New Zealand Pure
New Zealand Pure, a premium water from the north of the country, has been launched this month.
The source water is organically filtered under great pressure by volcanic sediments, rich in minerals, for hundreds of years resulting in naturally high levels of silica in colloidal form.
Once this natural filtration process is complete, the water comes to the surface through its own pressure and emanates from naturally aspiring artesian springheads found throughout Kauri Springs in the Far North of New Zealand.
Nik Posa, founder of New Zealand Pure Spring Water Limited, said: “New Zealand’s natural spring water resources are regarded as among the most pure and sustainable in the world.
"I wanted to create a product that is premium in terms of international expectations, but that is still quintessentially a New Zealand brand.”
New Zealand Pure is available in still and sparkling varieties; in 750ml bespoke glass bottles.
Blueberry cola
Juicy Fuel Cola has introduced its blueberry cola fruit drink: heralding it as ‘the world’s first blueberry cola with real blueberry juice’.
The cola is free from preservatives, added sugar and artificial sweeteners. Using cola nut oil and fruit juice among its ingredients, it is sold as ‘a cola that’s one of your five a day.’
The product is packaged in 250ml cans and has been launched this month in the UK. The blueberry variant joins Juicy Fuel Cola and Juicy Fuel Cola Cherry.
Sparkling RTD tea
SunRype has introduced its Real Brewed Sparkling Teas in Canada: which are made with brewed tea, natural flavors and cane sugar.
The four lightly sparkling flavors are Twist of Lemon Black Tea, Mango Peach Black Tea, Honey Lemon Green Tea and Raspberry Rooibos Tea.
Director of Marketing Barb Grant said: "SunRype is focused on innovation to meet the changing needs of consumers, and that means moving beyond juice and fruit snacks to offer a wider range of on-trend refreshment beverages and food products.
“A big part of this strategy is to bring these new products to market in pack types that fit with the lifestyles of today's busy, active consumers.”
The sparkling teas come in sleek 355ml cans, which are available in the refreshment beverage section of grocery stores in western Canada.
Butter coffee
Picnik, an Austin (Texas) eatery that accommodates all dietary restrictions and food allergies, has launched its RTD bottled butter coffee for purchase online with further distribution channels to follow.
The coffee uses ingredients such as grass-fed butter, 100% coconut MCT oil, and grass-fed whey protein. Picnik butter coffee is available in three flavors: Dirty Chai, Cappuccino, and Mocha Latte.
Naomi Seifter, founder, Picnik, said: "Butter coffee is very satisfying because of its higher fat content, so we find it to be a perfect morning beverage. It provides the fuel that you need for breakfast as well as a boost of energy that lasts for several hours.”
Nescafe Gold Organic
Nestlé has launched NESCAFÉ Gold Organic in Australia, described as an ‘expertly crafted, premium grade Fairtrade and organic coffee, inspired by baristas’.
The blend contains Arabica coffee beans, grown and harvested by Fairtrade certified farmer cooperatives in Peru, which are then ground and roasted to produce a soluble coffee.
“NESCAFÉ Gold Organic is a key part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to set the benchmark for reducing the footprint of coffee production. It aims to provide Australians with the option of a high-calibre coffee to drink easily at home, that is made with coffee beans that are sourced in a socially responsible and environmentally friendly manner,” says the brand.
The coffee has been classified as certified organic by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA), as well as being independently certified by Fairtrade.
NESCAFÉ Gold Organic is available in 100g jars in Woolworths, Coles and independent retailers nationally.
Matcha beverages
Mé-Mé, a French beverage brand from Annecy in the Alps, has launched three new RTD drinks using matcha: L'Endurante, L'Hydratante et L'Energisante.
L’Endurante contains matcha and mint, L'Hydratante contains matcha and birch water, and L'Energisante has matcha, maple water and lemon juice. The drinks contain up to 11 calories per 100ml and are sold in 330ml packs.
The drinks are organic and free from preservatives.
Craft alcoholic soda
Global Brands has launched Crooked Beverage Co, a range of craft alcoholic sodas designed to 'shake up the RTD market'.
