Mr. Paul Norman reports

JONES SODA SECURES DISTRIBUTION IN 2,000 C-STORES IN KEY NEW GROWTH INITIATIVE

Jones Soda Co. has arranged a new strategic growth initiative that has already secured distribution in nearly 2,000 C-stores, marking the company's first significant presence in the convenience channel in its nearly 30-year history. The new distribution agreements cover Fiesta Jones, a new Latin-inspired product line in 16-ounce resealable aluminum bottles; Pop Jones, a lineup of all-natural, low-calorie, low-sugar functional sodas in 12-ounce slim cans; and Jones classic sodas in 12-ounce glass bottles. Shelf resets are scheduled to begin in February and March, 2025.

Initial C-store placements include six Circle K divisions (Grand Canyon, Florida, Southeast, Coastal Carolina, South Atlantic and Great Lakes), DK convenience stores, and other national and regional chains. Placements were secured by the Jones team with assistance from C-store broker Ultimate Sales and Service and will be serviced by Dot Foods, McLane, Core-Mark and select DSD partners.

Key to the success of the initiative is Fiesta Jones, a line developed specifically for C-stores with Latin-influenced watermelon strawberry, mango passion fruit, coconut lime and guava berry flavours in resealable aluminum bottles. Each flavour has just 80 calories and 19 grams of sugar per bottle with no artificial colours or caffeine. Select C-stores will also carry Pop Jones, the company's new line of 30-calorie functional sodas with four grams of sugar, a generous dose of fibre and immune support, and a choice of cucumber watermelon, pineapple ginger, orange and cream, strawberry passion fruit, and mixed berry and kiwi flavours; and 12-ounce-glass-bottle heritage Jones Sodas known for their unique flavours, pure cane sugar formulations, great taste and user-generated photos.

"C-stores account for nearly half of all single-serve retail beverage sales, so establishing a strong footprint in the convenience channel promises to be a major contributor to our growth over the next few years," said Paul Norman, interim president and chief executive officer of Jones Soda. "These new agreements give us a solid foothold that we can leverage to continue expanding into this critical market as we execute our new five-year strategic growth plan."

Jones also is seeing rapid growth in its crossover Mary Jones cannabis brand in legal cannabis markets -- including this month's expansion to Missouri, the country's fifth-largest legal cannabis market -- as well as in the HD9 (hemp delta-9) space entered last year.

About Jones Soda Co.

Jones Soda is a leading developer of sodas and cannabis-infused/hemp-infused beverages known for their premium taste, unique flavours and unconventional brand personality. Launched in 1996 as the original craft soda brand, the company today markets a diverse portfolio of sodas, mixers, spiked soda and wellness beverages under the Jones Soda brand as well as a line of award-winning cannabis/hemp beverages and edibles leveraging Jones's trademark flavours under the Mary Jones brand.