Summer innovations

Snack brands catering for specific markets, rice-based FABs, functional dairy products and energy-giving or low-carb confectionery are among the recent highlights from the Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD​).

FAB-ulous rice drinks​

Vodka and rum remain the most popular spirits used in the FABs market. However, developments in the Asian market could inspire the use of newer spirits. For example, two recent introductions in Thailand use rice wine. Holly Hock from Chantal Comte is made with a blend of rice wine and blueberry juice, and Sato'za from Sato Foods Industries is made with rice wine and tropical fruit juice.

But FABs are not the only drinks products being given a makeover this month, according to GNPD. That traditional British favourite - beer - is being given a new twist by market leader Scottish & Newcastle, whose Kronenbourg subsidiary has launched Deco, a beer and absinthe drink concept comprising a small bottle of Kronenbourg larger with a shot of absinthe attached. The 45 per cent ABV absinthe is to be drunk first, with the 5 per cent ABV lager then drunk as a chaser.

Super juices​

There are plenty of novelties in the soft drink sector this month as well. In Mexico, for example, Grupo Empac has introduced OK Light, a super-concentrated liquid beverage mix. Five 10ml ampoules of flavour come packed in a carton, each making 1.5 litres of product. Flavours include tamarind, orange, grapefruit and lime.

In China, meanwhile, a company called Vedan Food is making it easy to carry water around with the introduction of It's Mine!, a still drinking water packaged in a 400ml bottle with an attachment on the neck which enables it to hang around the waist or on a belt.

The US market is frequently a hotbed of innovation, and this month is no exception with the launch by Dream Foods of several premium and organic juice products there.

Volcano Orange Juice is made from the juice of rare blood red oranges harvested in Sicily near the Mt. Etna volcano. Also from the company comes a pure lemon juice, meant to be used as a mixer, which contains pure lemon oil in the cap to provide an extra zest of real lemon. Volcano Lemon Burst is not-from-concentrate and packaged in a lemon-shaped squeeze bottle.

Tea drinkers in South Africa have also been given something new to try this month with the launch of a range of flavoured teas by Khoisan Tea. The range, which is targeting children in particular, includes some fun and interesting varieties such as Bubbly Gum and Vanilla Gorilla. All are made from rooibos, a naturally caffeine-free tea variety grown in South Africa with a sweet taste and low in tannin.