What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches
Red Bull Coconut
Red Bull's latest Limited Edition is Red Bull Coconut Edition Sugarfree: which launches today across the US at Target and Circle K.
The drink has 'the taste of exotic coconut and berries, providing consumers looking for variety and sugar-free offerings an additional choice while working from home or at the office, studying or juggling the daily demands of life'.
Red Bull Coconut Edition Sugarfree is available in 8.4oz and 12 oz cans.
Red Bull options without sugar also include Red Bull Sugarfree and Red Bull Zero.
Pepsi marshmallow cola
Pepsi and marshmallow brand PEEPS have teamed up to launch a limited edition Pepsi marshmallow cola in the US this month.
PEPSI x PEEPS is “a delicious new beverage that combines the crisp, refreshing taste of PEPSI cola with the pillowy-soft and sweet PEEPS marshmallow flavor consumers love,” says the brand.
“The instantly recognizable PEEPS-inspired design on 7.5-ounce PEPSI mini-cans in bright yellow, pink and blue colorways makes PEPSI x PEEPS the ideal accessory and thirst quencher for springtime.”
Classic cocktails reimagined
Nordics brand Punch Club has launched a new ready-to-serve cocktail collection ‘to allow people to enjoy world class cocktails whenever and wherever they please’.
The series is called Classics Reimagined and consists of five well-known cocktails, such as Espresso Martini, Whiskey Sour, Negroni, Pina Colada and Aviation. Each cocktail, however, has its own unique twist: such as cherry infused Whiskey Sour or Clarified Pina Colada.
Kristjan-Walter Kask, CEO of the Tallinn, Estonia company, said that the development of this series was kick-started when the lockdowns began. “Since sipping cocktails at a bar became literally impossible, we wanted to offer an easy alternative, where people could still enjoy world class cocktails whenever and wherever they please.”
The series is packaged in 500ml sizes and all of the bottles are equipped with extra serving tips to enhance the experience.
Lavender lemonade
French artisanal lemonade Elixia has unveiled three new organic drinks.
Positioned as the oldest ‘limonaderie’ in France, Elixia’s new drinks are targeted at the café, hotel and restaurant sector, and can be served alone or in a cocktail or mocktail.
“In knowing how to mix modernity with traditional know-how, our historic French brand offers artisanal lemonades with a unique taste.
“With water from the Jura mountain region, agave syrup, and plant extracts; we have, since 1856, maintained an unchanged recipe which leans into different flavors.”
The three new flavors are Lavande de la Drôme Provençale (Provence Lavender); Basilic (basil) and Verveine citronnée (lemon verbena).
Ugly: Nostalgia flavors and energy water
Sparkling water brand Ugly is launching a new range of ‘soda-inspired’ flavors to its sparkling water line up in the US; as well as debuting an energy water range.
When the pandemic hit, Ugly leaned into its strong DTC offering (which grew 500% YoY in 2020) and surveyed online fans on which flavors they wanted to see. A new flavor was launched every month during 2020.
With strong consumer feedback, Ugly will take the most popular flavors from this line-up and roll them out as permanent items across both eCommerce and retail.
“The brand has confirmed launches into 6,400+ CVS stores from May and another 5000+ stores through KeHE, UNFI and DSD distribution in California and New York in the coming months.
“The new flavors, crowd-sourced by the Ugly community, celebrate nostalgia and are a throwback to the taste of soda without any of the sugars, sweeteners, or calories,” says the brand. “The first of the flavors to launch include Cherry Cola, Dr. Ugly, Orange Soda and Fruit Punch launching in 12oz cans (in 8-Packs) (RRP $4.99) and in single-serve 16oz cans (RRP $1.29) later this summer.
“After the success of this positioning on its core range, Ugly will also be launching a new range of its Energy Waters (160mg of caffeine, with ginseng, guarana and b-vitamins) with three new ‘soda-inspired’ flavors in 16oz cans available in-stores and online from April: Mountain Ugly, Fruit Punch and Mango Soda (RRP $2.49).”
Naked Rainbow
PepsiCo’s Naked Juice has launched two new smoothie products in the UK: Naked Rainbow and Naked Berry Lean.
