Melo Sparkling Kava Launches at Erewhon, Adding a Zero-Sugar Relaxation Drink to the Chain's Beverage Set

News provided by

Melo

Oct 26, 2026, 08:39 ET

  • Melo's sparkling kava line is now available in 13 Erewhon locations.
  • The launch is another milestone in a year of natural-channel growth and sets up Melo's next wave of expansion into more retailers through 2027.
  • Calm is becoming its own functional beverage set, and kava is the ingredient pulling it onto mainstream grocery shelves after years of energy and focus dominating the category.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Melo, a sparkling kava beverage brand, will launch on Oct. 30 at Erewhon Market, the Certified B Corp and Organic Retailer. Melo is made using noble kava from Vanuatu and contain no alcohol, no sugar, no calories, and are vegan and gluten-free. Two of the brand's three flavors – Passionfruit Orange & Guava and Tahitian Lime – will be available at the time of launch in 13 of Erewhon's stores across Southern California.

Melo is an Australian-founded sparkling kava beverage company built in the United States. Made with noble kava traditionally consumed throughout the Pacific Islands, Melo creates a modern, sparkling way for consumers to relax, connect and socialize without alcohol.
Melo is an Australian-founded sparkling kava beverage company built in the United States. Made with noble kava traditionally consumed throughout the Pacific Islands, Melo creates a modern, sparkling way for consumers to relax, connect and socialize without alcohol.

As the functional beverage category continues to grow in the U.S., consumers are moving away from drinks with general wellness claims and instead looking for drinks that offer specific benefits like better focus, stress relief, gut health and longevity. This is a clear path for Melo, which provides drinkers with a sense of feeling calmer and more at ease, providing a moment of relaxation.

"For a decade, the functional beverage market has run on the go, go, go mentality of energy drinks, but now what people actually want is permission to slow down," said Amy Betts, co-founder and CEO, Melo. "That's why I started Melo. I wanted a calming drink I could genuinely feel, without the side effects. Kava has done that job for centuries; it just needed a format that fit a modern shelf. We're excited for Erewhon shoppers to now have it available to try for themselves."

In the U.S., kava's popularity continues to grow. While it used to be available mostly in kava bars, loose-leaf teas, and tinctures, Melo now offers kava in a can and turns the traditional understanding of kava on its head with three sparkling, refreshing flavors.

As part of its larger brand mission, Melo is committed to helping people understand what kava is, where it comes from, and how it works. One of the brand's key differentiators is that it works directly with family-owned farms in Vanuatu. The company is an official private-sector partner of the UN and International Trade Centre's Pacific Islands Kava Initiative, which aims to improve quality standards and help kava-growing communities reach new markets.

Melo is available for purchase in individual 12 fl. oz. cans and can be found in the functional beverage coolers at the following Erewhon store locations:

  • Beverly Hills: 339 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
  • Pasadena: 475 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101
  • Venice: 585 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291
  • Calabasas: 26767 Agoura Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302
  • Santa Monica: 2800 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403
  • Manhattan Beach: 1700 Rosecrans Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
  • Culver City: 9300 Culver Blvd., Suite 101, Culver City, CA 90232
  • Silver Lake: 4121 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029
  • Studio City: 12833 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604
  • The Grove: 7660 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
  • West Hollywood: 8550 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
  • Glendale: 520 N Glendale Ave., Glendale, CA 91206
  • Thousand Oaks: 2150 E Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

The brand is also currently available on Amazon, Thrive Market, Raley's, Bristol Farms, Lassen's, BevMo!, Gopuff, and drinkmelo.com, with more stores coming soon.

About Erewhon

Erewhon is an independent, family-owned Certified B Corporation and Certified Organic Retailer with 14 locations across Southern California. Since 1968, Erewhon has been providing organic, ethically-sourced food to the communities it serves. It's committed to sourcing high-quality, nutrient-dense products, backing local growers and brands, and supporting the environment.

Recognized for uncompromising quality standards, exceptional customer service, and chef-driven prepared foods, Erewhon sustains a community centered in caring, curiosity, and positive change.

For more information, visit erewhon.com.

About Melo

Melo is an Australian-founded sparkling kava beverage company built in the United States. Made with noble kava traditionally consumed throughout the Pacific Islands, Melo creates a modern, sparkling way for consumers to relax, connect and socialize without alcohol. Learn more at www.drinkmelo.com.

Media Contact:
Ashley Wroblewski
Interdependence
[email protected]
608-415-2361

SOURCE Melo