Chi Forest
Chi Forest is a US beverage company that sells Asian-inspired zero-sugar, zero-calorie sparkling refreshers through Costco, H Mart, and Amazon, targeting health-conscious consumers and the Asian diaspora with five core flavor SKUs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersCity Of Industry, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Chi Forest does
Chi Forest is a US-based beverage company, founded in 2016 and headquartered in City of Industry, California, that produces and sells Asian-inspired zero-sugar, zero-calorie sparkling refreshers. Formerly known as Genki Forest, the company recently rebranded to Chi Forest. Its core product line consists of five flavored sparkling beverages—Lychee Fizzy, White Peach, Pomelo Zest, Grape Delight, and Strawberry Kiss—all formulated with erythritol and sucralose as zero-calorie sweeteners and marketed as vegan, gluten-free, and shelf-stable. The beverages are sold through a multi-channel distribution strategy spanning Costco warehouse stores, H Mart Asian grocery chains, and Amazon's online marketplace, targeting health-conscious consumers and the Asian diaspora in the United States.
The company operates a traditional consumer packaged goods (CPG) business model, generating revenue through unit sales of canned sparkling beverages via retail and e-commerce channels. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Chi Forest employs 11-50 people and is backed by institutional investors Temasek, Warburg Pincus, and Cathay Capital. The parent corporate entity reached a $15 billion valuation in 2021, though specific funding round amounts have not been disclosed.
In January 2026, Chi Forest entered early discussions with advisers regarding a potential Hong Kong IPO, signaling a pivot toward public capital markets. The company claims global geographic reach, though primary operations are concentrated in North America. Marketing efforts center on Instagram-driven brand awareness and consumer testimonial amplification, emphasizing the product's distinct Asian-inspired flavor positioning as a differentiator in the crowded zero-sugar sparkling water category.
Chi Forest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chi Forest
- Legal name
- Chi Forest
- Website
- https://drinkgenki.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Chi Forest is a US beverage company that sells Asian-inspired zero-sugar, zero-calorie sparkling refreshers through Costco, H Mart, and Amazon, targeting health-conscious consumers and the Asian diaspora with five core flavor SKUs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chi Forest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Non-alcoholic flavored sparkling water beverages
- NAICS
- Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111), Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211)
- SIC
- Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Flavored/Enhanced Bottled Water Production (Essenced, Vitamin, Electrolyte) (AFAFACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production (AFAFACAE), Bottled Water (Still, Sparkling, Enhanced) (CRADAHAC)
Keywords
Where Chi Forest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- City Of Industry
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Chi Forest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Beverage product sales: Chi Forest generates revenue through the sale of canned sparkling beverages. The company sells its products through retail partners (Costco, H Mart) and online marketplace (Amazon), operating on a traditional product sales model where consumers purchase individual units or multi-packs of its flavored sparkling water drinks.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels2 records
Chi Forest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chi Forest manufactures and sells canned, Asian-inspired flavored sparkling water beverages in five core flavors (Lychee Fizzy, White Peach, Pomelo Zest, Grape Delight, and Strawberry Kiss). All products are formulated with zero sugar, zero calories, and zero caffeine using erythritol and sucralose sweeteners, and are positioned as vegan and gluten-free refreshers targeting U.S. consumers through Costco, H Mart, and Amazon.
Product overview
Chi Forest is a single-product-line beverage brand offering Asian-inspired zero sugar, zero calorie sparkling refreshers. The core product portfolio consists of five flavored sparkling drinks: Lychee Fizzy, White Peach, Pomelo Zest, Grape Delight, and Strawberry Kiss. All products share the same zero-sugar, zero-calorie formula sweetened with erythritol and sucralose, differentiated only by flavor profile. The products are vegan, gluten-free, and sold primarily through Amazon, Costco, and H Mart retailers in the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lychee Fizzy Zero sugar, zero calorie sparkling refresher featuring the floral, juicy aroma of lychee and rose, with fruit-packed flavor and bright bubbles. Sold as canned sparkling water in the U.S. through Costco, H Mart, and Amazon.
- White Peach Zero sugar, zero calorie sparkling drink with sweet white peach flavor and a silky, full texture, capturing the mild sweetness and juiciness of fresh peach. Sold in cans through Costco, H Mart, and Amazon.
