Fiji Kava maker Calmer Co lands new product in Coles as it pushes into mainstream retail

Brisbane-based kava company The Calmer Co. International (ASX: CCO) has secured shelf space at Coles for a new dissolvable kava product under its Fiji Kava brand, with distribution expected to begin in October this year.

The supermarket giant accepted the ranging of the company's FZZR format - a tablet that can be dissolved in water, consumed direct-to-mouth, or chewed - as part of its latest range review.

The product will be regulated as a complementary medicine under the Therapeutic Goods Administration framework, which the company says enables standardised kava water extracts and flavour innovation including a Piña Colada variant.

The Calmer Co's existing Fiji Kava products are already stocked at Coles, with its 150g and 50g formats ranked first and third respectively in the national "Stress" category.

With distribution now spanning both Coles and Woolworths, the company says it covers about 67 per cent of Australia's grocery retail footprint.

“We are extremely pleased to see Coles support the planned launch of this innovative new Fiji Kava format as part of its latest range review," says The Calmer Co. founder and CEO Zane Yoshida.

"The FZZR technology provides consumers with a highly convenient and enjoyable way to experience kava, while also broadening the accessibility of the category through flavour innovation and portability.

"Importantly, the complementary medicine pathway allows us to utilise standardised kava extracts together with innovative flavour profiles such as Piña Colada, creating a differentiated wellness product under our established Fiji Kava brand."

Kava is a growing beverage category that contains natural compounds known as kavalactones that support physical and mental relaxation, reduce stress and promote sleep without causing intoxication.

"The continued strong performance of our existing Fiji Kava products within the Coles wellness category demonstrates increasing consumer acceptance of kava-based products in Australia," says Yoshida.

"With our Fiji Kava 150g and 50g powders currently ranked No.1 and No.3 respectively in the national Stress category at Coles, we believe the launch of Fiji Kava FZZR provides an exciting opportunity to further expand the category through innovation and new consumer occasions.

"Having now successfully penetrated Australia’s two largest supermarket retailers, Coles and Woolworths, we believe we have demonstrated growing mainstream acceptance of kava-based wellness products and validated the scalability of the category within modern retail environments."

The FZZR launch comes as the company looks to expand the kava category beyond traditional powder formats into new consumer occasions.

The product's TGA-regulated status positions it alongside complementary medicines rather than food products, a distinction the company sees as key to unlocking further retail innovation.

The Calmer Co reported quarterly revenue of $1.96 million for the three months to March 2026, with retail revenue of $628,547 in that period, down 3.1 per cent on the prior corresponding period.

The company posted first-half FY26 revenue of $4.43 million and a net loss of $1.74 million.

Beyond the Coles ranging, The Calmer Co is pushing into the United States market through the appointment of brokerage firm VDriven to lead its retail expansion.

The company estimates it holds about 10 per cent of kava sales on Amazon in the US, and in February this year announced a separate US kava supply agreement worth a minimum of $1.58 million over 24 months.

Australia's kava market has been growing steadily since regulatory changes in late 2022 permitted the sale of kava as a complementary medicine.

Pacific Trade Invest Australia has noted continued growth in Pacific kava exports to Australia, with Fiji among the key source countries supplying the expanding domestic market.