The cactus water brand plans roughly 21,000 new points of distribution in second half of 2026, fueled by Walmart, Albertsons and accelerating consumer demand
LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, September 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Caliwater, the No. 1 cactus water brand in U.S. multi-outlet retail, is entering its largest period of retail expansion to date following triple-digit sales growth and increasing consumer velocity across the fast-growing coconut and plant-based hydration segment.
According to SPINS data for the 52 weeks ending July 12, 2026, Caliwater now holds 84.9% of cactus water dollar sales in U.S. multi-outlet retail, up from 48.6% a year earlier. The brand grew 198.3% in dollar sales and 239.5% in unit sales, while units per point of distribution increased 71.5%, demonstrating that Caliwater became more productive at retail even as its distribution expanded.
The growth positions Caliwater as a category leader and a meaningful growth driver within the broader $751 million coconut and plant-based beverage subcategory, which grew 20.5% during the same period. Caliwater’s dollar sales grew at nearly 10 times the rate of the broader subcategory, with SPINS ranking the brand the No. 7 growth contributor in coconut and plant water.
Importantly, Caliwater’s growth is being driven by both expanding reach and consumer pull. Approximately 55% of growth came from increased distribution and 45% from increased velocity, indicating that the brand is not only reaching more shelves, but becoming more productive on them.
Despite Caliwater’s rapid growth, the brand currently reaches just 21% of the weighted U.S. retail market — leaving significant runway for continued national expansion. Where Caliwater has achieved more developed distribution, penetration is already exceptionally strong: reaching 100% ACV at Wegmans and Fresh Thyme, 97.6% at Market District, and 85.6% at Albertsons.
The opportunity is clear: as Caliwater expands national distribution, there remains substantial whitespace to drive the next phase of growth.
Caliwater is now preparing to add approximately 21,000 new points of distribution in the second half of 2026. At Walmart, the brand will expand from approximately 1,270 stores to more than 3,200 as part of the retailer’s October reset, increasing item-store placements from approximately 3,200 to 13,700. Caliwater is also now represented across all 11 Albertsons divisions, while reaching full distribution at Wegmans and Fresh Thyme. Recent retail wins also include H-E-B, Weis Markets, Saker ShopRite, Big Y, Erewhon and Lassen’s, extending the brand’s reach across conventional grocery, natural and mass channels.
“Distribution is only valuable when consumers are pulling product off the shelf. What we’re seeing is particularly encouraging because Caliwater is expanding its retail footprint while becoming more productive where we’re already sold. The demand signal is there. Our opportunity now is to responsibly scale availability to meet it,” said Blair Owens, CEO of Caliwater.
CALIWATER GROWTH BY THE NUMBERS
• 198.3% dollar growth
• 239.5% unit growth
• 71.5% increase in units per point of distribution
• 84.9% share of cactus water dollars in U.S. multi-outlet retail
• 6,297 stores selling Caliwater
• ~21,000* new points of distribution planned in H2 2026
• No. 7 growth contributor in the $751 million coconut + plant water subcategory
• No. 9 fastest-growing brand among 137 Shelf Stable Juice brands with more than $2 million in sales
Source: SPINS, 52 weeks ending July 12, 2026, Total U.S. Multi-Outlet Retail, universe TPL, category Shelf Stable Juices, subcategory Shelf Stable Coconut & Plant Water.
*Distribution expansion figure provided by Caliwater.
PARTNERSHIPS BUILT INTO THE PRODUCT
Caliwater was co-founded by Vanessa Hudgens and Oliver Trevena, who remain equity owners and active participants in the business. Rather than relying on traditional celebrity endorsements, the company has increasingly translated strategic talent partnerships into products with measurable retail support.
The Demi Lovato Blood Orange four-pack will enter 2,049 Albertsons stores, while the Benson Boone Dragon Fruit four-pack will reach 1,864 Albertsons locations, with both products also joining Walmart’s fall reset. Notably, the talent-developed four-packs earned broader retail distribution than the brand’s core single-serve products, demonstrating retailer confidence in the collaborations as products, rather than simply promotional vehicles.
Beyond retail, Caliwater has continued building the brand through strategic collaborations, including its current partnership with Sweetfin, which brought co-founders Hudgens and Trevena together with the fast-casual brand to introduce a limited-time Caliwater-inspired menu offering.
“When Vanessa and I started Caliwater, cactus water wasn’t a category consumers were walking into stores looking for. We believed there was an opportunity to create something genuinely different in hydration and build the category around it,” said Oliver Trevena, co-founder of Caliwater. “The beverage space has become incredibly saturated, particularly with carbonated products, and the fact that Caliwater offers something distinctly different puts us in a very strong position. Seeing consumers come back to the product, retailers expand their commitment, and our distribution continue to grow gives us enormous confidence in where this can go. We still feel like we’re just getting started.”
ABOUT CALIWATER
Caliwater is a functional hydration beverage brand co-founded in 2021 by Vanessa Hudgens and Oliver Trevena. Made from sustainably sourced prickly pear cactus water, Caliwater delivers antioxidants, vitamins and five naturally occurring electrolytes in a light, refreshing drink. The brand is plant-based, vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, kosher and gluten-free, with no artificial sweeteners or additives.
Caliwater flavors include Wild Prickly Pear, Watermelon, Blood Orange, created in partnership with Demi Lovato, Dragon Fruit, created in partnership with Benson Boone, Pineapple and Ginger + Lime, with kid-friendly pouches available in select flavors. Sustainability is central to the brand, as prickly pear cactus requires up to 80% less water than traditional crops.
Erinn Lynch
Blaze PR
erinn@blazepr.com
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