The beverage industry is moving as fast as ever. Brands, manufacturers, marketers and R&D innovators need to stay on top of the latest developments.
Our weekly round-up of NPD is here to help inspire new creations and innovative ideas.
Truly Unruly Lemonade
Truly Hard Seltzer is dropping its latest innovation: Truly Unruly 8% Lemonade Hard Seltzer.
The new innovation comes in four flavors: Bumpin’ Blue Razz, ‘OG’ Original, Punched-Up Pineapple and Wild Pink.
The new launch is being backed in a campaign from comedian and actor Billy Eichner and NYC icon Elena with comedy and street interviews from a NYC lemonade stand.
Days: alcohol-free lager
Days, the UK’s fastest growing independent alcohol-free brand, is relaunching its 0.0% lager with an improved formula this month.
The new formula has been designed to preserve the most flavor while reducing all alcohol.
Consumers and their habits have changed in just the last four years since Days launched, notes the brand, with more people moderating than ever before. And so has the tech: ‘dealcoholisation tech is now available to us that simply wasn’t four years ago,’ said co-founder Duncan Keith.
Made to a traditional Helles recipe, Days lager is clean, crisp and 0.0% ABV. Light straw colour in appearance, with plenty of bright white foam, it has a clean, biscuity malt body and crisp hop bitterness.
The lager is available at pub group Stonegate, specialist outlets, Waitrose and the on-trade.
Golf Gin
Independent Scottish Distiller Eden Mill’s Golf Gin launches in the UK, using botanicals foraged from the iconic Old Course in St Andrews.
Known as the most famous golf course in the world, the Old Course is hallowed ground for the golfing community, with gorse and heather across the course and lavender at the club house.
The gin is created at Eden Mill’s distillery, which is just eight minutes away from the course.
Plenish functional shots
Calsberg Britvic brand Plenish is launching into new occasions, needs and audiences with three new launches in the functional shots category.
Plenish Ginger Energy combines ginger and yerba mate for a balanced lift powered by natural caffeine, plus vitamins B6, C, and iron.
Plenish Kids is a vitamin shot for children aged 4-11, delivering 100% of daily vitamin C and D, and a source of iron and zinc to support immunity and healthy development. The 60ml shot comes in two flavors: mango and berry.
And Plenish’s new 420ml multi-serve format replaces the previous 300ml bottle, delivering seven shots per bottle and better value.
DIO
RTD canned cocktail brand DIO is launching its newest flavor: Blood Orange Cosmo.
The drink is a vibrant blend of blood orange, cranberry and lime, balanced with smooth vodka.
All DIO cocktails feature simple, clean, highest quality ingredients (with no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors). Each 200ml can contains less than 8 grams of sugar and 200 calories, with 13.5-15% ABV.
DIO’s lineup of cocktails includes the Grapefruit Basil Paloma, Hibiscus Rose French 75, Turmeric Ginger Lemon Mule, Orange Blossom Margarita, and Tahitian Vanilla Espresso Martini, along with one seasonal, limited-edition flavor—currently the Honey Date Gold Rush. All flavors can be enjoyed directly from the can, or garnished and served up over ice.
Vita Coco launches pina colada flavor
Top US coconut water brand, Vita Coco, has launched Pina Colada with pulp.
The flavor delivers the ‘vacation-in-a-bottle’ feeling with no blender required.
Since the brand’s beginnings with Original Coconut Water, Vita Coco has continued to expand with new takes on the beverage.
7UP Pink Lemonade
Carlsberg Britvic is expanding its 7UP range with 7UP Pink Lemonade, a zero-sugar variant with flavors of lemon, lime and raspberry.
The new drink launches in selected retailers, with grocery, convenience and foodservice to follow.
7UP is the number one lemon and lime brand in Great Britain, according to Nielsen IQ data, and this represents the brand’s first launch in the UK since 2020.
