What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches
Coca-Cola Dreamworld
Coca-Cola has unveiled the next limited-edition flavor under its Coca-Cola Creations innovation platform: Coca-Cola Dreamworld.
Following the launches of Coca-Cola Starlight and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Byte, Coca-Cola Dreamworld “is a gateway into a lively, animated world where dreamlike experiences meet the real world. Tapping into the power of the subconscious and the collective passion for exploring our dreams, the new Coca-Cola Creations fantasy flavor invites fans to discover the magic in ordinary moments and dream with their eyes wide open.”
Coca-Cola Dreamworld will be brought to life through a digital-led, dreamlike campaign featuring key collaborations, including a digital wearable collection with fashion platform DRESSX. Fans will be able to scan a QR code on the Coca-Cola Dreamworld can or bottle to access the digital Coca-Cola Creations Hub, where they will be taken on a journey and experience 'unique, Dreamworld looks' that can be shared on social media.
The campaign will also feature the launch of the Coca-Cola Dreamworld AR Music Experience, an augmented reality music experience dreamt up in collaboration with influential electronic dance music festival brand, Tomorrowland. For this music experience, fans scan a Coca-Cola Dreamworld can or bottle to access the digital Coca-Cola Creations Hub, where they will be transported into a full 3D virtual AR music experience hosted by an avatar DJ spinning dreamlike tracks.
Coca-Cola Dreamworld comes in both sugar-sweetened and zero sugar versions.
Cherry blossom gin
Aldi Scotland has partnered with The Old Curiosity Distillery once again to launch Eidyn Cherry Blossom, a new, small-batch, cherry-flavoured premium gin retailing at £19.99.
This new gin from Eidyn (pronounced ee-din), which is named after the Scottish Gaelic for Edinburgh, is exclusive to Aldi Scotland. The cherry blossom produces a fresh floral note, underscored with angelica root, winter savoury and coriander botanicals, which gives way to a light juniper finish.
All the botanicals used are grown, hand-picked, and dried from the distillery’s garden in Edinburgh; with the distillery claiming low carbon emissions through its production methods.
The gin should be served over ice with tonic, a sliver of lime and a black cherry garnish.
Rockstar Recovery
Two new Rockstar Recovery flavors are hitting shelves in the US: Pineapple Coconut and Mango Lemonade.
The drink features new ingredients such as coconut water, collagen and a 100% daily dose of vitamin C.
The new limited-time flavors join the Rockstar Recovery product offering at select retailers nationwide, alongside the Orange and Lemonade flavors that are available year-round.
Modelo beer cocktail
Hitting shelves across the US this month, Modelo continues to expand in the high-end beverage category with the launch of the Chelada Variety Pack, featuring the Mexican beer cocktail in a ready-to-drink can.
This is the brand’s first variety pack, and includes 12oz cans of four flavors:
- Mango and Chile Peppers (Mango y Chile)
- Orange and Chile Peppers (Naranja Picosa)
- Lime and Salt (Limón y Sal)
- Pineapple and Chile Peppers (Piña Picante)
The variety packs will be available at retailers where Modelo Chelada cans are sold for a suggested retail price of $17.99.
Wine soda
Constellation Brands’ Woodbridge has launched Woodbridge Wine Soda: a ‘first-of-its-kind wine experience in the US that combines crisp white wine with the refreshing flavor, sweetness, and pop of everyone’s favorite classic sodas’.
The wine sodas seek make wine more accessible with a flavor-dominant, wine-recessive profile; as well as the convenience and sociability of hard seltzers.
“For consumers seeking convenient, approachable alcoholic beverages with more refreshing flavor than hard seltzers, Woodbridge Wine Soda is the perfect choice,” says the brand.
“These drinks enhance the satisfyingly sweet taste and refreshing fizz of Lemon Lime, Orange, and Grapefruit sodas with an extra layer of fruity flavors and aromas from crisp, high-quality California white wine in a convenient ready-to-drink can.”
The new Woodbridge Wine Soda variety six-pack comes in a recyclable box containing brightly colored 250ml cans in three flavors: Grapefruit, Lemon Lime, and Orange Soda, all at 7% ABV. A pack has a suggested retail price of $10.99 - $12.99 and is available via Drizly, InstaCart and at local retailers in the US where Woodbridge is sold.
Organic kefir drinks
UK organic dairy company Yeo Valley has extended its Kefir ‘Love Your Gut’ range into Kefir Drinks.
