Ampelis is entering the pediatric nutrition market with CORE7 for Kids, a whole-food nutritional powder drink mix for children ages 5 and older slated to debut in early November 2026. The product's launch arrives as CDC data show 61.9% of calories consumed by U.S. children and adolescents between 2021 and 2023 came from ultra-processed foods — a figure that has amplified pressure on parents, pediatricians, and brands alike to close foundational nutrition gaps.
The timing also coincides with the federal government's 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines, which prioritize nutrient-dense, real-food sources over refined and processed alternatives. For operators in the functional food and supplement segment, the pediatric window represents one of the category's most underserved — and highest-stakes — opportunities.
The Formulation Rationale
CORE7 for Kids combines more than 50 ingredients, including whole-food-sourced vitamins and minerals, probiotics, prebiotic fiber, digestive enzymes, and botanical functional ingredients. Rather than applying a uniform percentage reduction from its adult CORE7 formula, Ampelis evaluated each ingredient individually against age-appropriate nutritional requirements — a distinction the company emphasizes as central to its positioning.
Tanna Fox, an International Sports Certified Nutritionist and member of the CORE7 Advisory Board, described the approach: "Growing bodies have distinct nutritional needs. Our approach was to carefully evaluate each ingredient rather than simply reduce everything by the same percentage." The formulation targets nutritional well-being, digestive health, immune function, and everyday vitality as its primary structure-function endpoints.
Ampelis roots its nutrition philosophy in clinical practice. The company operates outpatient psychiatry and residential addiction recovery programs, contexts in which the team observed nutrition and lifestyle interventions producing measurable outcomes in physical and mental well-being. That clinical foundation informed the decision to build a comprehensive finished formulation rather than source a white-label product. CEO Lon Henderson noted that an extensive market search failed to surface existing products meeting the company's standards for ingredient sourcing, formulation breadth, and meaningful dosing — so Ampelis developed its own.
Flavor and the Subscription Model
Flavor compliance is a persistent challenge in pediatric supplement formats, and Ampelis addressed it by involving children directly in taste testing. The resulting fruit-forward profile pairs organic strawberry, organic raspberry, and organic coconut — ingredients that also reinforce the whole-food sourcing narrative.
The product will be sold exclusively via getcore7.com at launch, using a subscription model that bundles product delivery with free group coaching, nutrition education, and access to a family wellness community. This coaching layer positions CORE7 for Kids as more than a fortified powder; it reflects a broader operator trend toward subscription-plus-services models that improve retention and reinforce clinical credibility.
Ampelis is explicit that CORE7 for Kids is intended to complement — not replace — a nutritious diet, adequate sleep, and physical activity. That framing keeps the brand aligned with structure-function claim boundaries under current regulatory guidelines while also differentiating it from single-nutrient pediatric supplements competing primarily on price. For retailers and distributors evaluating the brand, the direct-to-consumer launch model means no immediate brick-and-mortar footprint, though the subscription infrastructure could support a broader channel expansion over time.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.