Circle K and DK are among the nearly 2,000 convenience-store locations into which Jones Soda Co. is expanding.
The company said this is its first significant presence in c-stores in its nearly 30-year history.
Initial c-store placements include six Laval, Quebec-based Circle K divisions (Coastal Carolina, Grand Canyon, Great Lakes, Florida, South Atlantic and Southeast), DK c-stores and other national and regional chains. Monterrey, Mexico-based Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA) acquired the DK stores last year.
The new distribution agreements cover:
- Fiesta Jones, a recently released Latin-inspired product line in a 16-ounce resealable aluminum bottles.
- Pop Jones, a lineup of all-natural, low-calorie, low-sugar functional sodas in 12-ounce slim cans.
- Jones classic sodas in 12-ounce glass bottles.
Shelf resets are scheduled to begin this month and next.
Fiesta Jones was developed specifically for c-stores with Latin-influenced Watermelon Strawberry, Mango Passion Fruit, Coconut Lime and Guava Berry flavors in resealable aluminum bottles, the company said. Each flavor has 80 calories and 19 grams of sugar per bottle with no artificial colors or caffeine.
“Convenience-store operators have told us that their shoppers want a soda with big taste, fewer calories and a resealable package,” David Knight, then-CEO of Jones Soda, said in October. “Nothing in the market met that description, so we developed Fiesta Jones to fill the whitespace.”
Knight said the line gives Jones Soda the opportunity to establish a strong presence in the c-store channel for the “first time in many years and adds another key building block in the strategic initiatives we are implementing to expand beyond our craft soda roots.”
Select c-stores also will carry Pop Jones, a new line of 30-calorie functional sodas with 4 grams of sugar, fiber and immune support. The line’s flavors are Cucumber Watermelon, Mixed Berry & Kiwi, Orange & Cream, Pineapple Ginger and Strawberry Passionfruit. There’s also a 12-ounce glass bottle of the classic Jones Sodas that contain pure cane sugar formulations and feature user-generated photos.
“C-stores account for nearly half of all single-serve retail beverage sales, so establishing a strong footprint in the convenience channel promises to be a major contributor to our growth over the next few years,” said Paul Norman, Jones Soda interim president and CEO. “These new agreements give us a solid foothold that we can leverage to continue expanding into this critical market as we execute our new five-year strategic growth plan.”
Launched in 1996, Seattle-based Jones Soda develops sodas and cannabis-infused beverages. It markets a portfolio of sodas, mixers and wellness beverages under the Jones Soda brand as well as a line of cannabis beverages and edibles leveraging Jones’ trademark flavors under the Mary Jones brand.
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