Launching in September in Sainsbury’s, Ocado and Waitrose with an MRRSP of £2.25, the 500ml bottles will be available in three flavours; Natural, Mango & Passionfruit, and Cherry.
Yeo Valley’s organic Kefir Drinks boast 14 strains of live Kefir cultures to help consumers ‘Love their Gut’. These live cultures help maintain a diverse microbiome and therefore a healthy gut.
“The market is continuing to see a trend where consumers are seeking products that support their gut health which is driving a strong growth in Kefir products. Yeo Valley Organic is the market leader in potted Kefir and has grown 33% in the last year to £11m as a result of reaching new consumption occasions via the introduction of new pack formats, such as the multipacks,” says the company.
“As a result of the pandemic there is a move to more hybrid working lifestyles whereby people are mixing working from home and office working. Consumers are now looking for tasty and healthy solutions that provide a quick start to their day.”
The Kefir Drinks are part of a series of new product developments by Yeo Valley Organic, with soups, dips, and Little Yeos No Added Sugar pouches also due to launch into stores this September.
Caliwater Watermelon
Californian brand Caliwater has released its third flavor, Watermelon, online this month: with retail listings set to follow.
The new flavor joins Ginger & Lime and Wild Prickly Pear, which debuted with the company’s launch in 2021.
"We are all about flavor & mindful ingredients at Caliwater, and there is nothing more refreshing than the taste of fresh cut watermelon!,” said Oliver Trevena and Vanessa Hudgens, Co-Founders, Caliwater.
“This truly is the perfect flavor addition filled with the finest organic ingredients and all the same health benefits you have grown to love, thanks to our friend, the prickly pear cactus.”
Inspired by the lush and varied landscapes of California, the brand’s vision is ‘to sip on Cali in a can’ with the key ingredient of prickly pear cactus fruit.
“Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit, known for its rare and potent healthful properties, is brought to life in this brand new, canned beverage product, which is not only delicious and organic, but super hydrating, refreshing, and filled with rare antioxidants and digestion benefits,” says the company.
The drink can be consumed on its own or paired with liquor such as tequila.
The Caliwater line of products are low calorie, low sugar and are organic, vegan, Kosher and Non-GMO verified.
Plant-based protein
New US brand Phyll is launching its shelf-stable, ready-to-drink fruit and greens smoothies in recyclable paperboard cartons in the US.
Co-founded by long-time best friends, Jeff Goodman and Sam Dickstein, the brand launches with three RTD smoothies: Greenfest, Mixed Berry and Chocolate. An 11oz retails under the $5 price mark, ‘providing juice bar quality without the price tag’.
“Phyll provides a convenient option to get healthy and nutritious fruits and veggies on the go by offering three smoothies each with a whole serving of vegetables, 15 grams of plant-based protein, and a clean nutrition label including no added sugars or sweeteners,” says the brand.
“Our smoothies require zero prep, taste delicious and are great on the go. Out clean-pressed process allows for long-lasting shelf life without the need for refrigeration, while still maintaining the fresh flavor and essential nutrients, resulting in delicious plant-based nutrition that can go with you anywhere.
“Phyll’s 100% natural smoothies are both high in protein and a good source of fiber, and are made with no artificial ingredients or preservatives. All flavors provide three full servings of fruits and vegetables.”
Clipper Teas
Clipper Teas has launched its Super Greens range in the UK, which contains vitamin C sourced from the superfood acerola.
Each tea bag, made from plant-based, biodegradable, unbleached and non-GM materials, contains at least 15% of the daily recommended vitamin C intake, (12mg).
The organic and Fairtrade certified range comes in two versions: Reviving (orange, acerola, guarana and matcha) and Defending (blackcurrant, acerola and matcha).
The two SKUs retail at £2.50 (RRP) for a pack of 20 teabags.
St Remy Signature
St Remy Signature is continuing its global expansion with a launch in the UK and Taiwan, to be followed by Jamaica and GTR Americas later this year.
The expression launched in 2020 and is already available in Canada, the US and Australia.
The brandy is described as “luminous, bright and amber in color with sweet aromas of vanilla, coconut and almond greeting you on the nose… St-Rémy Signature provides a unique base for brandy serves, reimagined with a more forceful nutty and buttery expression. The expression is perfect for sharing neat or in cocktails with friends.”
