Updates with details and background from paragraph 2 onwards

May 7 (Reuters) - Suja Life SUJA.O raised $186.7 million in its U.S. initial public offering on Thursday, pressing ahead with listing plans to test investor interest for its wellness beverages.

The Oceanside, California-based company sold 8.9 million shares at $21 apiece, at the lower end of its marketed range of $21 to $24 per share.
Appetite for new listings has turned stronger, following a brief lull driven by heightened market volatility from the Iran war.

Also helping the momentum for Suja Life - which makes cold-pressed organic juices and wellness drinks - are health-conscious consumers who are increasingly swapping out sugary drinks for alternatives with cleaner ingredients.
Beverage majors are taking note of the switch, signing billion-dollar deals for companies catering to the demographic. Last year, PepsiCo PEP.O inked an agreement to buy prebiotic soda brand Poppi for $1.95 billion.
The shift is magnified by the surging popularity of weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, which are driving demand for less-processed foods.
Suja Life, which owns a portfolio of brands including Suja Organic, Vive Organic and Slice Soda, counts Paine Schwartz Partners, a private equity firm focused on sustainable food chain investing, among its major backers.
The company is expected to list on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol 'SUJA' on Thursday.
The offering is led by Goldman Sachs, Jefferies and William Blair.