Cocovibe

At Cocovibe, we’re committed to helping every individual realize their human potential. This white paper written by a Food Science Professor at the University of Illinois and her peers illuminates how our cells function and the critical positive impact high potassium, low sugar beverages like Cocovibe have on our cognitive and physical health and performance.

NACUFS has been such a great partner for the past 3 years, sharing our mission to improve the health of all students, while reducing carbon emissions and packaging waste.

Amazing stuff we are hearing from our customers about how we are lowering their overall plate costs!

Last week our team proudly sponsored the first installment of the NACUFS Spring Conference Series in Myrtle Beach, SC. Cocovibe was delighted to support another exciting NACUFS event in the company of peers, partners, and friends. During the showcase, we enjoyed a wonderful opportunity to connect with leaders in C&U dining and share our product: the least expensive and most impactful healthier option for student communities. It was a pleasure to see (and hydrate!) everyone who visited our booth! We took another positive step in growing Cocovibe’s impact on the health of people and the planet. Thank you, NACUFS, for providing another great experience for attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors. Excited to do this again in Duluth (March 18th – 20th) and Albuquerque (March 31st – April 2nd).

Managing plate costs while meeting the demands of your most vocal and health- conscious students is a constant challenge. These students generally have a heightened awareness, are more demanding, are quick to voice their opinions, and can significantly influence perceptions of your dining program. While catering to their health needs is crucial, integrating healthier food options often comes with high costs, including menu planning, ingredient sourcing, training and food waste. This creates a complex value equation with both benefits and expenses that affect the total cost of individual menu items as well as maintaining overall student satisfaction. One effective, cost-effective strategy is to focus on where the perceived value gap is greatest, which often lies in areas of limited variety. For example, expanding from 4 healthy entrée choices to 5 will not create the same impact as expanding from 1 healthy option to 2. Finding areas with the least variety and expanding them can make a notabledifference. ? When areas are identified, it is important to look for plug-and-play solutions that are easier to integrate. These solutions should require minimal training, low costs, and offer a high return in terms of student satisfaction. A powerful, yet often overlooked, opportunity lies within your beverage offerings. Many dining programs have realized that updating their beverage selections can provide one of the most cost-effective ways to meet student demands for healthier options. However, pouring rights agreements often limit exploration in this area. Here’s where Cocovibe can help. Cocovibe offers organic, low-sugar, additive-free coconut waters —a nutritious and affordable beverage solution -- that aligns with your program’s goals to offer your students a variety of healthy options that are cost-efficient and cost-effective. Cocovibe does not conflict with your pouring rights agreements as neither Coke or Pepsi offers a similar product.?Cocovibe is Kosher, Gluten Free, 100% plant-based, and with coconuts no longer classified as a tree nut by the FDA, not an allergen. ? The cost to your program is less than healthy food options. And unlike healthier food options that are served occasionally and have low awareness served behind the counter, Cocovibe’s attractive dispensers are visible 24/7 to constantly signal to all students you’re commitment to providing them quality and variety. And the best part? Cocovibe is affordable, costing less than premium fruit juices or alternative milks. ? Countertop dispensers are provided at no cost and require minimal setup: just a standard power outlet. Staff training to prepare products and manage dispensers takes less than an hour and is conducted by the Cocovibe team. Available through Sysco, US Foods, PFG, and GFS, Cocovibe can be integrated into your program in just a few weeks. For C&U pricing and more information, please email?[email protected]

Nut free campuses and allegen-free dining halls are now freed to upgrade their beverage offering. Great job FDA!!!! You finally acknowledged Coconut water is from a fruit, not a nut.

Huge news in the coconut world, especially for coconut water enthusiasts!???? ? Under the updated guidelines of the Food & Drug Administration, coconuts are no longer categorized as an allergenic Tree Nut.?As detailed in?Guidance for Industry: Fifth Edition (January 2025), exclusion from the list of Tree Nuts means that coconuts are NOT considered to be a major allergen.?? ? In explanation of changes to the Tree Nut list, the verbiage of the report implies that coconuts “do not have a robust body of evidence to support inclusion as a major food allergen.”?This development is supported by continued research; one study determined that only?0.39%?of the population report a coconut allergy.?As consequence, coconut products are no longer subject to the labeling requirements under the?Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004?(FALCPA).?? ? This is a potential game-changer for the coconut industry, especially coconut water.?Previously, the benefits of coconut water were inaccessible to about 1.2% of the U.S. population: according to?Food Allergy Research and Education, almost 4 million American reported a Tree Nut allergy in 2023.?An additional 6 million people report a Peanut allergy, and conflation of Tree Nuts with Peanuts perhaps further distanced viable consumers from healthy coconut products.?. ? Observance of Tree Nut allergies has impacted labeling and serving protocols in K-12 school districts, College & University dining programs, and a variety of other sectors.?This is crucially relevant to previously misunderstood coconut water: ? - Many operations are “nut-free” and thus were prohibited from serving coconut water under the previous FDA guidelines.?? ? - Thanks to the new FDA guidelines, coconut water can now be confidently incorporated into “nut-free” dining operations that remain committed to health and wellness.?? ? - Sugar-sweetened beverages and sodium overconsumption are two problems plaguing our population – especially children – and coconut water stands out as a solution.?? ? - The addition of coconut water elevates any menu: potassium-forward beverages that deliver low-sugar, low-sodium, additive-free electrolyte balance.?? ? The domestic market for coconut was recently?valued at $1.89 billion, and it is projected to grow to $5.12 billion by 2029.?Because of the rise of the health-conscious population, coconut water has flourished as a premium functional beverage for consumers who value the superfood nutrition, holistic hydration, and natural ingredients.?The new FDA guidelines enable even more consumers, families, and large-scale dining programs to enjoy the unparalleled benefits of coconut water while safely navigating allergy concerns. ? Here at Cocovibe, we're thrilled with this development!?We believe that new understanding of coconut products will benefit public health.?We are excited by the opportunity to further share our delicious and nutritious sustainable wellness beverage! ?

