GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer is supporting the launch of oHy, a Grand Rapids-based startup, through its Buy Local program. This emerging wellness beverage concept aims to be the first ready-to-drink hydrogen sparkling water available on Meijer shelves.
Founded by entrepreneurs Trent Hartwig and John Green, oHy launched in 16 Meijer stores across the Grand Rapids, Mich., area in July. The product uses elemental magnesium to produce free hydrogen gas in water, a process the company says offers antioxidant and recovery benefits while keeping a clean, smooth taste.
“Hydrogen water is still pretty foreign to a lot of people,” Hartwig said. “But when you break it down, it’s really simple.”
The partnership originated from Meijer’s Buy Local initiative, which aims to support small, regional brands in gaining retail exposure and boosting local economies. For the founders, the relationship is based on a familiar collaboration model: before launching oHy, Hartwig and Green co-founded Revolution Farms, an indoor hydroponic greens operation in West Michigan that also partners with Meijer. Green previously served as CEO and chairman of Founders Brewing.
oHy is available in four organic, non-GMO flavors—strawberry lemon, cherry lime, lemon lime, and raspberry—and is packaged in infinitely recyclable aluminum cans. The brand positions itself as a more accessible entry point to hydrogen-rich water, which has traditionally been expensive and hard to find at retail. The company states that its patented production method allows for wider distribution at a more competitive price.
To boost awareness, Meijer is showcasing oHy on local endcaps and supporting in-store demos and coupons. “Sampling is everything in our category,” Hartwig noted. “It’s a liquid-to-lips business.”
Sustainability is also central to the brand’s positioning. oHy sources flavors from organic farms that meet high environmental standards and emphasize recyclable packaging. The company has also aligned itself with Great Lakes conservation efforts, recently organizing a beach cleanup along Lake Michigan—an initiative Meijer said reflects shared environmental values.
As oHy looks to expand distribution, the Meijer partnership highlights how regional retailers can play a catalytic role in scaling early-stage beverage brands while giving shoppers access to emerging wellness categories.
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