Just Ice Tea has raised $9 million in Series B financing to accelerate national retail growth and product innovation, including the launch of Watermelon Lime White Tea and Peach White Tea.

Investors in the round include Robert Trone, co-founder of Total Wine & More, Taste Tomorrow Ventures, and senior leadership from Big Geyser of NYC, Polar Strategic Ventures and several other distributors.

Founded in 2022 by Seth Goldman, Barry Nalebuff and Spike Mendelsohn, the brand produces ready-to-drink organic, Fair Trade teas made with recognizable ingredients and no artificial additives.

The company plans to expand from 12,000 to 17,000 retail stores nationwide in 2026, a 40% year-over-year increase. Its bottled and canned teas will be stocked at retailers including Kroger, Publix and Albertsons.

To support the expansion, the brand has added more than 100 regional distributors, including Reyes Beverage Group, Hand Family Companies and Odom Corporation.

In 2025, the brand doubled its store presence with rollouts into Target, CVS Pharmacy, Wegmans and Harris Teeter.

Goldman said: “We are grateful for this strong support as we dramatically expand our retail footprint. It’s wonderful to build a foundation with accomplished entrepreneurs in the beverage retail sector whose support will further propel Just Ice Tea’s next phase of hypergrowth.”

Trone added: “Seth and his team have already built a great brand that is gaining significant traction with customers and consumers alike. I look forward to joining the board and supporting Just Ice Tea as it realises its vision and mission.”

Alongside the funding, the new flavours include:

• Watermelon Lime White Tea: made with organic watermelon, cucumber and lime, available beginning this month.

• Peach White Tea: made with organic white tea and oolong blended with peach and sweetened with organic cane sugar, at 50 calories per can, planned for a summer launch.

The brand will showcase Watermelon Lime White Tea at Natural Products Expo West (4-6 March) in Anaheim, California. American chef Spike Mendelsohn said: “This new flavour was inspired by the quality of the organic watermelon puree we have sourced from California. Blended with our delicate white tea and a touch of lime, it brings the juicy summer vibes we’re all looking for.”

Just Ice Tea is operated by Goldman and Mendelsohn. The company sources Organic and Fair Trade Certified ingredients globally, and its more than 17 flavours are formulated with “Just Sweet Enough” sweeteners or no sweetener.