Healthy beverage brand Asarasi won Wakefern’s 2026 Local Wellness Supplier Summit, which was held November 3 at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center. Following a day of presentations and product demonstrations by eight innovative local suppliers, Asarasi wowed a panel of Wakefern leaders with its organic Sparkling Tree Water and Nekter Pop Probiotic Soda, earning the top spot in the summit.
“Having this opportunity in over 300 stores – and being able to tell our story and share fantastic products that are focused on consumer health and wellness – is really important to us, and we are incredibly grateful and honored to have been chosen as the winner by Wakefern,” said Adam Lazar, CEO and Founder of Asarasi.
Asarasi’s beverages are naturally produced from sustainably sourced maple tree water, resulting in crisp, refreshing beverages that are USDA-certified organic and free from cane sugar, caffeine, sodium and artificial sweeteners. Their Sparkling Tree Water comes in flavors like Raspberry, Lemon and Lime, while their Nekter Pop Probiotic Sodas feature vibrant options such as Black Cherry, Root Beer and Orange. The company partners with over 130 family farms to sustainably source its ingredients, supporting small businesses and promoting agricultural stewardship.
Asarasi’s products are expected to hit shelves in spring 2026 at Wakefern supermarket banners ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer and Morton Williams.
Aku Orraca-Tetteh, Co-Founder of Asarasi, shared, “My father asks me every day, ‘When can I go and pick up Asarasi? Where can I pick it up?’ Now I can tell him that we’re going to be in ShopRite. That’s really exciting.”
Brands submitted products via RangeMe
The Local Wellness Supplier Summit underscores Wakefern’s commitment to providing its Member Families – and, in turn, their stores and customers – with innovative, on-trend products. Candidates submitted online applications through RangeMe’s Immediate Opportunities this past summer. Wakefern buyers reviewed all submissions and selected eight finalists who were invited to pitch their products in person to the Wakefern team. Supplier submissions that aligned with the growing demand for health and wellness – such as clean-label, organic, plant-based or functional products – were strongly encouraged to submit.
“We were inspired by the creativity and passion of all the finalists who shared their wellness focused foods and products at the summit,” said Darren Caudill, Chief Sales Officer of Wakefern Food Corp. “Our customers count on us to deliver products that fit their unique lifestyles – whether they’re seeking better-for-you snacks and meals, functional beverages or other clean-label products. This summit is about expanding choices and bringing exciting new products to our shelves, and Asarasi truly stood out with their offering and work with family farms.”
Wakefern is known for supporting local farmers, businesses and brands, and supplier summits are in line with the cooperative’s mission to help small businesses succeed in a big business world. Wakefern has hosted similar supplier summits in the past to find new products for its award-winning private label lines, Bowl & Basket® and Wholesome Pantry®. Past winners have introduced exciting new store brand sauces, spices, snacks and even restaurant-quality frozen meals with vegetarian, plant-based and gluten-free options.
The eight finalists who pitched products at the latest summit represented a diverse range of local and regional businesses, each dedicated to wellness and innovation. Wakefern thanks all participants for their contributions and looks forward to continuing to champion local suppliers.
Wakefern Food Corp. is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States. Founded in 1946, it’s made up of member families that independently own and operate hundreds of supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, Di Bruno Bros. and Morton Williams banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.