What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches
Seaberry strength
Carbon negative energy drink Tenzing has launched a new blend: based on British ingredients and supporting British coastlines with 1% donated to Cornish charity Surfers Against Sewage.
Apple & Seaberry (pictured above) uses Cornish seaberries, sea salt and British apples.
Seaberries are bright orange in color and full of flavour – ‘think mango, passion fruit and lemon wrapped into one taste explosion’ - and rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. Tenzing's berries are sourced from the Cornish Seaberry Co.
The 330ml cans (RRP £2.00) are available in Co-op stories nationwide.
Chamberlain Coffee launches compostable coffee pods
Chamberlain Coffee is expanding its product roster to include commercially compostable and carbon neutral coffee pods.
Founded by YouTuber Emma Chamberlain in 2020, the brand offers sustainably sourced organic coffee roasted in California with a portfolio of single-serve bags, instant sticks, ground and whole bean options.
“Over 15 billion plastic pods are produced each year, with 90 percent of those single-serve pods ending up in landfills or burned, meaning Chamberlain Coffee's Coffee Pod production is supporting a cleaner, more sustainable system,” says the brand.
“Each Coffee Pod is created out of patented plant-based materials and is compatible with all Keurig style brewers.”
AI art
London brewer Two Tribes has revealed the ‘world’s first beer can rebranded using AI art’.
The new design – which features AI generated images such as an old lady with candy floss hair, a knitted hotdog, a lemon Elvis-esque quiff – is featured on the brewer’s best-selling Dream Factory Pale Ale.
The label is the result of a competition where consumers were invited to submit AI-generated art from AI-image generator Midjourney, for a chance to be featured on the can.
“Beer lovers and AI early-adopters flocked to take part, and the competition saw a staggering response with over 1,800 unique artworks submitted over a two-week period last month,” says the brewer. “The eight most impressive works of art made it onto the award-winning beer’s new label, with the overall winner receiving a year of free beer.
“By leveraging the power of Midjourney’s AI art generation to collaborate with the public, Two Tribes is democratising design. Beer drinkers with brilliant ideas, but who lack the artistic skill to create them through traditional art, can now see their designs come to life – and be rewarded for their creativity.”
Natural energy
UK alkaline water company Actiph has launched a natural energy drink range.
Called Acti+, the innovation is billed as a “nootropic clean energy drink, delivering improved focus and performance to consumers, with none of the nasties”.
Each 250ml can contains 100% of the RDA of vitamins B5, B6, B9, B12, C and zinc. The drinks, which contain natural caffeine, L-Carnitine and natural sweeteners and flavors, are billed as the “perfect alternative to sugary, artificial energy drinks”.
Two flavors – Blood Orange and Strawberry & Dragon Fruit – are available in supermarket Tesco in a multipack format (rsp: £5/4x250ml) and online via Amazon.
Disruptor energy
Cartel Beverages has launched its new high energy drink – Narcos – which is designed to boost energy, increase focus and enhance mental performance.
Produced in London, Narcos enters the UK’s energy drinks sector, as a ‘disruptor brand’ promising a premium beverage without compromising on the quality and integrity of ingredients.
The carbonated high energy drink is formulated with caffeine, taurine and four essential B group vitamins, Niacin (B3), B2, B6 and B12. It is free from artificial flavorings, ingredients or sweeteners. Narcos says it is specifically geared towards consumers interested in functional beverages who are searching for more than just an energy boost.
Narcos is available online and via selected independent retailers, with a suggested retail price of £0.59p.
Merry Mint
Pure Leaf Iced Tea has launched a limited-edition, holiday-inspired ‘Merry Mint’ iced tea in collaboration with Hallmark.
“The “Merry Mint” flavor helps to instantly invoke feelings of the holiday spirit and can also serve as the perfect base for a cocktail or mocktail infused with festive cheer,” says brand owner PepsiCo.
The mint-flavored iced tea will be available to consumers for a limited time through a social media giveaway that will live on Instagram December 7 – 11; as well as via a holiday pop-up event in Boston on December 10.
Single origin matcha
Bawsy Blends, a Latina female-founded and led wellness company in Los Angeles, has launched its Organic Single Origin Ceremonial Grade Matcha.
The brand partners directly with a single-estate family farm located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, to source its USDA organic, single-source origin matcha products.
“The matcha is ceremonial grade, shade-grown, and stone-grounded from the youngest and most tender first-harvest tea leaves,” says the company. “The quality of the matcha is truly special, as most matcha is made with tea leaves from multiple tea farms (reducing supply chain transparency).”
