Soylent rolls out to 4,378 Walmart stores, targets 20,000 retail locations nationwide

By Mary Ellen Shoup

- Last updated on GMT

Photo: Soylent
Photo: Soylent

Related tags Soylent Walmart Meal replacement

Soylent has sealed nationwide distribution in 4,378 Walmart stores for five of its ready-to-drink (RTD) meal replacement drinks, furthering the company's goal to bring complete and affordable nutrition to all, said Soylent CEO Bryan Crowley.

"Walmart’s tremendous presence and reach makes them a great customer for us,”​ Crowley said. "Walmart’s leadership team has been a huge supporter of what we’re trying to accomplish, and we look forward to collaborating with them to continue to expand our reach.”

In April 2018, Soylent rolled out to 450 Walmart stores​ and five months later, the brand expanded to 1,850 Walmart stores. Since making the jump from its robust e-commerce business (where it was the #1 grocery product on Amazon in January 2017), Soylent’s meal replacement drinks will be available in more than 20,000 brick-and-mortar retail locations across the US "with zero signs of slowing down,"​ the company said. 

According to Walmart senior buyer, Todd Wetmore, Soylent RTD meal replacement drinks have "become the center of the functional beverage set that Walmart is spearheading," ​which features "up-and-coming brands of all sizes"​ that are launching in Walmart stores across the US. 

"Soylent can be an aspiration for many emerging brands, as they show how this model can work successfully,”​ Wetmore added.

“By mapping out our growth plan, monitoring results in real time and partnering with Walmart to react quickly to our performance, we have been able to drive sales in a way that has exceeded all of our expectations,”​ said Soylent SVP of sales Melody Conner.  In January 2018 we had just a handful of retail locations in Southern California and our incredible success in Walmart, especially among a young, health conscious, on-the-go population, has been a great proof of concept for us as we expand our channels.”

Soylent has driven foot traffic to Walmart stores as well was online sales in untapped markets through Walmart's direct-to-consumer online business, noted the retailer. 

Soylent's rapid path into online and physical retail has allowed it to expand distribution to untapped markets and appeal to a broader set of consumers living an on-the-go lifestyle with new flavors and products such as its 'in-between meal' beverage called Bridge​ launched earlier this year, according to the brand. 

“In January 2018 we had just a handful of retail locations in Southern California and our incredible success in Walmart, especially among a young, health conscious, on-the-go population has been a great proof of concept for us as we expand our channels,”​ added Conner. 

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4 comments

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4 of 5 stars

Posted by Guadalupe Vasquez,

Soylent is a great alternative to gummy bears, ice cream, and bear claws. It’s healthier than quarter pounders, chicken fingers, and pizza. I KNOW there are healthier foods out there, but I don’t have the knowledge and will to research and assemble healthier alternatives. It does get boring after a few weeks, but it is the only way I know to loose weight without exercising or buying healthier foods. To be honest, when I do try to buy foods to cook at home, they end up going bad because I loose track of the expiration date. Soylent lasts a whole year before going bad. I wish they would sell a 50 lb bag of Soylent kibble.

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Ah, excuse me

Posted by Tony H,

Why is this green?

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Soylent

Posted by Plantoon,

Soylent is people!!

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