IRWINDALE, Calif., US – Propelled by outstanding online consumer sales and rave reviews, instant coffee maker Waka Coffee is moving for the first time into brick-and-mortar retail as it launches in Texas’ top gourmet grocery chain Central Market. Consumers can now find Waka Coffee’s Colombian medium roast, Indian light roast and Colombian decaffeinated single-serve on shelves at all Central Market stores throughout the Texas area for $9.99.
Waka Coffee, founded in 2018, proudly declares that “its taste is as great as its reputation.” And, in fact, Waka has often been selected as Amazon’s Choice for “instant coffee” and “best instant coffee.” Waka Coffee has been named as the best instant coffee by numerous publications and professional coffee reviewers.
Longtime Starbucks Executive Joe Canterbury Joins Waka Team
Waka Coffee, reflecting its online popularity and rapid growth, also announced the hiring of former Starbucks executive Joe Canterbury as an advisor. Canterbury spent many years in executive roles with Starbucks Coffee International and has substantial experience in business development, corporate development/M&A, operations and global expansion, early-stage CPG investing, fundraising and scaling.
He also led the International Business Development team for the retail business, served as VP of New Businesses for EMEA and later as Managing Director of Starbucks Germany, and led Global Business Development for Starbucks’ retail and CPG businesses.
‘Right Ingredients’ for Waka’s Success
In explaining Waka’s success, founder and CEO David Kovalevski says that the company sources only 100 percent Arabica beans, which are commonly used in coffee shops, to provide the best taste. “Our beans are freeze-dried to best preserve the coffee’s aroma and depth of flavor. And we also engage directly with fellow coffee lovers to continuously improve the product and make the coffee experience more enjoyable.”
About Waka Coffee
Waka Coffee, founded in 2018, is an instant coffee brand tailor-made for the 21st century. The brand was created with the idea that everyone should enjoy coffee effortlessly. Waka’s mission is to reinvent the instant coffee category through a superior product and socially conscious values. Waka Coffee tastes like a slow drip coffee minus all the hassle of making it. It is made of 100 percent Arabica beans, freeze-dried to preserve the original beans’ taste and aroma. The company also donates a portion of its sales proceeds to support clean and safe drinking water initiatives around the world.