Naked Rainbow Machine is a ‘new vibrant smoothie is inspired by the colours of the rainbow, bursting with flavours of tangy red apple, sweet mango, zingy kiwi, juicy blackberry and blueberry, smooth banana, beetroot and elderberry. Naked Rainbow Machine has also been boosted with vitamins C, E, B1, B2 and B6, providing drinkers with an afternoon pick-me-up.”
As per others in the Naked Lean range – which was launched in 2019 – Naked Berry Lean offers a lower-sugar smoothie. “Naked Berry Lean is a new smoothie bursting with invigorating berries and with 40% less sugar and calories than other smoothies on average as Naked refreshes its Naked Lean range. It is bursting with flavour and made with juicy strawberries, tangy raspberries, zingy elderberries and crisp apple juice.”
Turmeric cordial
UK beverage brand James White has introduced turmeric to its Thorncroft cordial range.
The cordial is made with pressed turmeric juice rather than turmeric powder. Lawrence Mallison, managing director, James White, said: “We have been pressing turmeric juice for our Zinger range for many years. Making a cordial from this juice seemed obvious – especially as it has proved so popular for its delicious taste as much as for its well documented health attributes. Surprisingly we think this is a world’s first turmeric cordial”
The wider range includes original Wild Elderflower, Pink Ginger and Wild Nettle.
Volvic with Vits
Volvic Touch of Fruit is launching its first added benefit innovation in the UK: Touch of Fruit Pineapple & Orange Vitality with added vitamin B6.
The drink is low in sugar, made with natural flavors and free from artificial sweeteners. It is suitable for vegans and vegetarians and comes in a 100% recyclable bottle.
Marie Chaigneau, brand manager at Danone Waters UK & Ireland, said: “According to Mintel, 36% of people would like more information on how to improve their energy levels and the new Volvic is a great option for them, as its added vitamin B6 helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue.”
Vanilla kefir
The UK’s Biotiful Dairy has launched a vanilla variant of its kefir drink.
Made by fermenting British milk with live kefir grains and then adding a natural vanilla flavor, the cultured milk drink contains billions of gut friendly bacteria, is naturally high in protein and calcium and packed with vitamins and minerals.
Founder Natasha Bowes said: “It is great to be adding this new classic flavor to our growing liquid Kefir proposition as we know there is strong consumer demand for this flavor within the dairy category.
"Sales have continued to soar over the last year (+80% over the last 2 years) as we see demand for functional gut health products that help support immunity naturally become increasingly important.”
Starbucks RTD
Starbucks has launched a trio of new lightly sweetened RTD coffee drinks in the US: Coffee with a Splash of Milk & Vanilla, Coffee with a Splash of Milk & Mocha, and Coffee Sweetened Black.
While cold brew and RTD coffee is on the rise, 72% of households have still not ever tried a RTD coffee product, notes Starbucks. Starbucks’ research showed that coffee drinkers ‘want a smooth coffee taste with just a splash of milk and flavor; plus, no preservatives, lower sugar and calories than other options on shelves, and an accessible price point.’
“The team’s primary focus was to develop lightly sweetened coffee beverages, below 100 calories, without compromising the taste profile,” said senior product developer on Starbucks R&D team, Manpreet Cheema. “Choosing the best roast profiles and brewing method was key to delivering on a smooth, refreshing sip, and we did months of tastings and consumer tests to make sure we got it just right.”
evian+
Natural mineral water brand evian has launched evian+, a drink enriched with magnesium and zinc.
The new line represents a new entry for the Danone brand into two categories - sparkling and flavored - as well as being the first evian product packaged in a can.
“evian+ is a delicious sparkling drink created with the pure taste of evian natural mineral water and its naturally occurring minerals, further enhanced with a hint of natural flavours and enriched with magnesium and zinc which supports normal cognitive function,” says the brand.
The new range is available in the US in four flavors: Raspberry & Ginseng, Lime & Ginger, Grapefruit & Basil and Cucumber & Mint.
The drinks have zero sugars, zero sweeteners and zero calories.
