OZOP Energy Solutions, Inc. Highlights Varon Wellness Expansion with Introduction of Bucked Up® Lightly Carbonated Protein Beverage in Canada
Rhea-AI Summary
Ozop Energy Solutions (OTC: OZSC) highlighted Varon Wellness’ plan to introduce Bucked Up Lightly Carbonated Protein into Canada, expanding an existing exclusive manufacturing and distribution partnership for Bucked Up products. The beverage contains 25 grams protein, no fat, no sugar and no caffeine, and won “Best Innovation” at the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival. OZSC noted a binding letter of intent for a proposed transaction with Varon Corp. The Canadian nonalcoholic beverages market was cited at US $9 billion (2024), underscoring market opportunity for the new ready-to-drink product.
Positive
- Binding letter of intent executed for proposed transaction with Varon Corp
- Varon Wellness is exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Bucked Up in Canada
- Product specs: 25g protein, no fat, no sugar, no caffeine
- Product awarded Best Innovation at the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival
Negative
- Proposed transaction remains subject to completion; definitive terms and timing undisclosed
- No financial terms or revenue projections provided for Canadian launch
News Market Reaction – OZSC
On the day this news was published, OZSC gained 45.25%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
OZSC fell 14.35% while peers were mixed: TURNONGREEN (TOGI) up 14.42%, HYBRID PWR SOLUTIONS (HPSIF) down 10.56%, EXRO TECHNOLOGIES (EXROF) down 40%, and others flat. Moves do not cluster in one direction, pointing to stock-specific dynamics.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 09 | Athlete partnership | Positive | -39.9% | Varon USA’s Ballislife Drink JV adds NBA All-Star Darius Garland as ambassador. |
| Mar 02 | Leadership hire | Positive | -4.8% | Varon USA appoints experienced beverage executive Ty Gilmore as Chief Revenue Officer. |
| Feb 04 | Equity investment | Positive | -68.1% | Varon secures US$1.0M equity investment at US$20M pre-money valuation. |
| Jan 26 | Leadership profile | Positive | -68.1% | Company highlights Varon CEO Benjamin Varon Schubert’s brand and commercialization track record. |
| Jan 21 | Acquisition plan | Positive | -68.1% | OZSC announces agreement to acquire Varon Corp and its functional beverage brands. |
Recent Varon-related announcements have generally been positive in tone but followed by sharp negative price reactions, indicating a recurring divergence between news sentiment and market response.
Over the past few months, OZSC has focused heavily on Varon Corp and its beverage platform. On Jan 21, 2026, OZSC announced plans to acquire Varon Corp, followed by leadership spotlights and a US$1.0 million Varon investment at a US$20.0 million valuation. Subsequent updates on Varon’s U.S. partnerships and commercial hires also read constructively, yet each event saw double‑digit share price declines, framing today’s Canada-focused Bucked Up expansion within a pattern of market skepticism.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock surged +45.3% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the growth narrative around Varon’s beverage platform and Bucked Up’s Canadian expansion. However, prior Varon-related announcements saw declines of up to 68.14%, and the latest 10-Q highlighted ongoing losses and a large stockholders’ deficit. Such financial strain and reliance on equity financings could temper enthusiasm if execution or funding expectations weaken.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
WARWICK, NY, March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ozop Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTC: OZSC, the “Company”) today highlighted continued strategic momentum within Varon Corp’s Canadian subsidiary, Varon Wellness, through the planned introduction of Bucked Up Lightly Carbonated Protein, an innovative ready-to-drink protein beverage, into the Canadian market. OZOP has previously entered into a binding letter of intent for a proposed transaction with Varon Corp.
Varon Wellness maintains an established partnership with Bucked Up, one of North America’s fastest-growing performance nutrition brands with over 500 products selling in 55,000 stores worldwide (@buckedup). Varon Wellness serves as the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Bucked Up products in Canada, and the introduction of Bucked Up Lightly Carbonated Protein represents a natural extension of that relationship while further expanding the Bucked Up product portfolio available to Canadian consumers. The total Canadian non alcoholic beverages market was valued at US
Bucked Up Lightly Carbonated Protein is a ready-to-drink beverage with 25 grams of protein, no fat, no sugar and no caffeine, designed to combine the functional benefits of protein with the refreshing experience of a lightly carbonated beverage. The product provides a convenient format for consumers seeking nutritional support for active lifestyles while maintaining the drinkability of a sparkling beverage.
The product has also received industry recognition, having been awarded “Best Innovation” at the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival, one of the most prominent global gatherings in the fitness and performance nutrition industry. The award recognizes innovation in product development within the sports nutrition category. Additional information regarding the Arnold Innovation Awards can be found at: https://www.arnoldsports.com
“Bucked Up has built a powerful brand within the performance nutrition space, and we are excited to continue expanding our relationship by introducing Bucked Up Lightly Carbonated Protein into the Canadian market,” said Benjamin Schubert, Chief Executive Officer of Varon Corp. “The product represents an innovative format within the protein category, combining functionality with the refreshing experience consumers expect from modern beverage products.”
