Koia

In 2016, beverage industry veteran Chris Hunter, a co-founder of Four Loko, joined as a co-founder and CEO, rebranding the company to Koia and scaling the business. The company launched nationally in Whole Foods Market that same year. Hunter’s personal shift towards a healthier lifestyle aligned with Koia’s mission, and he brought experience in scaling beverage brands. Under his leadership, Koia has experienced significant growth, with a reported 800% increase in sales and distribution over four years, reaching a $40 million run rate by 2021. The company's revenue for 2023 was reported as $45.3 million.

Koia's business model is centered on producing and selling ready-to-drink (RTD) protein beverages through major retail channels. Its products are sold in over 34,000 stores, including Whole Foods, 7-Eleven, Target, Walmart, and Starbucks. The company generates revenue through the sale of its beverages to these retail partners and directly to consumers via its website. To support its growth and ensure quality, Koia moved to bring manufacturing in-house by acquiring one of its co-manufacturers, a decision that helped the company become profitable.

The product portfolio includes a core line of protein shakes, Keto-friendly drinks, low-sugar smoothies, and newer innovations like the high-protein 'Elite' line and 'Koia Kids' beverages. The drinks are dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO, featuring a proprietary protein blend of brown rice, pea, and chickpea proteins to form a complete protein. Key ingredients also include chicory root fiber for prebiotics and natural sweeteners like monk fruit to maintain a low sugar content. The brand has attracted investment from institutional investors like KarpReilly and AccelFoods, as well as celebrity investors such as Chris Paul, The Weeknd, and Kevin Hart.