The Cascara Society

What The Cascara Society does

The Cascara Society is a Swiss upcycled-beverage company operating under the legal entity ECOCASCARA SA, founded in 2021 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. The company transforms cascara—coffee cherry pulp previously discarded as waste by organic coffee farmers—into ready-to-drink beverages including a flagship Swiss Cola ("Cola Lausannois"), Ice Cascara infusions in original/mint/ginger flavors, and carbonated sodas. Its production process sources cascara from organic coffee farmers, sun-dries it without energy consumption, brews it using optimized time and temperature control to preserve antioxidant content, and converts post-brewing fruit waste into biogas for district heating, producing a closed-loop circular production system.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce through brew-society.ch with DHL Express delivery within 24-48 hours, four physical retail experiences across the Swiss Romande (Brew Society coffee-shops in Vevey and Morges, plus retail distribution through Librairie Payot stores in Lausanne and Geneva), and a B2B HoReCa wholesale channel for bars, restaurants, and coffee-shops. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company runs a discovery-pack sampling promotion with a 20% discount code available via email request. Revenue streams are one-time product sales across all channels. Primary customers are health-conscious and sustainability-focused Swiss and EU consumers, with secondary B2B segments in hospitality and an upstream supplier base of organic coffee farmers who receive an incremental income stream from previously discarded cascara. The company is founder-owned, with co-founders Fabio Bettinelli and Yves Currat identified as the operating principals.

Name

The Cascara Society

Legal name

ECOCASCARA SA

Website

https://cascara-society.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cascara Society (ECOCASCARA SA) is a Swiss beverage company that upcycles discarded coffee cherry pulp (cascara) into antioxidant-rich ready-to-drink beverages, selling to health- and sustainability-focused consumers and HoReCa partners across Switzerland and, post-2022, the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Functional Beverages

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Functional Beverages (Vitamins, Probiotics, Nootropics, etc.) (CRADAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks) (CRADAHAB)

Keywords

• Upcycled beverages
• Cascara drinks
• Coffee pulp processing
• Circular economy food
• Antioxidant soft drinks

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Online E-commerce: Direct consumer sales through the company's online shop (brew-society.ch). Products include cascara infusions, flavored drinks (cola, soda), and discovery packs. DHL Express delivery within 24-48 hours.
2. Product Sales - Physical Retail: Revenue from coffee-shop and boutique locations in Vevey, Lausanne, Geneva, and Morges. In-store sales include cascara beverages, cocktails, mocktails, and freshly roasted coffee.
3. Wholesale Distribution: B2B wholesale distribution to partner establishments including bars, restaurants, coffee-shops, and retail shops interested in carrying cascara products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Cascara Society upcycles cascara (coffee cherry pulp), a by-product typically discarded by organic coffee farmers, into antioxidant-rich ready-to-drink beverages. Its product line includes the flagship Swiss Cola (Cola Lausannois), Ice Cascara Infusions (original, mint, ginger), Ice Cascara Sodas, and a Cascara Discovery Pack, all organic, vegan, gluten-free with no added sugar and packaged in reusable glass bottles. Revenue is generated through owned e-commerce, four Swiss coffee-shop/boutique locations, and wholesale to HoReCa partners.

Product overview

The Cascara Society is a Swiss company specializing in circular/upcycled beverages made from cascara (coffee cherry pulp). Their product portfolio centers on the Swiss Cola as their flagship offering, complemented by the Ice Cascara line including infusions (original, mint, ginger) and sodas. All products are organic, vegan, gluten-free, rich in antioxidants, contain no added sugar, and are packaged in reusable glass bottles. The company works directly with organic coffee farmers to source cascara and creates an additional income stream for producers while reducing food waste.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ice Cascara: Line of cascara-based beverages available as fresh infusion or carbonated drink, including original flavor, mint, ginger, cola, and soda varieties.
• Lausanne Cola

