SEOUL, South Korea - June 2, 2026 - NET, a South Korean food-tech company focused on solid beverage technology, is expanding its global commercialization strategy through its effervescent solid tonic water brand, Pocket Tonic, and its upcoming Hydration line. With product validation in Korea, increasing overseas market interest, Halal certification obtained in Korea, and its selection for the 2026 Global Startup Academy, NET is working to establish solid beverages as a new category for international consumers and business partners.

Pocket Tonic is designed as a compact solid tonic water product that releases carbonation and aroma when placed in water. Consumers can prepare a tonic-based beverage simply with water, making the product suitable for cocktails, highballs, mocktails, non-alcoholic drinks, and other beverage occasions. Each tube contains ten tablets and can produce up to approximately two liters of tonic-based beverages.

The product’s sugar-free and low-calorie concept, along with its portability and storage efficiency, offers a different approach from conventional bottled tonic water. Rather than positioning Pocket Tonic only as a single beverage product, NET views it as the first example of a broader solid beverage platform.

By converting beverage functions into tablet form, NET aims to reduce the weight, volume, storage, and logistics limitations often associated with liquid beverages. At the same time, the company seeks to offer consumers a more flexible and convenient way to prepare drinks whenever and wherever they need them.

NET is also preparing to broaden its product portfolio through a new Hydration line. While Pocket Tonic is focused on premium mixer occasions such as cocktails, highballs, mocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, the Hydration line is being developed for everyday hydration needs. Through these two product directions, NET plans to address both premium beverage moments and daily consumption occasions.

The company’s product strategy is intended to serve both B2B and B2C markets. Pocket Tonic can be used by bars, restaurants, hotels, resorts, cafés, catering operators, and event venues as a signature drink ingredient or interactive menu item. The Hydration line is expected to reach broader consumer channels, including online commerce, convenience channels, fitness, travel, outdoor activities, and lifestyle retail.

NET is expanding global touchpoints through overseas networking, buyer meetings, and market validation activities.

NET has continued to test its global market potential through overseas programs, exhibitions, tasting sessions, and buyer meetings in markets such as Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. These activities have generated positive feedback on Pocket Tonic’s taste, convenience, portability, and solid beverage format.

While the company’s earlier overseas activities focused mainly on consumer response and market validation, NET is now moving toward more concrete commercialization plans. These include distribution discussions, B2B partnerships, localized packaging, and market-specific product planning.

The solid format of Pocket Tonic and the upcoming Hydration line provides practical advantages for international markets. Compared with liquid beverages, solid beverage products can help reduce weight and volume burdens, improving export, storage, and distribution efficiency. They can also be used effectively in small retail spaces, hotels, resorts, bars, outdoor events, travel channels, and on-the-go consumption environments.

In addition to these functional benefits, the product format offers a visual and interactive experience. The process of dropping a tablet into water and watching the beverage form helps Pocket Tonic stand out from conventional bottled drinks and creates a memorable consumer experience.

NET presents its solid beverage technology and Pocket Tonic at an overseas food-tech event in Thailand.

NET’s selection for the 2026 Global Startup Academy represents an important step in its overseas commercialization roadmap. Through the program, the company is refining its international market entry plans by considering country-specific consumer preferences, pricing structures, distribution channels, certification requirements, and localization needs.

Rather than simply exporting products, NET aims to build a scalable global business model based on product adaptability, regulatory readiness, and long-term local partnerships.

As part of its preparation for global markets, NET has obtained Halal certification in Korea. The certification provides a foundation for entering Muslim consumer markets and strengthens the company’s ability to respond to diverse international requirements. NET plans to continue reviewing country-specific certification recognition, local registration, labeling, import procedures, and other market entry requirements as it expands into new regions.

In Southeast Asia, NET is reviewing a two-track strategy that combines Pocket Tonic and the Hydration line in selected markets, including Indonesia. Pocket Tonic would target premium mixer, mocktail, and non-alcoholic beverage occasions, while the Hydration line would focus on daily hydration needs. This approach allows NET to address different consumption environments, from hospitality and beverage service channels to everyday consumer use.

NET is also strengthening its understanding of the U.S. market. The company plans to attend the Summer Fancy Food Show 2026 in New York to explore trends in the U.S. specialty food market, premium beverage category, mixer market, and buyer landscape. Through this market research, NET aims to assess how Pocket Tonic and the Hydration line can be positioned for U.S. consumers, distributors, retailers, and hospitality partners.

In the U.S. and other English-speaking markets, growing interest in home cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, low-sugar and low-calorie drinks, portable food and beverage formats, and lifestyle-oriented wellness products may create opportunities for NET’s solid beverage platform. Pocket Tonic offers a compact and visually engaging alternative to bottled mixers, while the Hydration line can be positioned for travel, sports, outdoor activities, and daily hydration occasions.

Looking ahead, NET plans to expand beyond Pocket Tonic and the Hydration line into a wider portfolio of solid beverage products, including café beverages, cocktail mixers, non-alcoholic drinks, and functional-concept beverages. In global markets, the company will focus on flavor localization, local-language packaging, certification readiness, and B2B recipe content in order to position itself not only as a product supplier, but also as a brand offering a new beverage experience.

“Pocket Tonic is not simply tonic water in a solid form. It represents a new way to enjoy beverages more lightly and conveniently,” said Yeseong Kim, CEO of NET. “In 2026, we aim to expand the global commercialization potential of solid beverages through Pocket Tonic and the new Hydration line.”

“With our selection for the Global Startup Academy and Halal certification as part of our foundation, we are preparing to respond to different market needs more systematically,” Kim added. “We will continue building global partnerships and market-specific strategies so that solid beverages can become a natural part of everyday consumption around the world.”

NET will continue expanding global touchpoints for Pocket Tonic and the Hydration line through international food and beverage events, accelerator programs, buyer meetings, and local partnerships. The company also plans to strengthen its online sales channels and brand content in Korea while pursuing global expansion and domestic brand awareness at the same time.

About NET

NET is a South Korean food-tech startup developing new beverage experiences through solid beverage technology. Its flagship product, Pocket Tonic, is an effervescent solid tonic water that releases carbonation and aroma when dropped into water. Starting with Pocket Tonic and the Hydration line, NET aims to expand its technology into café beverages, cocktail mixers, non-alcoholic drinks, and functional-concept solid beverage products.

Media Contact
Company Name: NET
Contact Person: Yeseong Kim
Email: Send Email
Country: South Korea
Website: https://pockettonic.imweb.me