What problem does Karviva Unwined solve?
Over the last few years, we’ve seen a tremendous increase in non-alcohol beer, spirits, and wine consumption as more consumers decide to move away from alcoholic beverages. However, the current market products from traditional wine makers are based on a few de-alcohol methods that are not only labor-intensive and wasteful but also short on taste and lack health benefits. We felt there was an unmet need in this market space for consumers who desire a healthy, alcohol-free lifestyle with limited options.
That propelled us to introduce a completely new and innovative beverage category: functional wine replacement juice. Karviva Unwined is a sophisticated, alcohol-free functional juice blend that bypasses the traditional wine making process, and yet, simulates the great taste, color, and texture of Malbec wine. More importantly, it possesses a wide range of proven health benefits that are unmatched by any current market product. Karviva Unwined is positioned perfectly to provide consumers with a product that is full of natural healing power while serving as a great alcohol-free alternative to traditional wine products.
Tell us about the founder. What is their background?
Angela Zeng, PhD. has a long history and passion for natural healing rooted in a strong belief in traditional Chinese medicine and herbal science. She also had a desire to learn more about Western medicine. She moved to the United States from China in 1996 to continue her educational journey in medical research. She earned her Ph.D. in Pathology from St. Louis University School of Medicine. Angela was a recipient of the American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship and the Northwestern University School of Medicine Post-doctoral Fellowship. Her research topics ranged from cardiovascular diseases to cancer. After her research training, she earned her MBA at Washington University in St. Louis, then worked in business development at a pharmaceutical company.
In early 2017, she decided to combine her love of Eastern Medicine with her medical and business experience by creating her first five drinks under the brand name Karuna, which means ‘compassion’ in Buddhism. She launched her products inside the local Whole Foods Market store in Missouri. It has since grown from a local brand in a single store to an innovator in functional beverages with a presence in stores and online nationwide. Her company expanded into Karviva ACE Sports Recovery drinks and the latest innovation – Karviva Unwined functional wine replacement juice. Zeng’s company is proud to be a pioneer in introducing prebiotics in the beverage market and the first beverage maker to utilize in-house hydroponic farming to reduce carbon footprint during production.
How did they come up with the idea?
Karviva is a wellness beverage brand that champions plant-based, eco-friendly, and health-conscious products including juices, smoothies, and sports drinks. Our goal has always been to provide consumers with a variety of functional wellness drinks that are relevant to their lifestyle needs. Entering the alcohol-free wine market is a natural extension of our portfolio that we believe matches our philosophy and plays into our strength as an innovative wellness beverage company.
When we noticed the growing trend of non-alcohol beer, spirits, and wine, we felt there was a clear need for new concepts and better products. Among Angela’s remedy collections, there are a couple of formulations used to treat health issues related to alcohol and drug consumption and they happen to have similar taste and look to traditional wine. That has led us to put a great deal of effort into refining the formulation into a tantalizing juice remedy that tastes, looks, and feels like red wine.
How can this transform the world or our day-to-day lives?
For people who don’t drink much alcohol, you may have felt awkward or uncomfortable at some social functions. To be honest, I am tired of always having to order cranberry juice at a cocktail party or serve great wines to my dinner guests while toasting with sparkling water in my glass. With Karviva Unwined, you now, for the first time, can truly enjoy something that looks, tastes, and feels like a real wine without any unwanted effects from alcohol. Whether you drink it for relaxation, for entertaining guests at home or in a restaurant, or for socializing at gatherings, you have a delicious, healthy, and trendy choice in your hand. More importantly, it is safe without any negative effects on your thinking and driving. I think that is highly appealing to millions of consumers.
Like our other products, Karviva Unwined is also highly sustainable. In addition to being the pioneer in utilizing hydroponic farming to reduce carbon footprint, we also choose ingredients that are highly renewable and our production process focuses on eliminating food wasting. Compared with transitional wine making and all the de-alcohol processes that can be wasteful and inefficient. Karviva Unwined stands out as a great sustainable alternative to wines.
What do customers love most about the product?
From the feedback we have had so far, people who enjoy Karviva Unwined universally point to its delicious and mesmerizing taste, especially when it is paired with a fine dish. They also love its color and texture. It is just a beautiful drink to hold in hand. We make it clear on our label that this is not a traditional wine. Rather, it’s a unique juice blend that has the taste and feeling of wine without the stimulating impacts of alcohol. With that in mind, people are often pleasantly surprised by how this drink could have tasted so closely to a Malbec. They also enjoy and comment positively on the functional aspect of the drink and all the potential health benefits it provides. Some mention its impact on alleviating stomach discomfort and anxiety, and some suggest it curbs their appetite between meals.
Where can people get this product?
Currently, Karviva Unwined is distributed exclusively on Amazon: Karviva Unwined – Karuna (mykaruna.com)
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