What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches
Summer kombucha
Kombucha brand GT’s Living Foods has launched two new Synergy flavors: California Citrus and Lemon Berry (pictured above).
“For 25 years, GT’s Living Foods has been guiding people towards better health and wellness with a tasty range of pure and potent kombucha offerings,” says GT Dave, Founder and CEO of GT’s Living Foods. “The road to well-being begins with the choices that we make on a daily basis. These new citrus flavors are a better-for-you choice for all occasions and a refreshing substitute for sugary and processed options.
“Perfect for new and experienced kombucha drinkers, GT’s Synergy is raw authentic kombucha, 100% organic, fully fermented for 30 days in small batches. Handcrafted, raw, never processed or pasteurized, Synergy offers a probiotic powerhouse with potent organic acids, active enzymes and aminos to aid digestion and boost immune health. USDA certified organic and non-GMO project verified, every SYNERGY bottle is 100% organic with natural effervescence and a bright crisp bite and benefits natural systems of the body through healthful microbes.”
The new flavors will be available at specialty, natural and conventional grocers nationwide as well as direct to consumers via GT’s Living Foods new e-commerce website.
Heineken: Mead
Heineken USA is testing a new ‘refreshing modern take on traditional mead’ in Denver and Nashville.
Comb & Hive is a crisp wine made with wildflower honey and sugar fermented with orange blossom flower and a hint of fizz. The 6.9% ABV drink contains 150 calories and 2g of sugar.
“Comb & Hive takes a renewed approach to wine by turning honey and sugar into a refreshing, easy-to-drink sparkling wine,” says Karla Flores, Director Commercialization Innovation Marketing at Heineken USA.
“From 2018 to 2020, with off-premise canned wine dollar sales having grown 186% [Neilsen], we’ve seen consumer demand shift towards a thirst for new flavor varieties, easy drinking, and convenience. With a focus on adults 21+ who drink wine, hard seltzers, and cocktails looking for a new wine to enjoy in social occasions, Comb & Hive is the new Rosé. We want these consumers to enjoy Comb & Hive while connecting with family and friends.”
Little Creatures: Pacific Ale and Hazy IPA
Australia craft brewer Little Creatures has launched its new Pacific Ale, marking its 21st anniversary, and a new Hazy IPA.
Little Creatures Head Brewer Russ Gosling said: "Little Creatures Pacific Ale has a soft fizz and passionfruit aroma, with a slightly dry yet super refreshing finish. The Pacific Ale captures all the big hop tropical flavours without the bitterness – delivering a fresh, session-able brew perfect for the summer months.
“Bursting with passionfruit and citrus aromatics with a smooth, easy drinking finish, this taste of summer will be on the taps all year-round joining Little Creatures Pale Ale, XPA, Rogers and a brand new Hazy IPA in the core range.”
The anniversary will also be marked with the launch of Little Creatures’ signature Pale Ale in cans; alongside fan-favourite XPA and brand-new Hazy IPA.
The Pacific Ale will be available in major retailers nationally from this week for a RRP of $19 for a four pack of cans, or $57 for a 16 pack. The Hazy IPA will be available from the end of the month for an RRP of $24 for a four pack of cans, or $69 for a 16 pack.
SunDaze
New RTD cocktail SunDaze is launching exclusively in Southern California ‘with the goal of taking citrus cocktail occasions beyond brunch’.
“A better-for-you beverage, SunDaze’s delicious 100% Valencia orange juice blend is made using an exclusive fermentation process that transforms fruit juice into a flavorful alcoholic refreshment that’s low in calories and sugar. Each cocktail contains 100% of your daily dose of Vitamin C, antioxidants and probiotics and is also gluten-free, vegan and has no added sugars,” says the brand.
SunDaze comes in three flavors: classic (‘reimagines Valencia orange juice at its boozy best with a simple formula and a sophisticated flavor that challenges the best mimosa’); botanical citrus (‘a blend of Valencia orange juice, rosemary and ginger root for an aromatic, zingy taste’); and spicy citrus (‘a blend of Valencia orange juice with jalapeño and thai chile for a kick that will have you thinking you’re sipping straight from the spicy rim of a cocktail glass’).
SunDaze retails at $3.99/can. The company is led by Arthur Gallego, Co-founder, and CEO of SunDaze along with Juan Diego Cordón Toledano, co-founder and the brains behind formulating the fermentation process of SunDaze beverages.
bubly limited editions
PepsiCo’s sparkling water brand bubly has launched two limited edition summer flavors.
Coconut pineapple is a new combo flavor ‘that combines the tropical taste of coconut with the sweet, fresh flavor of pineapple’. Passionfruit is a refreshing bubly flavor, returning from last year, that ‘captures the sweet, exotic taste of passionfruit with a slightly tart finish’.
Both flavors are available in 8- and 12-count packs of 12 oz. cans, as well as in exclusive 18-count packs on eComm. Pricing is in line with the cost of current bubly packs, starting at $3.99 (per 8-pack).
James Squire Zero
Australian brewer James Squire is entering the alcohol-free market with the launch of James Squire Zero as an addition to its core range.
Brewed in Sydney, James Squire Zero is ‘an expertly crafted flavoursome alcohol-free brew with a balance of malt and hop notes for a clean, crisp finish’.
“James Squire is expanding its offering with bold innovation, using really advanced technologies to brew a quality, full-flavoured non-alcoholic beer,” said Anubha Sahasrabuddhe, Lion Marketing Director.
“Our investment in a $6m de-alcoholising plant shouts Lion’s commitment to the category, but also desire to produce the best zero alcohol beer on the market using the best tech in the world. We think we’ve done that.”
James Squire Zero is available nationally in liquor stores and supermarkets at RRP $44 per case/$15 per six-pack, as well as in bottles at James Squire brewhouses.
Matcha Latte
Taika, a brand developing functional blends of coffee, tea and adaptogens, has launched its Matcha Latte.
“A delightful blend of USDA organic ceremonial grade matcha and adaptogens, Taika’s Matcha Latte is the first canned matcha to enter the market made with zero added sugars and a delightfully creamy, housemade macadamia milk high in healthy fats and protein,” says the brand.
“While many other canned matcha drinks use non-organic, culinary grade matcha, we source the very best ingredients we can get our hands on, which included blind taste testing dozens of teas, and then turning them into delicious and healthy RTD products with minimal processing and no preservatives. Taika’s organic, ceremonial grade matcha from Kagoshima has a nuanced sweetness and 60mg caffeine per can (half of our coffees) that works magnificently with our naturally sweetened macadamia milk.”
Each can of Taika includes carefully sourced ingredients, which include housemade plant and nut milks, a proprietary natural sweetener stack, and a unique blend of adaptogens, including L-Theanine, Ashwagandha, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps Militaris, and Reishi, ‘which work synergistically with caffeine to sustain creativity and keep consumers feeling inspired, not wired’. Products are keto-friendly, non-GMO, plant-based, gluten free and sustainably sourced.
The unveiling of Taika’s Matcha Latte is supported by an infusion of $2.2m in seed funding led by Obvious Ventures, with participation from Kindred Ventures, Human Ventures, and Quiet Capital. Additional angel investors include Alexia Brue (Co-Founder of Well + Good), Sophia Amoruso (Founder & CEO of Business Class), Sean Tsao (Co-Founder of Caviar, Owner of Halal Guys), Ryan Tedder (Lead Vocalist of One Republic) and Walter Robb (Former co-CEO of Whole Foods), among others.