“Consumers are increasingly looking for convenient ways to incorporate protein into their daily routines,” said Lior Srulovicz, President and Chief Financial Officer of Varon Corp. “Products like Bucked Up Lightly Carbonated Protein demonstrate how the category continues to evolve beyond traditional ready-to-drink shakes, and we believe this innovation presents a compelling opportunity within the Canadian market.”
About Bucked Up
Bucked Up (https://www.buckedup.com/; https://ca.buckedup.com/) is a sports nutrition and lifestyle brand focused on helping all athletes and individuals achieve their health and fitness goals. Offering over 500 different products ranging from supplements and energy drinks to apparel and accessories, Bucked Up is committed to providing customers with the best products available. Dedicated to using high-quality ingredients and non-proprietary blends, Bucked Up's pre-workout is the #1 best-selling product in its class. The brand's products are now offered in over 55,000 stores worldwide.
About Varon USA
Varon USA builds truly healthy, performance-driven functional beverages, not “better for you” alternatives. Combining cultural relevance at scale, best-in-class marketing infrastructure, and products that taste exceptional while delivering real, measurable health benefits, Varon USA represents the Company’s primary growth engine in the United States.
The division is focused on operating and partnership platforms supporting functional wellness, performance, and sports hydration brands that are deeply embedded within high-engagement, culture-defining ecosystems. The division includes Ballislife Functional Sports Drink, aligned with one of the largest and most influential basketball media platforms globally, and SG Revive, a functional wellness beverage developed in partnership with ASA Entertainment, a leader in youth culture and sports media.
Collectively, these platforms reach tens of millions of highly loyal, deeply engaged consumers annually through dominant digital media channels, large-scale live events, broadcast exposure, and expansive youth initiatives, enabling Varon to systematically convert authentic cultural engagement into repeat consumer demand, while maintaining discipline, scalability, and long-term brand equity across a rapidly expanding national footprint.
About Varon Wellness
Varon Wellness operates established, high-velocity functional and performance beverage brands with proven, repeat consumer demand and meaningful national retail presence in Canada, with a focused mandate across functional wellness, performance, and sports hydration. The division includes Bucked Up, a recognized, culturally relevant performance energy and protein brand with deeply established traction in fitness, athletic, and performance-driven communities, and Vitagua, Varon’s proprietary, zero-sugar sparkling vitamin water brand purpose-built for modern, health-conscious consumers at scale.
Varon Wellness also includes a strategic, high-impact investment in Unity Electro Fest, a major Canadian music festival with large-scale attendance and national visibility that provides an experiential, high-engagement platform utilized for mass product trial, consumer immersion, and powerful brand activation. The division operates under Varon’s Elevated Wellness approach, prioritizing flavor-first, consumer-led formulations that deliver meaningful, credible functional benefits, supported by disciplined execution, operational rigor, and scalable commercialization across expanding channels.
About Varon Spirits
Varon Spirits is a boutique importer and agency representing a select roster of premium spirits brands. The business focuses on curating and distributing distinctive spirits rooted in heritage, craftsmanship, and cultural relevance, including ultra-premium tequilas, vodkas, and select rare offerings. Varon Spirits operates under a focused, capital-light model aligned with the Company’s broader lifestyle-driven beverage strategy.
About Ozop Energy Solutions.
Ozop Energy Solutions (Ozop Energy Solutions (http://ozopenergy.com/) is the flagship company that oversees a wide variety of products in various stages of development in the renewable energy sector. Our strategy focuses on capturing a significant share of the rapidly growing renewable energy market as a provider of assets and infrastructure needed to store energy.
This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s public filings which can be found at www.sec.gov
Safe Harbor Statement
“This press release contains or may contain, among other things, certain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the company’s plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as “projects,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential” or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ significantly from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the company’s control). The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.”
Investor Relations Contact – Ozop
The Waypoint Refinery, LLC
845-397-2956
www.thewaypointrefinery.com
https://twitter.com/OzopEnergy
https://www.facebook.com/OzopEnergy/
https://x.com/benjamin_varon
www.varoncorp.com
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FAQ
What did OZSC announce on March 17, 2026 about Bucked Up in Canada?
What are the nutritional facts for Bucked Up Lightly Carbonated Protein promoted by OZSC (OZSC)?
Is the OZSC transaction with Varon Corp finalized as of March 17, 2026?
How significant is the Canadian market cited by OZSC for the Bucked Up launch?
Did Bucked Up Lightly Carbonated Protein receive any industry recognition mentioned by OZSC?
What role will Varon Wellness play in Bucked Up distribution in Canada per OZSC?
