Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. (RKDA): Marketing Mix Analysis [Dec-2025 Updated]

You're looking at Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. in late 2025 and wondering where the strategy is, so let's cut right to it: the entire marketing mix is now laser-focused on Zola coconut water after they shed those legacy assets like GoodWheat™ and GLA oil. As someone who's spent two decades in the trenches, I see a company that's traded broad ambition for brutal efficiency, where distribution grew 86% in 2024, yet promotion spending is minimal because investor relations is the current main channel ahead of the Roosevelt Resources combination. We'll map out the Product pivot, the tight Place strategy focused on US grocery, the stable Price point holding 30%+ gross margins, and the trade-heavy Promotion that keeps Zola on shelves-it's a lean operation, and you need to see the details.

Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. (RKDA) - Marketing Mix: Product

You're looking at the core offering of Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. (RKDA) as it stands in late 2025. The product strategy has undergone a significant simplification, pivoting almost entirely to one brand. This focus is a direct result of the strategic divestitures completed over the prior year.

Zola® coconut water is the singular revenue driver for Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. in 2025. For instance, in the first quarter of 2025, revenues of $1.2 million consisted entirely of Zola coconut water sales, a 22% increase year-over-year, with Zola sales surging 90% compared to the same period in 2024. Even in the third quarter of 2025, the reported revenue of $1.3 million was entirely from Zola, as the prior year included $217,000 in GLA oil sales.

The product portfolio under the Zola brand centers on natural hydration. The core offerings you see on shelves include:

• Original coconut water [cite: 7, 10 from step 2]
• Lime coconut water [cite: 10 from step 2]
• Pineapple coconut water [cite: 10 from step 2]
• Espresso coconut water [cite: 10 from step 2]

The company also offers a Zola Coconut Water With Pulp variant [cite: 9 from step 2].

The exit from legacy assets is substantially complete. This strategic shift allowed for the current singular focus. The GoodWheat™ brand was sold in May 2024 [cite: 4, 9 from step 1]. Sales of GLA oil, which contributed $354,000 in revenue in Q1 2024 [cite: 1 from step 1], were absent in 2025 financial reporting, signaling the exit from that line [cite: 1, 2, 3, 6 from step 1]. Furthermore, Arcadia monetized intellectual property in Q1 2025, recording a $750,000 gain from the sale of select patents, including those for reduced gluten and oxidative stability [cite: 1, 5 from step 1].

This streamlined product focus has supported financial performance metrics. Gross margins have been a consistent strength, exceeding 30% for eleven consecutive quarters as of Q3 2025 [cite: 6 from step 2]. For the first half of 2025, Zola revenues grew 47% year-over-year [cite: 4 from step 2].

The structure of the company itself is in transition, which impacts the long-term product strategy. Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. is pending a business combination with Roosevelt Resources, Inc. [cite: 1, 3, 6 from step 1]. The definitive agreement outlines that upon closing, the current Roosevelt equity owners are expected to own approximately 90% of the outstanding shares, with existing Arcadia shareholders holding about 10% [cite: 4, 7, 9 from step 1]. The timing of this transaction is currently uncertain due to factors like the ongoing federal government shutdown [cite: 3, 6 from step 1].

Here's a quick look at the performance metrics tied to the current product focus:

The company is definitely streamlining its entire operation around Zola. Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. (RKDA) - Marketing Mix: Place

Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. (RKDA) distribution strategy centers on making its core product, Zola coconut water, available where the target consumer shops for beverages and natural foods.

Distribution is heavily focused on US conventional grocery and natural food channels. This approach prioritizes high-traffic locations where impulse and routine purchases of functional beverages occur.

The groundwork for 2025 performance was laid in the prior year; retail distribution expanded by 86% in 2024, adding over 1,600 new stores.

Key retail partners include Albertsons, Safeway, Food Lion, and Walmart. The company is working to maximize shelf presence within these major chains.

The impact of this expanded footprint is quantifiable in the current year's financial results:

• Zola distribution grew 70% year-over-year as of Q1 2025.
• Zola revenue growth for the first half of 2025 reached 47%, directly attributed to increased distribution and volume.
• For the first nine months of 2025, Zola revenues increased 26% year-to-date, driven by an increase in distribution.

You can see the direct correlation between distribution expansion and revenue acceleration in the table below:

This focus on securing shelf space is the primary lever for volume growth right now. Increased distribution drove a 26% rise in Zola revenues year-to-date 2025 for the first nine months of the year. The company is definitely seeing the payoff from the heavy lifting done in late 2024 to get product in front of more shoppers.

