This press release describes a consumer packaged goods retail distribution story for a functional beverage brand and does not contain commercial kitchen equipment, foodservice capital goods, or trade-channel content relevant to FSENews.com readers.

Melting Forest is a Los Angeles-based functional beverage company that uses mushroom adaptogens in its product lineup. The brand reports securing placement in Target seasonal sets and GNC locations nationwide, bringing its total retail door count to over 8,000 — a 148% year-over-year increase across multi-outlet and convenience channels. SPINS data ranks the brand 15th overall in the kombucha and other functional beverages category.

While operator-facing beverage trends — including functional and adaptogen-forward drinks — are increasingly relevant to foodservice buyers stocking grab-and-go coolers or specifying ice-and-beverage equipment for café and c-store formats, this release contains no foodservice equipment specifications, no NSF or ENERGY STAR certifications, no BTU or kW ratings, and no dealer or consultant channel information that would support a meaningful equipment-trade article for FSENews.com readers.

Editors considering coverage of the functional beverage trend from an equipment standpoint — such as cold-brew dispensing, kombucha tap systems, or reach-in merchandiser specs — may find relevant context in our refrigeration spec analysis or through reporting from our sister publication Food & Beverage Magazine, which covers CPG and beverage brand growth directly.

FSENews.com recommends routing this release to a consumer food and beverage outlet better suited to its retail distribution narrative.

Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.