Flavour continues to lead new product development (NPD) across ready-to-drink (RTDs), functional drinks and energy, with brands investing in bolder profiles and seasonal concepts to drive penetration. Established players and newer entrants alike are using flavour to differentiate and capture consumers seeking novelty and premium cues.
Clean-label credentials remain a key focus, with hydration, alcohol-free and wellness-positioned brands leaning into simplified formulations, reduced sugar and plant-based ingredients. This reflects broader category momentum as shoppers prioritise clarity, low‑additive recipes and products rooted in science-backed standards.
In parallel, major beverage manufacturers are expanding distribution, testing new pack sizes and refreshing on-premise menus to strengthen reach. These moves are designed to support trial, trade-up and channel-specific growth, particularly across e-commerce, multipack formats and foodservice settings.
The mix of launches also shows continued diversification across non-alcoholic beer, cocktail RTDs, energy drinks and functional hydration. Brands are broadening their portfolios while responding to evolving usage occasions from cinema to at-home consumption and everyday refreshment.
Moth fruity duo
Moth is expanding its premium canned cocktail line-up with two new fruit-led variants: Moth Mango Margarita and Moth Strawberry Daiquiri. Both launch into major UK retailers this spring, supporting the brand’s continued push within fast‑growing tequila and rum RTDs.
Moth Strawberry Daiquiri blends real strawberry juice with Duppy Share Rum and lime for a 14.9% ABV serve. It lands first in UK retailer Tesco at an RRP of £3.99, before broadening distribution across Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, ASDA and Waitrose later in the season.
Moth Mango Margarita features real mango juice alongside Tequila Enemigo, triple sec and lime, also at 14.9% ABV and £3.99 RRP. The SKU will debut in Sainsbury’s from 23 March, with wider rollout into Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose to follow.
Nashi pear juice
Nashi has introduced a single‑ingredient Korean pear juice to the UK market, positioned as part of a modern, mindful approach to socialising. The 250ml RTD can contains 100% Korean pear juice with no added ingredients, offering a simple format compared with the pouches and multi‑component blends common in the category.
Founded by sisters Taya and Lucy Jackson, the brand is inspired by a long‑standing Korean cultural practice in which pear juice is used around social occasions. After first encountering the ritual in Australia, Taya introduced it to her sister in London, and growing consumer interest highlighted an opportunity to bring a pared‑back version to the UK.
Launched in 2025, Nashi is available via its DTC website, on the Delli marketplace and through a growing network of independent retailers. Customers can subscribe for 20% off their first order, with next‑day delivery offered across the service.
The brand positions itself around balance and intention in nightlife and social routines, reflecting the preferences of younger adults seeking alternatives to traditional drinking culture. All products are packaged in recyclable 250ml cans to emphasise convenience and environmental responsibility.
Athletic nitro brew
Athletic Brewing Company has released Nitro Emerald Cliffs, the brand’s first nitro product and a new addition to its non-alcoholic portfolio. The Irish-style dark brew is infused with nitrogen to create a smooth, creamy texture and will be sold exclusively in the US through the company’s website at $14.99 per six-pack.
Nitro Emerald Cliffs is brewed with roasted barley and hops and delivers notes of sweet chocolate, coffee and fresh-cut wood, with mild bitterness and a medium body. The 90‑calorie beer sits below 0.5% ABV and uses nitrogen infusion to create a cascading pour and dense head, replacing the sharper bite associated with carbonation.
Athletic says the launch represents a key technical step for the business following an 18‑month R&D process. The project required benchtop testing, production upgrades and adjustments to the company’s Connecticut brewery to support nitrogen infusion without using a widget in the can.
Against continued growth in the non-alcoholic segment, the release underscores Athletic’s ongoing focus on innovation and beer development. The company is positioning Nitro Emerald Cliffs as a category-first approach designed to broaden the flavour and textural options available to NA beer consumers.
