnership is about more than distribution, it’s about unlocking the full potential of Once Upon a Coconut,” said John Chiorando, CEO of Once Upon a Coconut. “With L.A. Libations by our side, we’re taking the next big step toward making our brand a household name, while staying true to our mission of offering better-for-you hydration and giving back to communities everywhere.”

For more than a decade, LAL has helped beverage brands grow from emerging players into market leaders. With strong ties to grocery and convenience retailers, LAL is positioned to bring OUAC to more shelves and more consumers across the country.

“We’ve built our reputation on partnering with brands that have something truly special, and Once Upon a Coconut checks every box,” said Danny Stepper, CEO & Co-Founder of L.A. Libations. “From flavor innovation to social impact, Once Upon A Coconut represents the future of hydration, and with L.A. Libations’ expertise, this is only the beginning.”

This collaboration is built on a shared goal: helping consumers make healthier choices by making beverages accessible. Together, OUAC and LAL are committed to growing the brand nationwide.

About Once Upon a Coconut

Once Upon a Coconut is a coconut water brand offering flavored options made with clean ingredients. Launched in 2020, the company sources young green coconuts from Vietnam and packages them in aluminum cans. The brand is available in over 6,000 retail stores nationwide, on Amazon, and through its website. Once Upon a Coconut donates 10% of profits from each case sold to nonprofits. Investors include Daymond John, Rob Gronkowski, Ronnie Stanley, Oliver Marmol, Gary Brecka, and Ben Greenfield.

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