What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches
Beauty shot
Pressed, a US cold-pressed juice and plant-based treats brand, is expanding its shot offerings and launching Beauty Shot, available online and in Pressed locations.
“The Beauty Shot’s curated blend of pomegranate, pineapple, lemon, aloe vera, vitamin C, and biotin is Pressed’s latest product innovation combining ingredients perfect for combating end-of-winter dryness while promoting dewy, supple skin,” says the brand.
“This is not your run-of-the-mill cold-weather aid. Not only is this shot high in vitamin C antioxidants, but the aloe vera works to hydrate the skin from within, and by blending these powerful ingredients they also work to support collagen production and provide 100% of your daily value of biotin.”
Creamy Cold Brew
Plant-based coffee creamer brand nutpods is expanding into a new category with its first coffee-based RTD product, Creamy Cold Brew.
Creamy Cold Brew will be available in two zero-sugar flavors - Classic and Vanilla Caramel - and will offer a multi-serve, premixed cold brew and coffee creamer product.
Creamy Cold Brew will be available for $5.99 starting in late March in the refrigerated section of Sprouts and later at select national retailers. The new cold brew product will become available on Amazon Fresh later this summer.
“I’ve been a fan of cold brew for years, regularly opting for cold coffee beverages over warm, and of course, always blended with my favorite nutpods flavor,” said Seatlle-based nutpods Founder & CEO Madeline Haydon.
“We are always keeping a pulse on trends in coffee and with cold brew and iced coffee having overtaken hot coffee for the majority of younger coffee drinkers, this “pour and go” behavior made the idea of nutpods creamy cold brew move from idea to reality.”
The Classic flavor is completely unsweetened, while the Vanilla Caramel is zero-sugar sweetened with a blend of natural sweeteners.
Coffee with olive oil
In Italy, Starbucks is launching a new range of beverages that combine arabica coffee with Partanna extra virgin olive oil. The ‘Oleato’ brand is a ‘smooth’ and ‘delicately’ sweet offering available in caffe latte, shaken espresso, and cold brew varieties, amongst others.
For Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz, Oleato represents the ‘next revolution’ in coffee… “Oleato has opened our eyes to fresh new possibilities and a transformational way to enjoy our daily coffee.”
Starbucks will begin to introduce the beverages in select markets around the world, starting with Southern California in the US, then later on this year, Japan, the Middle East and the UK.
Monaco Cocktail's strawberry flavor
US canned cocktail brand Monaco Cocktails has expanded its hard lemonade line with a new flavor.
Monaco Hard Lemonades were originally introduced to the market in August 2022. Now Strawberry, the newest flavor in the lineup, will join Original and Peach.
Each vodka-based can contains 9% ABV, two shots, and is entirely gluten and malt-free.
“This refreshing canned cocktail combines the classic taste of lemonade with vodka and delicious strawberries, making it the new go-to drink for partying and good times as we head into warmer months,” says the brand.
Monaco Hard Lemonades are currently available at convenience stores nationwide for $2.50-2.99/12oz can.
Hard Mtn Dew Livewire
One year after the launch of Hard Mtn Dew, the brand has announced the release of Hard Mtn Dew Livewire.
Hard Mtn Dew Livewire is described as an ‘electrifying new twist on the classic, fan-favorite soft drink with a jolt of orange citrus refreshment, 5% ABV, no caffeine, no added sugars and 100 calories per serving’.
Hard Mtn Dew Livewire is now available in 24-ounce cans where Hard Mtn Dew is sold: which includes Florida, Iowa, Tennessee, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Las Vegas and Virginia.
Hard Mtn Dew is produced via a business collaboration between PepsiCo and The Boston Beer Company.
Kozel White
Asahi Europe & International’s Czech beer brand, Kozel, is launching Kozel White in Finland.
Finland is the first European launchpad for the ‘latest fun, inventive, easy-to-drink lager’, which has a lower ABV of 3.5%. The drink has fruity notes, a creamy foam head, a bright cloudy color and a pleasant clean aftertaste, according to the brand.
According to AEI Chief Marketing Officer Grant McKenzie: “Pale lager beer is still popular the world over, but there is an increasing appetite for something new and particularly fruity and more sweetly flavourful. It must be refreshing and easy to drink with moderate ABV, tapping into one of the fast-growing beer consumer trend of moderate enjoyment nowadays”.
Kozel White pairs well with shellfish, raw fish (ceviche and tartare), fried fish (whitebait and calamari), light cheeses (feta and goat), soups and salads as well as light Thai, Asian and Mexican cuisine with hints of citrus and herbs.
Kozel White was launched in South Korea in Autumn 2022 and will initially launch in Europe in Finland, followed by further markets by 2024.
Peroni 0.0%
Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%— a premium non-alcoholic lager – is launching in the US following a successful European launch.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% is made with Italian ingredients including the same Nostrano dell'Isola maize grown exclusively for the brand in Northern Italy.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% has been developed with ‘an innovative dealcoholization process to deliver the superior taste that customers expect from Peroni Nastro Azzurro’: with consumer testing revealing that 90% of tasters felt the flavor matched that of the alcoholic version.
The recent high performance of the brand in Europe combined with growth in above premium non-alcoholic beer sector were key elements in the decision to introduce Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% to the US market, says Molson Coors: alongside strong performance of the Peroni brand in the US (with revenue up double digits in 2022 according to IRI).
Jim Beam launches RTD cocktails
Bourbon brand Jim Beam is launching ‘unique, crisp and cool ready-to-drinks’ in four flavors.
“Jim Beam Kentucky Coolers made in partnership with The Boston Beer Company aim to bring the power of Jim Beam’s southern welcoming ethos to drinkers nationwide and inspire them to connect over a drink, as the RTDs are best served chilled and shared with others,” says the company.
The four flavors are:
- Strawberry Punch: Bright, lightly sweet strawberry punch with hints of mixed berry and bourbon
- Black Cherry Lemonade: Crisp sour lemonade balanced with sweet, fresh muddled cherry. A light bourbon taste lingers behind the initial flavors of lemonade and cherry
- Sweet Tea Lemonade: Bright, fresh, zesty lemonade and refreshing nostalgic sweet tea with a light bourbon taste
- Citrus Punch: Fruity citrus punch with notes of mango, orange, grapefruit and lime for a sweet and refreshing taste complimented with light bourbon notes
“Jim Beam has always aimed to offer consumers the perfect occasion to bring people together. We wanted to infuse this spirit into Jim Beam Kentucky Coolers”, says Heather Boyd, Beam Suntory Managing Director of RTDs, North America.
“We recognize that in these moments of connection with family and friends, consumers are more frequently reaching for the convenience of canned-cocktails and RTDs but know there are gaps in the current flavor profile offerings in the category. We are proud to have created a product that directly addresses what consumers are looking for in the RTD market – a full flavored beverage at 120 calories.
"With the launch of Kentucky Coolers, we are looking forward to bringing the powerful connecting force of cracking open a crisp and cool beverage with friends to all.”
The Jim Beam Kentucky Coolers are 5% ABV and 120 calories with a suggested retail price of $16.99 for a 12-can variety pack, $9.99 for a single flavor six-pack, and $3.49 for a single 24oz. can.
