What’s hitting the shelves? New product launches: June
Franklin & Sons Mallorcan Tonic Water
London-based tonic, mixer and soft drinks brand Franklin & Sons has developed a Mediterranean-style beverage inspired by the flavors of the Spanish island Mallorca.
The Mallorcan Tonic Water blends lemon, lime, grapefruit, rosemary and thyme with spring water, British sugar beet and quinine-rich natural cinchona bark extract.
Franklin & Sons recommends that the citrus notes match well with gin, vodka, tequila and “light aromatic fortified wines.”
Chairman Steve Perez said the beverage “emulates an expedition to the Golden Valley, also known as the Valley of the Orange Trees on the West coast of Mallorca, to source a blend of unique citrus flavours.”
“In today’s recipe, we have taken this concept and blended hints of these unique citrus notes with rosemary and thyme to create a perfectly balanced Mediterranean-style Tonic Water.”
Ethan’s Fire Shots
Known for its 2oz flavored apple cider vinegar and MCT oil shots, Ethan’s has launched two new wellness products exclusively at US Whole Foods stores. The Original Fire Shot and Citrus Fire Shot take ACV a step further with extra immunity ingredients.
The Fire shot contains ACV, ginger, onion, garlic, honey, horseradish, turmeric, black pepper, habanero and Himalayan pink salt. The Citrus Fire ingredients list is nearly the same, excluding turmeric and black pepper and adding orange and lemon.
Both contain 25 calories and 4g of sugar per 2oz bottle.
Ethan’s calls Fire a “red-hot shot of immunity goodness, with added superfoods to maximize taste and health,” and Citrus the “perfect summer refresh, combining orange and lemon that brighten their already sizzling blend of apple cider vinegar and organic spices.”
The shots are available now at Whole Foods for $3.99 each.
Angry Orchard Spritz Rosé
A new permanent launch from US cidermaker Angry Orchard comes in the form of slim-can spritzers.
The Spritz Rosé rolls out in select markets this summer and is positioned as a lighter option compared to Angry Orchard’s existing rosé cider.
It will debut in New Jersey, Minneapolis, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, packaged in 12oz cans in six-packs. With a 4% ABV, it draws on the low-alcohol spritz-style cocktail trends that are popular in the summer months.
Ryan Burk, head cidermaker at Angry Orchard, said "When we set out to create the recipe for Spritz Rosé, we wanted to capture the time of year when friends get together outside, relax and enjoy a meal and each other's company."
"In the end, we crafted a new style of rosé cider that is incredibly refreshing, light and effervescent while still achieving the apple-forward flavor drinkers love about Angry Orchard."
Just Goods Infused Water
A project of celebrity Jaden Smith, Just Goods, Inc. offers sustainably sourced flavored water in recyclable packaging. Its core line of Spring Water, Lemon and Tangerine is expanding with the addition of Mint, Cherry and Blackberry.
Launched during Pride Month, the completed collection’s packaging features all the colors of the rainbow. The ‘rainbow series’ is available throughout New York City during Pride, as well as online. The new flavors are a permanent addition to the core line, and distribution has expanded to CVS, Walgreens and other nationwide retailers.
Ira Laufer, CEO of Just Goods, said “Just is all about positivity and doing right for people and the planet. With the expansion of our Just Infused line, we’re embodying bright and bold colors to exemplify happiness and confidence.”
Just says its products are as clean, authentic and transparent as possible, made with organic essences and not natural flavors. Its essences are made by boiling fruit and capturing the steam, which is the distilled water added to its spring water. The beverages contain no added sugar, calories and artificial ingredients.
Health-Ade Cherry Berry Kombucha
A new flavor of Health-Ade Kombucha is exclusive to Whole Foods stores in the US, launched this month. Cherry Berry joins Health-Ade’s lineup of 12 other flavors like Maca-Berry, Pomegranate and Bubbly Rose.
The latest addition contains notes of sweet cherry, elderberry and hibiscus and will be a part of Health-Ade’s ‘Superfoods’ line that contains “exotic flavors and botanical additivities from around the world.”
