FALSE0001934114iso4217:USD00019341142026-10-162026-10-16
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 16, 2026
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Suja Life, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| Delaware | 001-43273 | 39-4779189 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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| 3831 Ocean Ranch Blvd. | | | |
| Oceanside, | CA | | 92056 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) | |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (855) 879-7852
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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| ☐ | Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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| Title of each class | | Trading Symbol(s) | | Name of each exchange
on which registered |
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| Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share | | SUJA | | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On October 16, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Suja Life, Inc. (the “Company”) increased the size of the Board from seven to nine members and appointed Robert B. Engel and Zahir Ibrahim to the Board, effective immediately. Mr. Engel will serve as a Class I director until the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2027, and Mr. Ibrahim will serve as a Class II director until the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2028, and in each case until such time as his successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. Concurrently with his appointment as director, Mr. Engel was appointed as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board.
Mr. Engel currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of BLT Advisory Services, LLC, a boutique advisory firm he founded in 2017 which provides guidance for business transformation, brand building, governance, business and leadership succession, and leadership development, serves on the board of directors of Allient Inc. (NASDAQ: ALNT), and as a Chairman of the Board of Alaska Power & Telephone (OTC: APTL) and its majority owned subsidiary, SeaLink Networks, Inc. Prior to BLT Advisory Services, Mr. Engel had over a 30-year career in the banking industry, including 17 years at CoBank, ACB, serving first as President and Chief Operating Officer and subsequently promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer, and 14 years at HSBC Bank USA, where he served in positions of increasing responsibility, ultimately serving as the Chief Banking Officer. Prior to moving to the banking industry, Mr. Engel began his public accounting career with Deloitte & Touche, and then KPMG.
Mr. Ibrahim most recently served as Chief Financial Officer of BARK, Inc. (NYSE: BARK). Before BARK, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Do Good Foods, and prior to that he served as Chief Financial Officer of KIND through its sale to Mars in 2020. Before KIND, he was Chief Financial Officer of Annie’s, Inc., then listed on the NYSE, through its sale to General Mills. Earlier, Mr. Ibrahim held several roles at Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE: TAP), culminating as Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. He trained as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG.
Each of Mr. Engel and Mr. Ibrahim was designated for appointment to the Board by certain affiliates of Paine Schwartz Partners, LLC (the “Principal Stockholder”) pursuant to that certain Director Designation Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2026, by and among the Company and the Principal Stockholder (the “Director Designation Agreement”).
There are no current or proposed transactions in which Mr. Engel or Mr. Ibrahim has or will have a direct or indirect material interest and in which the Company is or will be a participant that require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Mr. Engel and Mr. Ibrahim will receive compensation for their service on the Board in accordance with the Company’s Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy consisting of an annual cash retainer equal to $75,000 and an annual award of restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $100,000 prorated to account for their time of service.
In connection with the Board appointments, the Company entered into an indemnification agreement with each of Mr. Engel and Mr. Ibrahim in a form consistent with the indemnification agreements entered into with the Company’s other directors and previously filed by the Company.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On October 20, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the Board appointments. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.
The information furnished in the press release and incorporated into this Item 5.02 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)Exhibits
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| Exhibit No. | Description |
99.1 | Press release dated October 20, 2026 |
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| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereto duly authorized.
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Dated: October 20, 2026 | Suja Life, Inc. |
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| By: | /s/ Maria Stipp |
| | Name: Maria Stipp |
| | Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Suja Life Appoints Robert B. Engel and Zahir Ibrahim to Board of Directors
Former CoBank CEO and Former CFO of Annie’s, KIND and BARK Join as Independent Directors
OCEANSIDE, Calif., October 20, 2026 -- Suja Life, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUJA) (“Suja Life,” “Suja” or the “Company”), a leading better-for-you beverage company and maker of Suja Organic, Vive Organic and Slice Soda, today announced the appointments of Robert B. Engel and Zahir Ibrahim as independent members of its Board of Directors (the “Board”), effective October 16, 2026. Engel will serve on the Board’s Audit Committee. With these appointments, Suja Life’s Board comprises nine directors, seven of whom are independent.
The appointments add deep financial, accounting and capital markets expertise to the Board as Suja Life continues to build its portfolio of better-for-you beverage brands. Engel, the former President and CEO of CoBank, brings more than 45 years of experience across banking, public accounting and public company board leadership. Ibrahim brings nearly 30 years of financial leadership at public and private consumer companies, including as Chief Financial Officer of Annie’s, KIND and BARK.
“We are pleased to welcome Bob Engel and Zahir Ibrahim to Suja Life’s Board of Directors,” said Bob DeBorde, Chairman of the Board of Suja Life. “Bob Engel brings extensive financial and risk oversight experience as well as deep knowledge of food and agribusiness as a former bank CEO, CPA and public company director. Zahir has served as CFO of leading natural and healthy consumer brands, including Annie’s and KIND, through periods of significant growth. Their perspectives will strengthen our Board as we execute our growth strategy and create long-term value for our shareholders.”
About Robert B. Engel
Engel spent 17 years at CoBank, ACB, first as President and Chief Operating Officer and then as President and Chief Executive Officer, leading the bank’s domestic and global businesses and its merger with U.S. AgBank. Before CoBank, he spent 14 years at HSBC Bank USA in roles of increasing responsibility, ultimately serving as Chief Banking Officer. He began his career in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche and KPMG, rising to Senior Audit Manager, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Since 2017, Engel has served as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of BLT Advisory Services, LLC, an advisory firm he founded that guides companies on business transformation, mergers and acquisitions, governance and leadership development. He is also an independent director of Allient, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALNT), where he serves on the Audit Committee, and Chairman of the Board of Alaska Power & Telephone. He previously served as an independent director of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., then listed on NASDAQ, where he chaired the Risk Committee. Engel is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
About Zahir Ibrahim
Ibrahim most recently served as Chief Financial Officer of BARK, Inc. (NYSE: BARK). Before BARK, he was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Do Good Foods. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer of KIND, where he helped build the infrastructure behind the healthy snack brand’s growth and international expansion and led the company through its sale to Mars in 2020. Before KIND, he was Chief Financial Officer of Annie’s, Inc., then listed on the NYSE, where he led the natural and organic food company through a period of significant growth and its sale to General Mills. Earlier, Ibrahim held several roles at Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE: TAP), culminating as Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. He trained as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG.
About Suja Life
At Suja Life, we’re changing what beverages bring to the table. We make organic, cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, and better-for-you sodas that deliver real functional benefits, exceptional taste, and high-quality ingredients, because we believe beverages should be as delicious as they are good for you. Our three brands – Suja Organic, Vive Organic, and Slice Soda – reach consumers through thousands of retail doors nationally. We operate a vertically integrated high-pressure processing and cold-pressed beverage facility, processing approximately 1 million pounds of organic produce each week and moving from farm to bottle in as few as eight days. With category-leading brands, a dedication to operational excellence, and a proven innovation engine, Suja Life is positioned at the front of the growing natural healthy beverage space.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” “likely,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future performance or other events. For example, statements regarding Mr. Engel’s and Mr. Ibrahim’s expected contributions to the Company are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected, including: the ability of our newly appointed directors to contribute to the Board and its committees as anticipated; our ability to execute our growth strategy; and the other factors set forth in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
Investor and Press Contact
Michael Mougias
Investors@Sujalife.com
Press@Sujalife.com