The alcoholic sodas are available in three flavors, using natural flavors, colorings and real fruit juice. These are: Dayglo Skies (raspberry and lime); Mother Moon (pomegranate and peach) and Midnight Stage (blood orange and passionfruit).
Global Brands says the beverages are lightly carbonated with a fruity flavor and low sugar content (down to 4.6g per 100ml).
"We have identified a sweet spot in the market calling for innovation that lies between RTD, fruit cider and craft beer," explains the company.
"Aimed at 20-30 year olds, Crooked Beverage Co features a malted base to give an interesting flavorsome alcohol taste that underpins the liquid. The all natural fruity body of the liquid provides a sweet, but not sickly, alternative to cater for the growing demand from millennials for drinks that aren't hugely sugary and synthetic, while the slightly hoppy notes also appeal to beer drinkers."
The beverages are available in the UK (Sainsbury's and ASDA at RRP of £2.50-£3.00) in 330ml cans.
Italian craft beer launches in the US
Birra Antoniana, a brewer of premium Italian craft beer, is launching four SKUs in the US.
Birra Antoniana was founded in 2011 by Sandro and Michele Vecchiato in Padua, Italy. It is now introducing its core lineup to the US market: including the flagship Marechiaro, a crisp Italian lager created as a perfect pair for pizza; Pasubio, a hoppy session lager; Altinate, a dry hopped lager bearing some similarities to an IPA; and Vienna, a rich and malty Vienna-style lager.
Sandro and Michele Vecchiato, founders and general managers of Birra Antoniana, said: “In keeping with our Italian roots, we wanted to create a beer that represented the best of Italian agribusiness, and communicated Italian culture and values to the rest of the world.
"We’re incredibly excited to bring the art of Italian craft brewing and Padovan terroir to American beer drinkers with Birra Antoniana.”
Scheduled to hit store shelves this summer, Birra Antoniana will celebrate its US arrival with a series of events at artisanal pizza restaurants. Guests will be able to taste each of the brand’s four product SKUs alongside each beer’s perfect pizza pairing.
Breckenridge Brewery nitro series
Colorado's Breckenridge Brewery has launched a new product in its Nitro Series seasonal lineup: Nitro Orange Cream Ale.
Todd Usry, president and Brewmaster of Breckenridge Brewery, said: "The Nitro Series as a whole is the result of years of experimentation with nitrogen, exploring how it enhances flavor and texture. A nitrogen-infused beer's cascading pour is mesmerizing and the softness of its mouthfeel has inspired us to play with different styles and ingredients."
“With this release, Breckenridge has put a refreshing summer twist on the historical American cream ale style. Popular in the pre-prohibition era, cream ales evolved as an alternative to the American lager, and they were loved for their fine balance of hops and malts, soft mouthfeel, and light to medium body.”
Packaged in a 15.2oz nitrogen infused can, Nitro Orange Cream joins two year round releases, Nitro Vanilla Porter and Nitro Lucky U IPA, and rotating seasonal releases.
Coca-Cola No Sugar
Coca-Cola has launched Coca-Cola No Sugar, promising the taste of the new sugar-free variety is the closest yet to its flagship classic brand.
The drink has launched in major and independent retailers in Australia this month, and will be rolled out across additional markets this year.
The sugar-free drink is sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame K.
Coca-Cola No Sugar is available in a range of package sizes and formats in Australia: 250ml can, 250ml PET, 330ml glass bottle, 375ml can, 390ml PET bottle, 600ml PET bottle, 1.25L PET bottle, 8x200ml cans, 10x375ml cans, 24x375ml cans and Fountain.
Minute Maid Pulpy Mosambi
Minute Maid Pulpy Mosambi has been launched in India, using locally sourced Indian Mosambi – a citrus fruit sourced from India’s western region of Maharashtra.
The drink contains additional chewable pulp and is available across India in 250 ml, 400 ml and one liter pack sizes value priced at $0.31 (INR 20), $0.47 (INR 30), and $1.09 (INR 70) respectively.
The Minute Maid juice range has expanded from one variant in 2007 to 11 variants in 2017.