Who Owns Zico?

Zico was founded in 2004 by Mark Rampolla, who discovered coconut water during a Peace Corps stint in Central America. Rampolla recognized the potential of coconut water as a natural hydration alternative and launched the brand with a focus on pure coconut water without artificial additives. The target consumer was health-conscious and athletic.

Through the late 2000s, Zico expanded distribution and became one of the leading coconut water brands in North America. The brand helped establish coconut water as a mainstream beverage category. In 2008, Rampolla sold a minority stake to The Coca-Cola Company for $15 million. Coca-Cola acquired the remaining shares in 2013, bringing Zico fully under its corporate umbrella.

Under Coca-Cola ownership, Zico struggled to grow against strong competition. Vita Coco dominated the coconut water category with the largest market share. Coca-Cola's broader portfolio included multiple beverage categories, and Zico competed for attention and shelf space against better-performing brands. In October 2020, Coca-Cola announced it would discontinue Zico as part of a restructuring to focus on higher-performing global brands. The discontinuation disrupted supply chains and distribution relationships that had taken years to build.

In January 2021, PowerPlant Ventures announced the reacquisition of Zico from Coca-Cola. Rampolla relaunched the brand as Zico Rising with a renewed focus on sustainability, community impact in coconut-growing regions, and health-conscious consumers. The relaunch started from zero distribution. Tom Hicks joined as CEO in 2021 to rebuild the business, and the brand began securing retail placements at Whole Foods Market, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, and Walmart.

Zico Rising raised $14 million in January 2023 according to an SEC filing, following a $4 million round closed in December 2022. The brand introduced its first sub-line, Zico Hydrate, in fall 2022. In September 2024, Chris Gallant was named CEO, coming from Chamberlain Coffee where he had served as CEO for three years. Gallant's appointment signaled a new phase focused on driving distribution growth.

In December 2024, Zico Rising closed a Series B round raising $9.1 million of an anticipated $9.5 million, according to an SEC Form D filed on December 31. In August 2025, SG Credit Partners announced a senior debt investment in Zico Rising to support inventory expansion, working capital optimization, and strategic retail execution.

In 2025, Zico Rising launched the "Unmatched" campaign, emphasizing that its products contain no extras, no additives, and no artificial ingredients. The brand aligned with tennis star Naomi Osaka, NFL wide receiver DK Metcalf, and boxer Gerald Hopkins as investors and brand ambassadors. Zico Rising also secured placement at select Costco locations and announced plans to release a refrigerated 13.5-ounce bottle to compete with Harmless Harvest.

As of July 2026, Zico Rising continues to rebuild its presence in the coconut water category under independent ownership, with dollar sales rising 36.4 percent to $8.8 million in the most recent 52-week period ending October 2025, according to Circana scanner data.