V8 Zero Sugar
V8 has expanded its energy drink portfolio with the launch of V8 Energy Zero Sugar, now available in the US through Amazon and Walmart.
The new line responds to sustained consumer interest in reduced‑sugar formulations, with Mintel’s 2025 Energy Drinks Report noting that 83% of sports and energy drink consumers are seeking no or low‑sugar options.
Each eight‑ounce can contains around 80mg of caffeine, positioned as offering a similar lift to a cup of coffee and broadening the brand’s usage occasions. The zero‑sugar range launches in three flavours: Blueberry Raspberry, Strawberry Lemonade and Cherry Lime, all designed to deliver fruit‑forward profiles without added sugar.
V8 says the extension aims to support ongoing demand for better‑for‑you energy choices while strengthening the brand’s footprint in mainstream retail. All three variants are available in both Amazon and Walmart channels, providing broad accessibility for consumers looking for lower‑sugar functional beverages.
Red Bull Cherry
Red Bull has expanded its seasonal energy drink line-up with the introduction of Spring Edition Cherry Sakura, a cherry‑flavoured variant inspired by Japanese cherry blossom.
The supplier describes the new flavour as offering floral and fruity notes, aligning with consumer interest in cherry profiles as the category continues to diversify.
The full‑sugar SKU is available across multiple formats in the UK, including plain 250ml cans at £1.80, £1.75 price-marked-packs (PMPs), plain 355ml and 473ml cans, £2.85 PMPs and 4x250ml multipacks.
The launch marks the first time Red Bull has introduced a price‑marked option for its 473ml can, which the company says is intended to give loyal shoppers a trade‑up opportunity.
Red Bull reports that in consumer testing more than 75% of shoppers found a cherry‑flavoured energy drink appealing. Spring Edition forms part of the brand’s established seasonal calendar, joining annual Summer and Winter Editions, the most recent of which was Winter Edition Fuji Apple & Ginger released in September.
AMC cocktails
AMC Theatres has refreshed the menu at its MacGuffins bars US-wide with four new signature cocktails, expanded beer choices and additional ready‑to‑drink options. The update applies to theatres with full‑service MacGuffins bars and also introduces larger cocktail sizes in most markets.
The new cocktail line-up includes Ginger Margarita, Henne Bramble, OG Lemonade Crush and Espresso Royale, all developed to reflect current flavour trends and made with premium spirits. AMC said the additions are designed to enhance the moviegoing experience and respond to evolving guest preferences for bolder, on‑trend serves.
Alongside the cocktail launch, AMC has updated its beer offering with new choices such as Coors Banquet and Heineken and added non‑alcoholic options including Heineken 0.0 and Athletic IPA. The company has also expanded its Canned and Crafted range with RTD products from BeatBox and Sun Cruiser to broaden appeal across adult consumers.
MacGuffins bars operate at select AMC locations for guests aged 21 and over, offering cocktails, beer, wine and specialty beverages. AMC continues to emphasise food and beverage innovation across its estate, supported by its broader investment in guest experience, seating, loyalty and premium formats.
Cure Peach Mango
Cure Hydration will expand its electrolyte range on this month, with the launch of Peach Mango, a new flavour positioned to meet rising demand for clean‑label hydration products. The brand says the variant delivers a fruit‑forward profile without added sugar or artificial ingredients, combining peach notes with a smooth mango finish.
As with all Cure products, Peach Mango follows the WHO Oral Rehydration Solution standard and uses ingredients such as coconut water powder, pink Himalayan salt and lemon juice powder, alongside organic natural flavours.
The formulation is sweetened with stevia and monk fruit to support the brand’s plant‑based, low‑sugar positioning.
Cure reports continued momentum across the functional hydration segment, driven by consumer interest in science‑backed formulas and better‑for‑you electrolyte options.
The launch supports the company’s wider strategy, which includes identifying flavour white space, growing its retail footprint and expanding its portfolio while maintaining a clean‑label approach.
