What YUZUCO does

YUZUCO is a Los Angeles-based, founder-owned producer of premium Japanese citrus products, founded in 2023, that specializes in cold-pressed yuzu juice and related ingredients for professional chefs, bartenders, and food enthusiasts. The company sources yuzu from multi-generational growers on Japan's Shikoku and Kyushu islands, with limited small-batch California-grown fruit, and bottles in California using cold-press extraction and high-pressure processing (HPP) to preserve aroma and nutrients without heat treatment. The core product line spans 100% Yuzu Juice, the proprietary acid-adjusted Yuzu Super Juice designed as a 1:1 swap for fresh citrus in cocktails, Yuzu Kosho, juice powders, and ready-to-drink beverages (Sparkling Yuzu-Ade, Green Tea Yuzu-Ade, Sparkling Yuzu + Minerals), and has expanded into sudachi citrus and the YUICE lemon and lime sub-brand.

YUZUCO operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront on Shopify with a 10% subscription discount and a $100 free-shipping threshold, complemented by a multi-channel wholesale business distributed through Faire, Sysco, and Airgoods marketplaces and direct B2B accounts with a minimum order quantity as low as one case. The company has built a meaningful professional-endorsement base, with products used by over 100 Michelin-starred restaurants including Alinea, SingleThread, 715 Sushi, Sushi Kaneyoshi, and The Brothers Sushi, and has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Food and Wine, Bloom, and Punch. Its Yuzu Super Juice was named Best New Ingredient at Tales of the Cocktail 2024.

Commercially, YUZUCO monetizes through one-time and recurring DTC purchases, B2B wholesale orders, and co-branded/OEM partnerships with brands such as Westbourne (Yuzu Kosho Avocado Oil), Goop Kitchen (Yuzu Ginger Tonic), Dassai Blue (Yuzu Junmai Daiginjo Sake), and Siesta Co. (Tuna Belly in Yuzu Kosho). Customer acquisition is supported by a content ecosystem of 105+ recipes, a Yuzu 101 educational hub, and active Instagram and TikTok accounts. The company remains privately held with no disclosed institutional funding and a headcount of 1-10.

Name

YUZUCO

Legal name

YUZUCO

Website

https://theyuzu.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

YUZUCO is a Los Angeles-based, founder-owned producer founded in 2023 that cold-presses Japanese yuzu and other citrus into juices, Super Juice cocktail blends, kosho, RTD beverages, and powders, selling DTC, via subscription, and through wholesale and co-branded partnerships to chefs, bartenders, and food enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Citrus Juice

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (31193)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Juices & Juice Blends (Cold-Pressed, NFC, From Concentrate) (AFAKAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks) (CRADAHAB), Non-Alcoholic Beverage Concentrates, Syrups & Bases Manufacturing (AFAFABAM), Fermented & Specialty Condiments Manufacturing (Kimchi Base, Gochujang, Miso-Based Sauces) (AFAKADAO), Refrigerated Juices & Smoothies (CRADACAL)

Keywords

• Premium citrus juice
• Yuzu products
• Cocktail mixology ingredients
• Japanese citrus condiments
• Specialty food ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales through their Shopify e-commerce platform. Products include bottled juices, sparkling beverages, powders, and condiments. Subscription model available with 10% discount for recurring orders.
2. Wholesale/Bulk B2B Sales: B2B wholesale channel for chefs, bartenders, brands, and manufacturers. Minimum order quantity as low as 1 case. Available through direct wholesale accounts, Faire marketplace, and Sysco marketplace.
3. Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Products: Sparkling yuzu beverages (Sparkling Yuzu-Ade, Green Tea Yuzu-Ade, Sparkling Yuzu + Minerals) sold in multi-packs to consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

YUZUCO produces and distributes cold-pressed Japanese citrus juice products — including 100% yuzu and sudachi juices, a proprietary "Super Juice" line of acid-adjusted citrus blends for bartenders, sparkling ready-to-drink yuzu beverages, fermented yuzu kosho condiment, powdered citrus ingredients, and candied yuzu peel. Products are sourced from multi-generational farms in Japan and processed with cold-pressed extraction and High-Pressure Processing (HPP) for shelf stability.