- Pomelo Zest Zero sugar, zero calorie sparkling beverage with bright citrus sparkle from pomelo, delivering a crisp, clean, refreshing tangy taste. Sold in cans through Costco, H Mart, and Amazon.
- Grape Delight Zero sugar, zero calorie sparkling drink featuring grape's vibrant color, sweet and slightly tart flavor, intense aroma, and rich taste. Sold in cans through Costco, H Mart, and Amazon.
- Strawberry Kiss Zero sugar, zero calorie sparkling beverage with sweet and delicate strawberry notes delivering a soft, romantic flavor that lingers gently on the palate. Sold in cans through Costco, H Mart, and Amazon.
Companies that use Chi Forest
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Chi Forest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Chi Forest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chi Forest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Olipop: Better-for-you sparkling tonic brand positioned between soda and seltzer with functional ingredients. Competes for the same health-conscious consumer occasion as Chi Forest, with significant retail momentum.
- Liquid Death: Fast-growing canned water and sparkling water brand with disruptive branding. Competes in similar retail channels (Costco, Amazon) and target demographic with Chi Forest, though with very different positioning.
- Recess: Better-for-you sparkling water brand with functional ingredients (adaptogens, hemp). Targets the same millennial/Gen-Z wellness consumer as Chi Forest and competes for premium retailer shelf space.
Direct peers
- AHA Sparkling Water: Coca-Cola's sparkling water brand, notable for launching bold, fruit-forward flavors. Targets the same zero-sugar, flavor-forward consumer as Chi Forest and shares similar retail distribution channels.
- Hint Water: Direct-to-consumer-led flavored still and sparkling water brand with strong cult following. Overlaps with Chi Forest in the unsweetened/flavored-water positioning and natural-channel distribution.
- Bubly: PepsiCo-owned zero-calorie flavored sparkling water brand. Directly competes with Chi Forest in the same shelf-set at retailers like Costco and Amazon, targeting the same health-conscious consumer with bold flavor profiles.
- Spindrift: Premium sparkling water brand made with real squeezed fruit. Competes in the same 'better-for-you, real-flavor' positioning as Chi Forest, available at Costco, Whole Foods, and online marketplaces.
- LaCroix: National Beverage's flagship zero-calorie sparkling water brand. The category-defining incumbent against which all challenger seltzers (including Chi Forest) compete for shelf space and consumer attention.
Broad incumbents
- Topo Chico: Coca-Cola-owned Mexican mineral water brand now widely distributed in the U.S. Competes for the same shelf space and on-premise occasions as Chi Forest, with significant incumbency advantages.
Regional players
- Nongfu Spring: China's largest bottled water and beverage company and the original platform from which Genki Forest/Chi Forest emerged. Comparable as a peer in product category and brand architecture, though operating primarily in China.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chi Forest social profiles
Digital presenceChi Forest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chi Forest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Chi Forest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chi Forest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chi Forest
What does Chi Forest do?
Chi Forest manufactures and sells canned, Asian-inspired flavored sparkling water beverages in five core flavors (Lychee Fizzy, White Peach, Pomelo Zest, Grape Delight, and Strawberry Kiss). All products are formulated with zero sugar, zero calories, and zero caffeine using erythritol and sucralose sweeteners, and are positioned as vegan and gluten-free refreshers targeting U.S. consumers through Costco, H Mart, and Amazon.
Is Chi Forest a public or private company?
Chi Forest is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Chi Forest founded?
Chi Forest was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Chi Forest based?
Chi Forest is headquartered in City Of Industry, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chi Forest make money?
One revenue line is on record: beverage product sales.
Who are Chi Forest's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Olipop, Liquid Death and Recess. Direct peers are AHA Sparkling Water, Hint Water, Bubly, Spindrift and LaCroix. Topo Chico is listed as a broad incumbent. Nongfu Spring is listed as a regional player.
Does Chi Forest have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chi Forest.
What industry is Chi Forest in?
Chi Forest's product category is Non-alcoholic flavored sparkling water beverages. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFACAF, Flavored/Enhanced Bottled Water Production (Essenced, Vitamin, Electrolyte), with a secondary code of AFAFACAE, Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production. Its NAICS code is 312111 and its SIC code is 2086.