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LA-based startup called Laurel's has been riding growing awareness of A2 milk to surprisingly fast retail expansion of its canned coffee and matcha items in its first year, including national rollout in Whole Foods. Wegmans and Central Market are among mainstream grocers to take a flyer on 8-oz line from entrepreneur just a coupla years out of college and now Kroger and Target are clambering aboard as 2026 gets going. A2 milk, of course, omits A1 protein that can make milk indigestible for consumers, many of whom mistakenly assume that they're lactose-intolerant. Brands like A2 Milk and Alexandre Farms have been working hard to educate consumers about A2 dairy, which is prominently heralded on Laurel's cans. It's among flock of newer entries seeking to capitalize on A2 wave, including A2 entry called Pioneer Pastures that's among first to use ultrafiltered milk (BBI, Sep 30) and Alec's Ice Cream. In fact, the 3 brands are collaborating on sweepstakes to start off new year offering a year's supply to winner. Pioneer, as we've noted, is from husband-&-wife founders of OWYN plant protein line and also has entered Target chain. Laurel's founder Isabel Washington is USC grad who worked a coupla years as McKinsey consultant before discovering A2 dairy "by pure chance," as she's recounted, and finding it solved her issues with milk. Feeling coffee aisle at Erewhon was clogged with coffee RTDs that maybe offered functional lift but stinted on flavor, she decided to launch her own A2 milk-based line, as she's explained to podcasters over past year. "Through our simple recipes and the magic of A2, we've designed a latte for a life on the go, without making you go," as website explains.Tho we haven't been able to connect with Washington, she recently posted about "unbelievable first year" in 2025 that started with 15 doors and ended with "just over 1,000," including Whole Foods, where it rolled out in late summer after she initially sent cold email to global principal category mgr Charlie New. As noted, other partners to come aboard early have been Wegmans in Northeast and Central Market in Texas. At Erewhon, she claims to have been fastest-growing brand, and store finder also lists such retail partners in core SoCal market as Gelsons and Bristol Farms natural chains, with Andronico's and Berkeley Bowl on board up north. In Chicago, brand is in influential Foxtrot chain. Per post, Q1 will bring 2,000+ new doors including Target and Kroger.To fuel the growth, Laurel's indicates it's kicked off a capital raise of undisclosed magnitude. Washington's identity as Black, female entrepreneur could open some doors among investors seeking to support underserved groups. Among angel investors who've publicly proclaimed their investments is Ryan Coon of Chicago's Green Street Capital, who cited in part what a quick study Washington has proved in CPG. For working capital Laurel's has tapped recently established Spring Cash for invoice-based funds, judging by congratulatory Times Square billboard Spring recently ran heralding the relationship. (We'd profiled Spring Cash a few weeks ago - BBI, Dec 10.)Core entry, Classic Latte, is pitched as "a BFY version of the Starbucks glass bottles everyone knows and loves - but this time with regenerative A2 dairy, organic bourbon vanilla extract and organic cane sugar," clocking in at moderate 80 mg caffeine (apparently upped from 60 mg previously), 4 g protein and 10 g sugar for 130 calories. It heralds that it contains no oils, tho it does contain gellan and Arabic gums. So far line is out in Classic Latte, Dirty Chai Latte and Matcha Latte versions, priced at $30 per 6-pk on DTC site. We haven't been able to glean brand's distribution strategy so far, tho it is available to retailers on Airgoods and Faire platforms.

Available in Just 15 Doors a Year Ago, Laurel's Canned Coffee/Tea Brand Motors to 3K+ Doors in Early 2026 Including New Partners Target & Kroger; Already National in Whole Foods

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