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. (RKDA) - Marketing Mix: Promotion

Promotion activities for Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. (RKDA) are heavily influenced by the strategic pivot away from mass consumer advertising due to cost containment, prioritizing trade engagement and critical corporate communications.

Primary focus is on trade promotion to secure and maintain retail shelf space. The growth of the core plant-based hydration product, Zola® coconut water, is directly tied to securing and expanding physical availability. For instance, Zola's retail distribution expanded by 86% in 2024, adding over 1,600 new stores. This distribution push is a key promotional success, as Zola year-to-date revenues (Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025) grew 26% over the prior year period. The company has confirmed it did not implement any price increases during 2024 or 2025, meaning volume and distribution gains are the primary drivers of promotional success.

Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses are at an all-time low, limiting mass consumer advertising. This cost discipline directly constrains large-scale above-the-line promotion. The company explicitly noted that SG&A expenses were at an all-time low as of the third quarter of 2025.

Here is a look at the expense reduction and brand performance metrics:

The shift in focus is evident in the quarterly expense changes. For the first quarter of 2025, SG&A decreased by $324,000, or 16%, compared to the first quarter of 2024, driven by the absence of operating and employee-related costs present in the prior year.

Investor relations is a critical communication channel due to the pending Roosevelt merger. Communication efforts are heavily weighted toward satisfying regulatory requirements and shareholder alignment concerning the proposed all-stock transaction with Roosevelt Resources LP. The transaction, initially expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, was still pending as of November 7, 2025, with the CEO citing uncertainty due to an ongoing federal government shutdown. The structure of this communication channel is defined by the expected outcome:

• The transaction is an all-stock exchange agreement.
• Post-closing ownership is anticipated to be approximately 90% for Roosevelt equity owners and 10% for existing Arcadia shareholders.
• Arcadia intends to mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus to stockholders following the SEC declaring the Form S-4 Registration Statement effective.
• The company set its annual meeting of stockholders for December 19, 2025.

Brand messaging centers on plant-based hydration and wellness products. This messaging is primarily channeled through the performance of Zola® coconut water, which is positioned as a key wellness offering. The brand's success is quantified by its consistent gross margin performance, which exceeded 30% for eleven consecutive quarters as of the third quarter of 2025. Furthermore, the company has exited legacy businesses, such as the sale of GoodWheat assets in Q2 2024, which removes older, non-wellness/hydration-focused messaging from the current promotional landscape.

Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. (RKDA) - Marketing Mix: Price

You're looking at Arcadia Biosciences, Inc.'s pricing approach, and honestly, the data shows a clear commitment to volume-driven growth over price hikes. The company did not implement any price increases during 2024 or the first nine months of 2025. This suggests a strategy focused on accessibility and market penetration, letting distribution gains do the heavy lifting for revenue expansion.

This pricing restraint hasn't hurt profitability, which is the key takeaway here. Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. has maintained gross profit margins exceeding 30% for eleven consecutive quarters. That's a solid run of operational efficiency, defintely showing the underlying value proposition is strong enough to command a premium, even without raising sticker prices.

For the core consumer brand, Zola coconut water, management confirmed that gross margins are projected to remain in the low to mid-30s range, consistent with prior guidance. This target aligns with the full-year 2024 Zola gross margin of 33%. The stability in gross margin, despite no price increases, points to effective cost management or strong brand equity supporting premium positioning.

Here's a quick look at how that margin consistency stacks up against recent performance:

The pricing strategy is stable, balancing competitive pressure with that premium wellness positioning. Growth is coming from getting the product in front of more people, not from charging more per unit. For instance, Zola year-to-date revenue climbed 26% through the first nine months of 2025, driven by higher sales volume from increased distribution. That's the real story behind the price element.

You can see the focus on volume over price in the growth metrics:

• Zola revenue growth year-to-date 2025: 26%.
• Zola revenue growth Q1 2025 vs Q1 2024: 90%.
• Zola revenue growth Q2 2025 vs Q2 2024: 24%.
• Q3 2025 Total Revenue: $1.302 million.
• Cash Balance as of Q3 2025: $1.1 million.

The company is clearly prioritizing market share capture through distribution expansion, which is a classic strategy when you have a strong, established gross margin floor to work from. Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.