Products and services

• Swiss Cola (Cola Lausannois) Flagship antioxidant-rich cola drink made from upcycled cascara (coffee cherry pulp), produced from dried cascara with no added sugar, organic grape concentrate for sweetness, and natural organic flavors. Targeted at health- and sustainability-conscious adult consumers in Switzerland and Europe.
• Ice Cascara Infusion Fresh cascara-based infusion drinks available in original, mint, or ginger varieties, made from sun-dried cascara brewed through a natural infusion process. Targeted at consumers seeking a healthier, caffeine-containing beverage alternative.
• Ice Cascara Soda Carbonated soft drinks made from cascara, providing a refreshing natural alternative to sugary beverages. Targeted at consumers seeking antioxidant-rich, no-added-sugar sparkling drinks.
• Cascara Discovery Pack Sampling pack of multiple cascara-based drinks offered with an exclusive 20% discount (code available via email request) to let consumers try the product range before committing to full-size purchases. Targeted at first-time buyers and curious consumers.
• Freshly Roasted Coffee Freshly roasted coffee served and sold at Brew Society coffee-shops and boutiques, complementing the cascara-based beverage offerings. Targeted at walk-in customers at the four Swiss locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• One ton of coffee generates approximately three tons of cascara waste
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Les TONTONS du live marketing SAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partner based in Lutry, VD, Switzerland. Listed as a trusted partner with legitimate reasons to share customer information.
• Carasso SAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProcessing partner based in Satigny, GE, Switzerland. Listed as a data processing partner.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Olipop: Olipop is a US-based functional soda brand making low-sugar, prebiotic carbonated soft drinks positioned as healthier alternatives to traditional sodas. Directly comparable to The Cascara Society's Lausanne Cola and Ice Cascara Soda in functional, better-for-you carbonated beverages targeting health-conscious consumers.
• Poppi: Poppi is a prebiotic soda brand marketed as a healthier alternative to sugary soft drinks, with flavors and brand positioning aimed at health- and wellness-oriented millennials. Closely comparable to The Cascara Society in product format (functional sparkling beverage), target consumer (health-conscious, anti-sugar), and brand-led D2C plus retail GTM.
• RISE Brewing Co. RISE Brewing Co. produces nitro cold-brew coffee and oat-milk lattes marketed as naturally lower-sugar functional alternatives in ready-to-drink formats. Comparable to The Cascara Society in product format (RTD healthy coffee-derived beverages), sustainability/quality positioning, and barista-channel distribution.
• Recess: Recess is a sparkling water and beverage brand positioned around adaptogens and functional ingredients (CBD, hemp, L-theanine) targeting modern, wellness-oriented consumers. Comparable to The Cascara Society for functional sparkling beverage positioning and brand-led, premium D2C plus café and retail distribution.
• Sosa SaPlaya / Liquid Death (alternative-beverage branding): Liquid Death is a canned water and beverage brand built on irreverent branding, sustainability messaging (aluminum packaging), and D2C-plus-retail distribution targeting younger consumers. Comparable to The Cascara Society for non-traditional brand-building in a conservative beverage category, alternative-channel distribution, and sustainability-led positioning.

Emerging players

• Guayakí Yerba Mate: Guayakí is a mission-driven, regenerative-organic beverage company selling yerba mate-based RTD drinks and teas with a sustainability and fair-trade narrative. Comparable to The Cascara Society for circular-economy sourcing story, health-and-sustainability positioning, and HoReCa plus retail D2C distribution.
• Blue Stripes Urban Cacao: Blue Stripes is a cacao-based food and beverage brand that upcycles the entire cacao fruit (pulp, peel, and bean) to reduce waste, similar to how The Cascara Society upcycles coffee cherry pulp. Comparable as a fellow upcycling-driven CPG company turning an agriculture by-product into premium consumer products.
• ReGrained: ReGrained is a CPG company that upcycles spent grain from craft brewing into snack bars and ingredient products. Comparable to The Cascara Society as a fellow upcycled-food startup monetizing an agricultural by-product through a circular-economy value proposition.

Broad incumbents

• The Coca-Cola Company: Coca-Cola is the world's largest non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage company, with broad portfolios spanning soft drinks, juices, sports drinks, and water, including low-sugar and functional brands. Comparable as the dominant incumbent whose traditional cola The Cascara Society's Lausanne Cola is directly positioned against in the Swiss/European market.
• Nestlé: Nestlé is the largest Swiss-headquartered F&B company with extensive coffee (Nescafé, Nespresso) and beverage operations and growing presence in functional, plant-based, and sustainable nutrition. Comparable as the local Swiss incumbent with the scale, R&D, and coffee supply chain The Cascara Society would compete against if its products scale into mainstream retail.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cascarasociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Cascara Society