US “relaxation” drinks firm Recess has raised $30m in a Series B round and named Nutrabolt executive Kyle Thomas as president and co-CEO.
Thomas, formerly global chief commercial officer at C4 Energy owner Nutrabolt, will be co-CEO alongside Recess founder Benjamin Witte.
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In a statement, Recess said the capital will be directed towards expanding its team and trying to build distribution.
Founded in 2018, Recess develops functional beverages and supplements positioned to help people “feel calm and balanced”.
Its portfolio includes three ranges: Mood, featuring magnesium L-threonate and adaptogen sparkling waters and powders; Zero Proof Craft Mocktails, described as functional, cocktail-inspired non-alcoholic options; and its original sparkling waters infused with hemp and adaptogens.
Recess products are sold at chains including Target, Kroger and Whole Foods Market.
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By GlobalDataThe financing was led by Cavu Consumer Partners, with additional backing from Rocana, Midnight Ventures, Torch Capital, Doehler Ventures, KAS Venture Partners, Vanquish and Craig Kallman.
Witte said: “We are now entering a fundamentally new chapter of the Recess journey and I am incredibly excited to partner with Kyle and the Cavu team to set the Recess business up for accelerated growth, and to positively impact people on a much larger scale.”
Among Cavu’s previous investments in the US drinks sector is US prebiotic soda brand Poppi, which was acquired by Pepsi for $1.95bn in March.
Jared Jacobs, partner at Cavu Consumer Partners, said: “There’s a $25bn-plus energy drink market in the US built on stimulation, and we believe there needs to be a counterweight built on relaxation. Recess is the restorative alternative consumers are seeking, providing functional beverages that put mental wellness and balance first.”
Brett Thomas, co-founder and managing partner at Cavu Consumer Partners, added: “We believe relaxation is the next frontier and resonates deeply with today’s overstimulated generations.”
Thomas, who has over 25 years of experience in the beverage sector, spent more than a decade at Coca-Cola. He joined Nutrabolt in 2021.
Commenting on his appointment, Thomas said: “My immediate focus will be building organisational capability and capacity along with the right commercial systems to scale Recess into the next iconic modern beverage company.”
