Love is in the air this week with La Colombe’s Valentine’s launch, while Dr Pepper is launching a new permanent flavor. There’s also plenty of innovation in packaging and flavors...
Dr Pepper Blackberry
Dr Pepper Blackberry is the newest permanent variety from the brand, combining the original 23 flavors of Dr Pepper with the rich sweetness of blackberry flavor.
Recent data shows high consumer interest for the flavor, with blackberry-flavored CSDs growing more than 2x faster than the CSD category in dollar sales last year, according to Circana data.
Dr Pepper Blackberry will be available nationwide in regular and zero sugar varieties across a range of pack sizes, plus fountain and frozen dispensed formats.
La Colombe Draft Latte Strawberry Mocha
La Colombe is celebrating love with ‘the perfect pairing of chocolate and strawberry in coffee form’ with the launch of limited edition Draft Latte Strawberry Mocha.
Made with real cocoa and natural strawberry flavoring, the frothy coffee blends subtly sweet and rich flavors to deliver a ‘one of a kind sip for coffee lovers’
With 50% less sugar than the average ready-to-drink flavored coffee (La Colombe comes in at 9-15g per 11 fl oz, compared to an average of 33g per 11 fl oz cited by the USDA) and a good source of fiber, Strawberry Mocha is now available at major retailers nationwide and can be purchased on La Colombe’s website until April 15.
Meanwhile, the brand is inviting single coffee lovers to find Love Over Lattes ahead of Valentine’s Day by teaming up with OkCupid dating experts and “NYC’s Cupid” Tiff Baira to help brew connections – bringing together potential love matches in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.
While “brewmances” are nothing new – with meet cutes and missed connections in coffee shops a staple in rom-coms – La Colombe is seeing more singles in their cafés for dates as Gen Z searches for authentic in-person connections. In fact, 84% of more than 1.5 million daters (83% of Gen Z, 85% of Millennials) on OkCupid said they love coffee dates via the app’s matching questions – and, when asked, a majority of respondents prefer a first date at a coffee shop over other locations.
“Our seasonal Draft Latte drinks are always a hit and a great way to introduce new consumers to La Colombe. Limited-edition flavors tend to be most popular in fall and winter where flavor profiles are more defined, yet this is not exactly the peak of cold coffee season,” says Chobani + La Colombe’s Chief Innovation Officer, Niel Sandfort. “We’re excited to lead the way in Spring seasonal flavors by bringing Strawberry Mocha, an innovative, first-of-its-kind flavor, to consumers who want to enjoy an indulgent treat with less sugar. It tastes like a ripe strawberry dipped in chocolate.”
New ‘non-sweet’ drinks range in the UK
This month sees the UK launch of CANS, an unsweetened carbonated soft drink range.
On a mission to create a new ‘non-sweet’ category, the fledgling brand combines sparkling Alpine water with real fruit and effervescent bubbles.
Made with just three ingredients, the range contains no added sugar, no sweeteners and nothing artificial.
Initially launching with three SKU’s; Apple, Cherry and Lemon (RRP: £1.39/330ml can) the drinks will launch with a D2C focus; via CANS.co.uk, the full range will be available to independents via wholesalers in the coming months.
The brand, which first launched to market in the Czech Republic 15 months ago, has sold more than 1 million CANS to date. 2025 marks the entry into two new territories, the UK and the US, in a bid to secure sales of 8 million CANS before the end of the year.
CANS is the brainchild of three co-founders; Jaroslav Beck, Dominic Rice and Jan Rambousek who wanted to create an alternative to sweet drinks.
“Our goal is to reduce global over-consumption of sugar by rethinking simple things and making them right. Why do we drink so much sugar in the first place?” says Jaroslav Beck, co-founder, creator and main investor of CANS who previously successfully scaled his viral VR rhythm game “Beat Saber” which was acquired by Meta in 2019 as the best-selling VR game to-date.
“After the brilliant market launch in the Czech Republic in August 2023 with over 1 000 000 CANS already sold, which corresponds to a saving of 33 tonnes of sugar (equal to 8,250,000 sugar cubes) compared to conventional soft drinks, the launch in Slovakia and Germany followed in late 2024. Now the UK is the next step in CANS' mission to create and grow the best possible non-sweet drinks and with that fully establish the non-sweet category itself.”
Absolut launches new RTS and RTD cocktails
Vodka brand Absolut has launched new ready-to-serve and ready-to-drink flavors: with expansions for Absolut Ocean Spray RTD and Absolut RTD cocktails.
Building on its February 2024 RTS launch, Absolut is expanding its lineup with two new flavors: Espresso Martini and Classic Cosmopolitan (20% ABV).
Meanwhile, Absolut’s collaboration with Ocean Spray has expanded with two new flavors: Vodka White Cran•Peach and Vodka Cran•Mango.
Inspired by two of the most popular flavors from Ocean Spray, these refreshing, portable canned cocktails (4.5% ABV) are the perfect way to enjoy one of America’s favorite Vodka mixed drinks on-the-go or at casual get-togethers. The new flavors will be available in Absolut Ocean Spray 12-pack which also includes Vodka Cranberry and Vodka Cran•Pineapple.
And Absolut’s RTD Cocktails are reviving the classics without the fuss, introducing three new flavors including: Classic Mule (7% ABV), Classic Cosmo (10% ABV), and Half & Half Tea & Lemonade (7% ABV). The new flavors will be available in The Absolut Cocktails 8-Pack, which also includes the existing Berry Vodkarita flavor.
Absolut Ready-to-Serve Cocktails (SRP: $16.99) and Absolut Ready-to-Drink Ocean Spray Canned Cocktails (SRP: $22.99/12pck) are now available in select retailers nationwide. Absolut Ready-to-Drink Cocktails will be available in April at select retailers nationwide.
Capri Sun single serve bottle
Capri Sun is now available in a resealable bottle in the US, entering convenience stores with the new format.
The bottle features 12 oz of juice – the equivalent of two pouches – in the brand’s most popular flavors: Fruit Punch, Pacific Cooler and Strawberry Kiwi.
Capri Sun’s original pouch format sells more than six million pouches a day.
“Capri Sun has always been a childhood favorite,” said Kristina Hannant, director of marketing at Capri Sun. “The launch of Capri Sun Bottles underscores our commitment to innovation by introducing a new format that meets the evolving needs of today’s families on the go. This reflects our strategy to meet our consumers where they are while bringing the same taste and quality they love.”
Between 2020 and 2023, 76% of suggestions to the Capri Sun call center were requests for larger product sizes. Last year, the brand launched multi-serve jugs – the first innovation for over a decade.
Cutwater Strawberry White Russian
US spirits-based canned cocktail brand, Cutwater, is introducing its new limited-time offering, Strawberry White Russian.
Crafted with Cutwater’s vodka and coffee cream liqueur, the Strawberry White Russian builds on the creamy decadence of the original White Russian, adding the natural sweetness and vibrant flavor of strawberries.
This new offering follows Cutwater fan-favorites White Russian and Peppermint White Russian. The drink can be enjoyed straight from the can or served with sliced strawberries, chocolate shavings, or even a pink sugar & freeze-dried strawberries rim.
Rockstar new flavors
PepsiCo’s energy drink brand Rockstar has added two new tropically flavored innovations:
Rockstar Punched Pineapple and Rockstar Boom Piña Colada.
Punched Pineapple comes with 240mg of caffeine, and is available at grocery stores and convenience stores nationwide.
Meanwhile, Pina Colada brings whipped and blended dairy flavors combined with pina colada notes for a dessert-like beverage infused with 160mg of caffeine. It is available at grocery stores and convenience stores in select Western US states.