Product overview

YUZUCO is a premium Japanese yuzu citrus brand founded in Los Angeles, California, specializing in cold-pressed yuzu juice and citrus products. The core product line centers on two flagship yuzu juice varieties: 100% Yuzu Juice (pure, cold-pressed) and Yuzu Super Juice (acid-adjusted blend for bartending), both available in multiple sizes. Beyond yuzu, the company has expanded to include sudachi citrus and the YUICE line (lemon and lime juices for bartenders), creating a comprehensive bartender-focused citrus portfolio. The company offers a range of ready-to-drink beverages including Sparkling Yuzu-Ade, Green Tea Yuzu-Ade, and Sparkling Yuzu + Minerals. Supporting products include Yuzu Kosho (citrus-chili paste), Candied Yuzu Peel, juice powders, and bundles like Yuzu Duo and Sudachi Duo. YUZUCO also sells branded merchandise including hats, tote bags, and stickers. The company sources yuzu from multi-generational farms in Japan's Shikoku and Kyushu islands and uses high-pressure processing (HPP) instead of heat to preserve flavor and aroma. Products are sold through the company's e-commerce site with wholesale options available for chefs, bartenders, brands, and manufacturers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YUICE™: Bartender-approved citrus bringing lemon and lime into the YUZUCO family. Clean citrus made for mixing.

Products and services

• 100% Yuzu Juice

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ Yuzu Lovers as customers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WestbournecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCo-branded Extra Virgin Yuzu Kosho Avocado Oil product, combining YUZUCO's yuzu kosho with Westbourne's premium avocado oil. Sold through Westbourne's channels.
• Goop KitchencoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerYuzu Ginger Tonic co-branded product featured on Goop Kitchen menu, leveraging Goop's brand presence in wellness and lifestyle space.
• Dassai BluecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerYuzu Junmai Daiginjo Sake - premium sake product incorporating YUZUCO yuzu. Sold through Dassai Blue's distribution channels.
• Siesta Co.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerTuna Belly in Yuzu Kosho co-branded product, featuring YUZUCO's yuzu kosho as a key ingredient in a premium seafood product.
• SyscocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAvailable through Sysco marketplace for restaurant and foodservice supply. Enables distribution to Sysco's extensive foodservice customer base across the US.
• FaireminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale marketplace listing with flexible net payment options for independent retailers and businesses.
• AirgoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCurated marketplace for indie producers, providing additional distribution channel for YUZUCO products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Q Mixers: Premium cocktail mixer brand offering tonic, ginger beer, and other bar-grade beverages. Comparable as a premium-priced mixer company selling through DTC, on-premise, and retail to bartenders and consumers.
• Hella Cocktail Co. Premium bitters, syrups, and mixers built specifically for bartenders and sold via DTC and wholesale. Comparable in product format, bartender-first positioning, and channel mix to YUZUCO's Yuzu Super Juice and YUICE line.
• Liber & Co. Premium cocktail syrups and bar mixers (e.g., orgeat, falernum) sold DTC and through on-premise accounts. Comparable as a craft cocktail ingredient brand targeting the same bartender/hoReCa buyer with premium-priced, shelf-stable liquid products.
• True Citrus: Shelf-stable crystallized citrus products (lemon, lime, orange) sold in packets and jars for cooking, beverages, and recipes. Comparable in offering a convenient, long-life alternative to fresh citrus across home cooking and foodservice channels.
• Iio Jozo: Japanese producer of yuzu and citrus products (ponzu, yuzu kosho, yuzu juice) sold domestically and exported. Comparable as a yuzu-focused specialty citrus brand, though primarily serving the Japanese market rather than the US DTC/wholesale channel YUZUCO targets.
• Sonoma Syrup Co. Premium cocktail and culinary syrups (infused simple syrups, bitters, mixers) sold via specialty retail, foodservice, and DTC. Comparable as a craft, premium-priced flavor/syrup brand serving both bar professionals and home enthusiasts.

Broad incumbents

• Fever-Tree: Global premium mixer leader with a broad portfolio of tonics, gingers, and sodas. Comparable in targeting craft bartenders with premium non-alcoholic mixers, though at much larger scale and with a far wider SKU set than YUZUCO.

Emerging players

• Tartine Bakery: Premium specialty food brand with a small line of branded pantry products and citrus-driven offerings sold DTC and through specialty retail. Comparable as a chef-driven premium CPG brand with strong cultural cachet and selective distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/theyuzuco
• TikToktiktok.com/@theyuzu.co
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yuzuco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 YUZUCO