Bebida Viva

Functional and healthy drinks for the Mexican consumer

With Mexican authorities labeling unhealthy snacks and drinks (Norm 051), people are becoming more aware of these products’ risks.

This is making people think twice and leading them to look for healthier alternatives.

Let's dive in.

Imagine this

After years of working in the US with a top consumer packaged goods company, you venture out and start your own business in Mexico.
As a kombucha fan, you identified a lack of options in the Mexican market, with drinks being too pricey and not suited to your taste buds.
You formed a partnership with a US kombucha brand, initiating its import to the country, and quickly noticed a strong demand.
After some years, financial challenges started to kick in as a rising dollar reduced margins, making it no longer viable to import kombucha from the US.
In response, you adapted by building your own kombucha factory, which is how Bebida Viva was born.

Explain it like I'm five

Bebida Viva is a consumer-packaged good health beverage company.

They have developed two main products, Bebida Viva kombucha and RocaMina, a healthy energy drink made out of plants.
They produce and test all their products in their own facility and lab in Mexico.
Formulas have been crafted to provide 100% live probiotics and natural ingredients.

Founder aims to become the preferred Mexican brand of functional and healthy drinks.

The ABCs

Other players:

Background check

What we like:

Growing Market: The kombucha market is on an upward trend. In 2022, the global market value of kombucha was estimated at over US $2.7 Billion, and it is estimated to reach US $11.2 Billion in 2030. The demand has grown because of increased health awareness and social media presence of the product benefits.
Capacity: According to the founder, their facility is operating at full capacity, producing more than 75,000 bottles of kombucha per month, and they are looking to increase their volume. Sales have grown over 60% in the last year alone.
Pricing: Several US brands have tried to penetrate the Mexican market but failed. One major advantage is that they produce, test, and sell their drinks in Mexico. kombucha is an expensive drink, and with import expenses, US kombucha companies could not compete in the country.
Stockout: In our interview, the founder mentioned a very important metric. Bebida Viva has seen an increase of 60% in their sell-out rate versus 2022. This means that demand has increased for kombucha products in 2023.
New Products: Bebida Viva has started testing other products. Their most recent launch is RocaMina, a plant-based energy drink looking to compete with Monster and Redbull by offering a healthier alternative.

Roadblocks:

Niche: According to the founder, Bebida Viva's primary target market consists of individuals aged 18-35, primarily those who are well-educated about health concerns. This narrows the market because, in Mexico, health-conscious individuals are often found at the top of the socioeconomic pyramid, which limits their client base.
Education: Very few people know what kombucha is and what benefits it has to offer. Additionally, consumers usually shop for their products through retail spaces, so explaining the product effectively on the packaging is crucial.
Cash Flow: The majority of their clients are retail businesses. This can present cash flow challenges because these businesses usually have extended payment terms of up to 45, 60, or even 90 days, which can harm Bebida Viva’s operations.
Logistics: Their sales are divided, with 80% coming from retail and 20% from other channels. An issue with the distribution is that kombucha has to be refrigerated since it has live probiotics. Refrigerated drinks are more expensive to ship, adding cost to operations and product pricing.

The Architects

Want to invest? Request intro with founders by sending an email to [email protected]

Headlines Corner

Finerio Connect, a Mexican startup developing an open finance platform, raised US $6.5M in funding. (Techcrunch)
Tidewise, the Brazilian startup specializing in naval marine technology raised US $1.9M. (Latamlist)
Teker, a Colombian health-tech platform for booking appointments, secured US $1M in funding. (Forbes)
500 Global has launched its 19th program for startups, “Somos Lucha.” 12 startups from Latin America are joining, and 6 are from Mexico. (Expansion)

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