Suja Life Inc. stumbled out of the gate during its public market debut, with shares dropping 14% on Thursday. The organic juice maker's initial public offering raised $186.7 million, marking a challenging entry for the health-focused beverage company.

The steep decline reflects investor skepticism toward consumer packaged goods stocks in volatile market conditions. Cold-pressed juice companies have faced headwinds as inflation pressures consumers and competition intensifies in the organic beverage space.

The pricing and subsequent drop suggest the market may have been too optimistic about growth prospects. For a company specializing in premium organic products, the IPO performance signals cautious sentiment around discretionary health food investments.

Suja joins other health-oriented food and beverage companies that have struggled to maintain valuations in public markets. The 14% drop on day one will likely put pressure on management to demonstrate growth and justify their public valuation.