Caribe Juice and WTRMLN WTR, founded by Luis Solis, are now sold in over 13,000 stores nationwide—including Whole Foods Market, Walmart, and Costco.
Luis launched Caribe Juice to share the fresh, tropical flavors he grew up with in the Dominican Republic. That focus on authentic taste, combined with a strong business foundation, allowed him to scale quickly and sustainably.
After earning his MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, Luis began testing his concept locally. His first retail partner was Feast, a specialty market in Charlottesville. As he prepared to grow, Luis joined the Union Kitchen Accelerator—designed to help food businesses build lasting companies by focusing on product-market fit, manufacturing winning products, and phased growth.
One of the most important decisions Luis Solis made early on was whether to outsource manufacturing or bring it in-house. With guidance from the Union Kitchen team, he chose to own his production.
This decision proved critical. It enabled Caribe Juice to adopt High Pressure Pasteurization (HPP) to preserve the fresh taste and nutritional value of the juice, while extending shelf life. To implement this process at scale, Luis raised $2 million in capital and invested in the equipment and capabilities needed to meet growing demand—all while staying close to the product and maintaining quality standards.
With a strong operational foundation, Caribe Juice acquired WTRMLN WTR, a cold-pressed watermelon juice brand backed by investors like Beyoncé, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul. The acquisition expanded the product portfolio and accelerated the company’s national presence.
Throughout the process, Luis followed the Union Kitchen Accelerator’s four-phase growth roadmap: launch locally, find product market fit, and then grow regionally and nationally. By focusing on product-market fit from the beginning, he was able to scale faster—and more strategically.
Today, Caribe Juice and WTRMLN WTR can be found in more than 13,000 stores across the country. The business continues to grow, grounded in a clear mission, a strong team, and a model that prioritizes quality, ownership, and long-term thinking.
For food entrepreneurs looking to grow beyond farmers markets and into regional or national retail, Luis’s story offers an example of what’s possible with the right decisions, the right infrastructure, and the right partners. Learn more about Union Kitchen's Accelerator.