Guangzhou-based Walovi added two SKUs to its plant-based portfolio at an August 10 launch event, unveiling LEGEND-KING natural energy electrolyte drink and LEMULI natural berry composite juice alongside redesigned packaging for its core lineup — moves the brand frames as a full-category ecosystem play for the next generation of functional beverages.
The Products
LEGEND-KING positions itself as the first A+++ clean-label energy electrolyte drink, drawing natural stimulants from ginseng and coffee bean extracts while excluding taurine and synthetic caffeine. The low-sugar formulation targets multiple dayparts and use occasions — work, study, gaming, and sport — a deliberate multi-occasion strategy that mirrors how larger energy brands have expanded beyond the gym and the convenience channel. LEMULI, by contrast, narrows its aim: the blueberry-and-raspberry composite juice is built around anthocyanin content and pitched squarely to health-conscious parents concerned with children's eye health. Both products carry zero-additive claims — no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives — reinforcing the clean-label trend that has reshaped beverage retail and foodservice procurement globally.
Market Backdrop
The timing aligns with a notable shift in consumer behavior. Ipsos data cited by Walovi shows plant-based beverage penetration climbing from 45% to 70% in 2025, with 96% of surveyed consumers citing naturalness and functional benefits as purchase drivers. Ye Jizeng, vice president of Guangzhou WALOVI Great Health Industry Co., Ltd., distilled the behavioral shift into three dynamics: shoppers now read ingredient labels independently, seek precise functional solutions rather than broad wellness claims, and expect demonstrable value beyond simple additive-free positioning. For foodservice buyers and retail category managers, that insight underscores growing pressure on suppliers to deliver transparent formulation and credentialed functional claims — not just marketing language.
Walovi describes itself as the world's top-selling plant-based beverage brand for six consecutive years, a self-reported figure that reflects the scale of China's domestic functional-drink market as much as global reach. The brand is actively working to extend that footprint, with stepped-up investment in Southeast Asian distribution channels announced alongside the new product reveals. Ambassador signings — footballer Erling Haaland for the masterbrand and actor Zhang Linghe for the redesigned core line — signal significant above-the-line spend aimed at building youthful brand equity outside China's home market.
The new bottle design, drawing aesthetic cues from bamboo joint curves and traditional Chinese pavilion architecture, accompanies the global rollout. Packaging redesigns of this kind often serve a dual purpose in export-market strategy: differentiation on crowded retail shelves and a cultural narrative that supports premium pricing. For distributors and foodservice operators evaluating new beverage suppliers, the packaging refresh and dual-SKU launch together suggest Walovi is positioning for category-wide placement rather than a single niche slot.
The clean-label energy segment is increasingly contested territory. Established players in the functional beverage and sports-nutrition space have accelerated natural-ingredient reformulations, and emerging brands continue to enter with single-attribute positioning. Walovi's strategy — stacking multiple clean-label attributes across two distinct consumer targets — reflects a portfolio approach that mirrors what larger beverage conglomerates have executed in adjacent categories. How quickly the brand can build distribution depth in Southeast Asia and convert trial to repeat purchase will determine whether the product launches translate into meaningful AUV gains for retail and on-premise partners.
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.
