Guayaki Sustainable Rainforest Products by Janal Cruz

Janal Cruz, Guayaki Yerba Mate

Guayaki Yerba Mate is a privately-owned Social Purpose Corporation headquartered in Sebastopol California since 2005 with subsidiaries in Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

Guayaki is known for bringing yerba mate to US consumers through its Market Driven Regeneration business model. Offering loose leaf yerba mate as well as ready-to-drink yerba mate beverages in bottles and cans.

Nearly all of Guayakí’s packaging is manufactured in the United States, and other ingredients (e.g. juices, flavors, herbs, etc.) are sourced nationally and globally. All of Guayakí’s co-manufacturing partners are in California, where they bottle or package Guayakí’s products. Guayakí self-distributes its products and works with 3rd party distributors, delivering to markets in the United States and Canada.

Janal joined Guayaki in 2006, starting as a purchasing/finance assistant and working her way up to VP of Operations. Janal is responsible for the supply chain operations in North America. She leads a cross functional team managing the production, procurement, innovation, and quality standards of Guayakí’s line of yerba mate products.

During her career at Guayaki led the efforts to launch the first ready to drink canned yerba mate beverages for the brand and has been working on including the sourcing of regenerative organic certified ingredients.