LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2024—Health-Ade, the makers of delicious, bubbly beverages that support a happy and healthy gut, and Manna Tree, an investment firm dedicated to improving human health, announced today the addition of industry veteran Jill McIntosh to the Health-Ade Board of Directors. Jill joins a roster of industry experts currently sitting on the Board, including Health-Ade’s long-term partner, First Bev.
Jill currently is a Senior Partner and Board Director of Simpactful Consulting as well as a non-executive board director of other CPG companies in the food and beverage space. Before joining Simpactful, she was an executive for The Kroger Co. where she held a number of leadership positions over her 16-year tenure in the areas of Natural Foods Merchandising, Digital, Corporate Brands & Manufacturing, Fred Meyer division, Human Resources, Kroger Personal Finance and as Corporate Counsel. Jill brings a wealth of experience in consumer goods and a proven track record of driving growth and innovation, most notably in leading Kroger’s impressive expansion in the natural and organic category.
Jill shared that she is “absolutely thrilled for the opportunity to serve on the Board of such an inspiring brand and with an impressive team of players led by HealthAde’s CEO, Chris Lansing. Health-Ade continues to gain market share and drive new households to the category – it’s an exciting ride we are on!”
Manna Tree, which alongside First Bev are primary investors in Health-Ade, handpicked Jill for the board position.
“Jill McIntosh’s appointment further strengthens Health-Ade as a leader in the dynamic beverage industry as the company continues to drive category growth and household penetration. There are very few people in our business with the track record of success that Jill has – and she has driven positive change and results throughout her career. She will be an amazing resource to our HealthAde team,” said Steve Young, Managing Partner at Manna Tree.
This past year, Health-Ade added over 1 million households to their consumer base, seeing significant success through partnerships with renowned cultural icons and personalities such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ryan Seacrest, iHeartMedia, and Erewhon x Olivia Rodrigo. Health-Ade achieved its highest revenue since the company’s founding, signaling a growing interest among consumers for better-for-you functional beverages. The brand also introduced SunSip by Health-Ade, a prebiotic soda, furthering the brand’s mission to make delicious gut-healthy products for every consumer and drinking occasion.
With a relentless commitment to quality and innovation, along with Jill’s expertise, Health-Ade is poised to make kombucha and prebiotic soda mainstays in every fridge in America.
Jill currently serves as a board member of Xavier University’s Williams College of Business, and President of the Mariemont Athletics Booster Board. Her dedication to community and professional excellence has also been recognized through prestigious awards such as the Network of Executive Women 2021 Bobbie O’Hare “Best of the Best” Award and being named a Top Woman in Grocery by Progressive Grocer.
About Health-Ade
Health-Ade creates feel-good, bubbly beverages with gut health benefits so you can follow your gut and show the world what you’re made of. The brand started in the Brentwood Farmers Market in 2012 selling its flagship kombucha drinks. Instantly gaining a cult following in Southern California, Health-Ade Kombucha rapidly expanded to sell nationwide in over 65,000 stores including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Safeway / Albertsons, Kroger, Publix, and Target. All Health-Ade Kombucha products are naturally fermented with high-quality ingredients and are certified organic, nonGMO, gluten-free and vegan. Each bottle of Health-Ade Kombucha exceeds the World Health Organization’s daily standard for probiotics. The brand proudly offers Health-Ade Kombucha, in both glass bottles and cans, Health-Ade Glow Up, its popular kombucha boosted with even more benefits, and SunSip by Health-Ade, its gut-healthy prebiotic soda–because life is sweeter when you sip better!
About Manna Tree
Manna Tree is a global private equity firm committed to improving human health through nutrition. The firm invests and actively partners with growth-stage companies, driven by the core belief that health, well-being, and longevity are attainable through innovation in food. Manna Tree has invested in a number of companies including Health-Ade, Gotham Greens, Vital Farms, Good Culture, Verde Farms, True Food Kitchen, Urban Remedy, The New Primal and Infinant Health.