Huge news in the coconut world, especially for coconut water enthusiasts!???? ? Under the updated guidelines of the Food & Drug Administration, coconuts are no longer categorized as an allergenic Tree Nut.?As detailed in?Guidance for Industry: Fifth Edition (January 2025), exclusion from the list of Tree Nuts means that coconuts are NOT considered to be a major allergen.?? ? In explanation of changes to the Tree Nut list, the verbiage of the report implies that coconuts “do not have a robust body of evidence to support inclusion as a major food allergen.”?This development is supported by continued research; one study determined that only?0.39%?of the population report a coconut allergy.?As consequence, coconut products are no longer subject to the labeling requirements under the?Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004?(FALCPA).?? ? This is a potential game-changer for the coconut industry, especially coconut water.?Previously, the benefits of coconut water were inaccessible to about 1.2% of the U.S. population: according to?Food Allergy Research and Education, almost 4 million American reported a Tree Nut allergy in 2023.?An additional 6 million people report a Peanut allergy, and conflation of Tree Nuts with Peanuts perhaps further distanced viable consumers from healthy coconut products.?. ? Observance of Tree Nut allergies has impacted labeling and serving protocols in K-12 school districts, College & University dining programs, and a variety of other sectors.?This is crucially relevant to previously misunderstood coconut water: ? - Many operations are “nut-free” and thus were prohibited from serving coconut water under the previous FDA guidelines.?? ? - Thanks to the new FDA guidelines, coconut water can now be confidently incorporated into “nut-free” dining operations that remain committed to health and wellness.?? ? - Sugar-sweetened beverages and sodium overconsumption are two problems plaguing our population – especially children – and coconut water stands out as a solution.?? ? - The addition of coconut water elevates any menu: potassium-forward beverages that deliver low-sugar, low-sodium, additive-free electrolyte balance.?? ? The domestic market for coconut was recently?valued at $1.89 billion, and it is projected to grow to $5.12 billion by 2029.?Because of the rise of the health-conscious population, coconut water has flourished as a premium functional beverage for consumers who value the superfood nutrition, holistic hydration, and natural ingredients.?The new FDA guidelines enable even more consumers, families, and large-scale dining programs to enjoy the unparalleled benefits of coconut water while safely navigating allergy concerns. ? Here at Cocovibe, we're thrilled with this development!?We believe that new understanding of coconut products will benefit public health.?We are excited by the opportunity to further share our delicious and nutritious sustainable wellness beverage! ?

? Is your favorite "healthy" beverage actually a Thirst Trap? In leading Cocovibe's impact across the College & University sector, one of my greatest joys has been educating enthusiastic students on the importance of beverage nutrition. Too many brands manipulate consumers with clever marketing, positioning themselves as "healthy" despite an overwhelming confluence of harmful or poorly understood ingredients. Their label is a fable. Don't fall into the Thirst Trap! ?? Cocovibe exists to elevate C&U dining programs through functional hydration, real nutrition, and steadfast environmentalism. As culinary literacy improves and campus multiculturalism evolves, student expectations continue to grow. Each C&U program we support creates an opportunity to perpetuate a positive message to a diverse, demanding, and educated young audience: If you are what you eat, then Re-Think Your Drink ! ?? Here are three items to consider when deciding how to leverage your beverage into health, wellness, and happiness: (1) POTASSI-YUM The proper balance between potassium & sodium is crucial for human cellular functioning. On average, American diets are woefully deficient in potassium while exorbitant in sodium. The salt is at fault! Coconut Water has a reputation as a superfood because it naturally offers the antidote: low-sodium & high-potassium! ?? One serving of Cocovibe has over 500mg of natural electrolytes, including more potassium than a banana. (2) NO SUGAR, DADDY Drinkable sugars are one of the dominant factors in a variety of societal health problems, notably childhood obesity. On the labels of many popular brands (soda, juice, sports drinks), you will find unmistakably large amounts of Added Sugar. If there is sugar content in your drink, make sure it's occurring naturally from a plant, vegetable, or fruit. ?? Plant-based and planet-friendly, one serving Cocovibe has only 6 grams of natural sugar ...and ZERO additives. (3) FOOD = FUNCTION. "Functional" beverages are not only hydrating, but also nutrient-dense. Nutritional knowledge continues to inform the benefits of natural diets, and the beverage category presents a massive opportunity to deliver culinary-forward real-food nutrition. Nonetheless, beverage brands continue to be flavor-forward, relying upon processed ingredients and suspicious chemicals. Across all consumer populations, including the C&U generation, we should prioritize wellness beverages that are ~functional~ featuring real food ingredients, real nutrients, and real health benefits. ?? Cocovibe has only two ingredients: organic coconut water + organic fruit. Got a take? Talk to me in the comments!

Skip the sugary holiday drinks and stay hydrated (and festive!) with these delicious Cocovibe cocktails. Prepared fresh from concentrate so you can lower your carbon footprint, these recipes are the perfect way to celebrate without the guilt. We're committed to sustainability, so you can enjoy delicious drinks with a lower carbon footprint. Less carbon in your stocking! ???????? P.S. You can easily turn any of these cocktails into mocktails by omitting the alcohol. ??