Daina Trout, CEO and co-founder of Health-Ade, said Cherry Berry is important as a summer launch but also in its ability to be enjoyed year-round, and said “Not only does Cherry Berry capture this sweet sensation in a bottle, but we also saw--and consequently filled--a gap in the kombucha market, as there are not a lot of naturally flavored cherry beverages in our category.”
Cherry Berry will be sold at Whole Foods locations through July, and will then roll out to select grocery chains in the US.
Bardstown Bourbon Series
Bardstown Bourbon Company has two new launches from its Napa Valley-style distillery along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The Fusion Series #1 is a blend of 60% of the distillery’s two-year-old wheated and high-rye Kentucky bourbons, along with 40% of 11-year-old sourced Kentucky bourbon.
The Discovery Series #1 is a limited release and blend of four Kentucky straight bourbons aged between five and 13 years. Bardstown said its notes are a combination of deep tobacco, leather, baking spices and bright fruit.
The Fusion is 49.45% ABV and 98.9 proof, and the Discovery is 60.605% ABV and 121.21 proof. The two will be available this summer in Kentucky, Indiana, California, Florida and Tennessee.
Jade Matcha Latte Infusions
Jade Leaf Matcha sells a range of matcha products online, including single sticks, large tubs, mixes, culinary matcha, fruit bites and smoothie boosters. It has now introduced a line of Premium Latte Infusions in four varieties.
Glow, Protect, Think and Balance come in single-serve 0.25oz packets and all contain functional ingredients and adaptogens. Jade Leaf says some of the standout ingredients in the new line are collagen, biotin, turmeric, ginger, cardamom and lion's mane and cordyceps mushrooms.
Marc St Raymond, co-founder of Jade Leaf Matcha, said "We started seeing our customers posting different healthy additions they were mixing into their matcha lattes on Instagram. A few of these ingredients we would see over and over again — collagen, turmeric, functional mushrooms — which got us thinking, how do we make this easier for our customers?”
Jade Leaf recommends preparing the lattes by whisking or shaking with milk and serving hot or iced. The line is available now on its website and Amazon.
Swiss Miss Café Blends
A barista-inspired pair of hot chocolate products has debuted from Swiss Miss. The Café Blends are launching nationwide with Caramel Macchiato and Mocha flavors that combine cocoa and coffee. They come powdered in individual packets like traditional Swiss Miss products.
The new Blends do contain caffeine, but only about half the amount of an 8oz cup of coffee. They have no artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors or preservatives and are formulated with milk sourced from Wisconsin.
Erik Sword, senior brand manager with Swiss Miss, said "We know people are looking for an afternoon pick-me-up and cocoa is a key part of afternoon snacking. With Swiss Miss Café Blends, we now offer a hot cocoa option that provides a boost without too much caffeine."
Starbucks Pairings
Three new coffee blends for retail launched this month from Starbucks as part of its new Pairings collection. They were all developed to complement breakfast foods--the Sweet Mornings Blend, Savory Mornings Blend and Dessert Blend.
All three are available as K-Cups and ground coffee, and are considered medium roasts.
The Sweet Mornings was designed to pair with pastries, yogurt, cereal and other sweet breakfasts, featuring the flavors of dusted cocoa and dried fruit.
The Savory Mornings pairs with omelets, bacon, avocado toast, with flavors hints of fresh herbs. The Dessert Blend pairs with chocolate, cheesecake and fruit pies, and has notes of candied ginger and orange zest.
Starbucks partnered with chefs from The Culinary Institute of America to create the Pairings line.
Dare Double Espresso
Lion Dairy & Drinks has launched a no added sugar variety for its Dare iced coffee in Australia.
The drink is made with the same full cream Australian milk and 100% Robusta and Arabica coffee beans, but contains only natural milk sugars.
Lion Dairy & Drinks Marketing and Innovation Director Darryn Wallace said: “This new product launch from Dare is a great example of how we are fulfilling the goals of Our Goodness Promise, by introducing better for you versions of beloved products across the Lion Dairy & Drinks portfolio.
“We believe in providing consumers with choice, and this new product offering is a great way to offer fans of Dare Iced Coffee a range of options to suit their needs at the time of purchase."
