Our weekly round-up of beverage NPD is here every week to help inspire innovation as we feature just some of the new beverages hitting the shelves.
From the buzz of today’s hottest energy drinks to the nostaliga of a milkshake liqueur, here’s some of the new launches around the globe.
Bai new flavors
Bai Simbu Strawberry and Bai Shala Coconut Strawberry are two permanent additions to the Bai lineup.
Both feature strawberry – the most hydrating berry, says the Keurig Dr Pepper brand citing USDA FoodData Central - and are sweetened with plant-based stevia.
Both varieties support a healthy immune system, with Simbu Strawberry providing a good source of Vitamin C and Zinc and Shala Coconut Strawberry a good source of Vitamin E and Zinc.
Sports drinks in Saudi Arabia
Healthy hydration company iPRO Hydrate has launched in Saudi Arabia.
Made from natural sweeteners, flavors and colors, iPRO hydrate is formulated with added electrolytes to hydrate four times faster than water.
iPRO’s entry into the Saudi market is powered by a strategic distribution partnership reaching over 21,000 sales points via Al Rabie, a household name known for its extensive reach and reputation for quality in the Kingdom’s beverage industry.
The launch in Saudi Arabia is a key milestone in the UK-headquartered company’s global expansion, which has already seen success in the UAE. iPRO Hydrate bottles will feature the Al Rabie logo as a testament to the trust and endorsement from the brand.
Sophie Christy, Global Brand Director at iPRO, said: “Saudi Arabia represents a dynamic and forward-thinking market that aligns perfectly with iPRO’s values of health, wellness, and sustainability, working towards Vision 2030. Partnering with Al Rabie, a trusted and respected name in the region, is an incredible opportunity for us. Their deep market expertise and shared commitment to quality make them a valued partner on this journey.”
Rockstar Energy Zero Peach
Rockstar Energy is launching its latest Zero Sugar addition to its portfolio in the UK, with Rockstar Energy Zero Sugar Peach.
The shopper demand for energy drinks shows no signs of slowing down, with stimulants now worth £1.8bn, growing by over 8% in the last year, according to Nielsen data.
Meanwhile, taste and enjoyment are key factors for consumers when selecting a soft drink: and peach flavors have seen a 153% sales value increase within the stimulants category over the last year.
The new innovation joins Rockstar Energy’s 500ml price-marked packs and two for £2 portfolios. Both the price-marked and plain packs will roll out with new festival themed packaging for striking on shelf visibility, in line with Rockstar’s ongoing partnerships with six of the UK’s most iconic Gen-Z festivals including Reading, Wireless and Parklife.
Ben Parker, Carlsberg Britvic’s Vice President of Commercial Off Trade, said: “With the stimulant energy segment outperforming the wider market in 2024, this year we want to continue the momentum through our Rockstar Energy brand. However, we also want to ensure that we are recruiting new people into the market and appealing to a wider group of shoppers, to really maximize retailers’ energy sales success in 2025.
“We know that flavors such as peach are favored by lighter versus heavy energy drink buyers, so we can make stimulant products more accessible with this launch.”
“We have also seen a growing consumer preference for zero sugar options over the last few years, which has led to low calorie offerings seeing a growth of +248% in the last four years.”
Positive Beverage rebrand
Positive Beverage, a certified female-owned beverage company that offers zero sugar and zero calorie hydration and energy drinks with clean and functional ingredients, has announced a rebranded look, name, and renewed alignment to creating health-first beverages.
The company’s signature line of sparkling functional drinks, formerly known as Positive Beverage, will now be labelled “Positive Hydration” to more clearly articulates the functional benefits of vitamins and electrolytes contained therein. The company’s caffeinated product line remains “Positive Energy.”
The company is removing erythritol from both the Positive Hydration and Positive Energy product lines.
Positive Beverage offers six flavors in total across two product lines: Positive Hydration, the company’s flagship line of hydration drinks filled with electrolytes and vital vitamins, and Positive Energy, the company’s line of energy drinks that combines caffeine from organic green tea extract with vitamins and electrolytes to produce a sustained energy boost without the typical crash.
Roar Organic: New dragon fruit punch
Roar Organic is launching adding a new flavor, Dragon Fruit Punch, into its organic RTD line-up.
Bursting with flavor, this new addition offers a refreshing experience with only 20 calories and 2 grams of sugar per 18oz bottle.
Like all Roar Organic flavors, Dragon Fruit Punch is packed with essential electrolytes, vitamins C, B5, B6, and B12, and antioxidants, all built on an organic coconut water base.
Milkshake-inspired vodkashake cream liqueur
Inspired by indulgent 1950s style American diner milkshakes and tapping into the trend for sweet, creamy soft shots, Continental Wine & Food has launched a new brand, Lacey’s Vodkashake, in the UK.
The cream liqueurs (15% ABV 70cl) can be served as chilled shots or added to hard milkshakes or creamy cocktails.
The two variants - Banana and Strawberry - are blended with vodka, natural fruit flavours, a creamy base and are naturally vegan friendly, gluten and dairy free.The liqueurs retail at £12 per 70cl bottle.
The UK on-trade has seen cream liqueurs buck the trend by growing at almost 30% in 2023, according to CGA data: driven by the popularity of short serves such as Baby Guinness and Short & Stout, plus cocktails such as White Russians and Espresso Martinis.
Amy Giacobbi, marketing manager at Continental Wine & Food said: “Creamy cocktails are shrugging off their traditional festive associations and becoming an all-year-round drink of choice, with ice cream cocktails, hard milkshakes and chilled shots now on trend with drinkers looking for sweeter alternatives to traditional serves.
“Additionally, with 10% of UK adults being lactose intolerant along with consumers choosing a plant-based diet, it’s great to offer a drink that appeals to so many people.”
The world’s first croissant gin
Australian brands Four Pillars Gin and Lune Croissanterie have joined forces to produce a silky, buttery limited-edition gin.
Created by distilling Lune’s caramel slice-smelling clarified butter along with almonds roasted in the Four Pillars distillery kitchen, wattle seed, nutmeg, juniper and a host of other botanicals, this gin is made for rich and textural G&Ts or a brunch-inspired cocktail like an Espresso Gin-tini.
Four Pillars Head Distiller Sarah Prowse said: “Lune croissants are made with nearly double the butter of your average croissant, so we knew that butter had to be a key part of the gin.
“It turns out there is a knack to distilling butter but after a few trial distillations we found our sweet spot and we couldn’t be happier with the end result. The nuts and spices add a real depth to the gin, the vanilla bean brings a hint of sweetness, and then we’ve bought in our signature organic oranges to deliver lovely brightness and balance.”
