What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches: August
Coca-Cola with a citrus-y twist
Coca-Cola has introduced Coca-Cola Orange No Sugar, a limited edition flavor for the Australian winter.
“This limited edition flavor has been crafted for Australians and the spirited way we do the winter season – fun and sociable,” said Lucie Austin, marketing director, Coca-Cola Australia.
“We’re not afraid to get the woolies on, grab our friends or family and get out and about when it’s chilly.
"So we’ve created a refreshing and unique drink to match.”
Tastes, looks, and smells like apples: Captain Morgan Apple Smash
Captain Morgan is introducing an apple flavored Caribbean rum blend, Captain Morgan Apple Smash, in the US.
The spirit can be consumed as a chilled shot, as a mixed shot with cinnamon whiskey, or in a mixed cocktail with ginger ale or club soda and mint, suggests the Diageo brand.
“Not only does Apple Smash taste like an apple, it smells like one too! The Apple Smash packaging resembles an apple and emanates the aroma of tart green apple when you scratch the bottle,” says Captain Morgan.
Apple Smash (60 proof, 30% ABV) has a suggested retail price of $15.99 for a 750 ml bottle.
Fruit juice meets energy drinks
Welch’s has launched Welch’s Sparkling Plus Energy, combining Welch’s juice with natural energy from organic coffee extract, in three US markets.
John Walston, Welch’s Senior Brand Manager, said: “Welch’s Sparkling Plus Energy delivers a great, bold taste and it’s a product you can feel good about buying because as always, 100% of our profits go back to our small family farmers.
"The energy drink category is expanding, and we are excited to evolve our portfolio with a new product offering outside of the juice aisle.”
Welch’s Energy expands the brand’s portfolio into a new category with a focus specifically on a male audience. The product is currently available in three markets: New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore/Washington D.C., with plans to expand into new markets.
Welch’s Energy is available in two flavors – Sparkling Grape and Sparkling Fruit Punch – with a suggested retail price of $2.19 for a 16 oz. can.
Located across America and Canada, Welch’s is the processing and marketing subsidiary of the National Grape Cooperative with around 825 family farmers.
Orangeade with oregano, lemonade with basil
Danone’s Font Vella brand has launched a new organic drink line in Spain, made with mineral water, fruit juice and natural ingredients.
The two flavors in the range are orangeade with oregano and lemonade with basil.
Jalapeño-kiwi-cucumber kombucha
California brand Health-Ade Kombucha has introduced a new flavor, jalapeño-kiwi-cucumber, for the US summer.
The ‘cool, sweet and subtly spicy blend’ pairs cold-pressed organic jalapeño, kiwi and cucumber juices with Health-Ade's signature kombucha for a brew with a hint of heat.
"We've always loved the spice of jalapeños and wanted to create a kombucha that celebrates and enhances their bold flavor,” said CEO Daina Trout, who co-founded Health-Ade with her husband, Justin Trout and best friend, Vanessa Dew, in 2012.
“When jalapeños ferment, their spiciness gives way to this awesome smokiness that pairs really well with cucumber and kiwi. The cucumber cools it and the kiwi brightens it.”
Health-Ade’s products use juice from organic, non-GMO produce with no sugar added after the fermentation process. Its other cold-pressed products include pink lady apple, pomegranate, ginger-lemon, California grape, cayenne cleanse and beet.
The new flavor is available in Whole Foods and other retailers and grocers nationwide, as well as online via Health-Ade’s e-commerce platform, with a suggested retail price of $3.99/16 oz.
Club Zero Lemon
Britvic has introduced Club Zero Lemon, a sugar-free soft drink, in Ireland.
Other zero sugar drinks in the portfolio include Club Zero Orange, Club Zero Rock Shandy, Club Zero Raspberry as well as the limited edition Club Zero Super Split.
The launch will be supported through the summer months with TV, digital, sampling, Trade and consumer press and in store activation.
Club Zero Lemon is available in stores across in 500ml (RRP of €1.29) and 2 litre bottles (€2.39).
Juicy Juice Organic
Juicy Juice, a kids’ beverage brand from Harvest Hill Beverage Company, has launched a new lower-sugar, organic product line, Juicy Juice Splashers Organic.
The product is a refresh of the original pouch option, and joins the portfolio with Juicy Juice 100% Juice, Juicy Juice Fruitifuls Organics and Juicy Juice Organics.
A recent Organic Trade Association survey found that millennial parents are the largest segment of organic shoppers in the US. With 80% of the generation expected to become parents in the next 10 to 15 years, organic product offerings are likely to grow as more millennials look for clean options for kids.
Now USDA-certified organic, Juicy Juice Splashers Organic is a blend of organic fruit juice and filtered water, with 50% less sugar. It is available at major grocery retailers nationwide in three fruity flavors - Fruit Punch, Berry Lemonade and Tropical Twist - Juicy Juice Splashers Organic provides 100% Vitamin C in every six-ounce, single-serve pouch.
Like all Juicy Juice products, the brand’s organic lines contain no high fructose corn syrup and no artificial sweeteners.
Cocomax in Cambodia
Asiatic Agro has launched its coconut products in Cambodia, expanding outside its home market of Thailand.
Cocomax, a coconut water brand, is a ‘natural juice straight from the coconut tree, pure, fresh, with no sugar added and even more effective than plain water for hydration’.
Meanwhile, coconut water brand Ampawa is designed for use in Thai dishes.
The products are being expanded into Cambodia via a partnership with market expansion service DKSH.
Coca-Cola's Authentic Tea House
Coca-Cola Singapore has launched a line of low and no sugar RTD teas, called Authentic Tea House.
There are three variants in the range: Ayataka Japanese Green Tea, Da Hong Pao and Jin Ban Chrysanthemum Tea.
The teas are available in Singapore and will soon expand into Malaysia. They are available in a variety of can and PET bottle sizes: including 300ml cans, 370ml PET bottle, 500ml PET bottle and 1.5L PET bottle.
Starbucks enters kombucha category
Starbucks has launched a line of six kombucha drinks with the launch of Evolution Fresh Organic Kombucha in the US.
The drinks, which combine fermented tea with cold-pressed, high-pressure processed juices, are being launched in grocery and natural retailers in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle; and will roll-out in additional cities in the coming months.
The six flavors are: ginger lemon honeycrisp, mango pineapple, ginger greens, spicy greens, pink grapefruit, and turmeric pineapple coconut.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen
Diageo’s Johnnie Walker whisky brand is launching the second edition in a series of special releases in the US: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen.
Blended with ‘ghost whiskies’ – those from Scotch whisky distilleries that have long since closed - and five rare malts, this special release focuses on the highly sought-after whisky from the famed Island distillery of Port Ellen.
“While the distillery closed its doors in 1983, its iconic flavors live on in Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen,” says Diageo.
Mortlach
Diageo’s Mortlach brand will introduce three new single malt bottlings that ‘ditch the traditional smokiness for bolder flavors’ in the US.
Mortlach 12-Year-Old Wee Witchie ‘initially tastes like soft vanilla and Crème Brûlée, but then transforms into gentle, zesty flavors of citrus and cream’.
Mortlach 16-Year-Old Distiller’s Dram ‘opens with a sweet, dry baking spice character that moves into a mid-palate of overripe banana and a rich butterscotch finish’.
And Mortlach 20-Year-Old Cowie’s Blue Seal ‘is a robust liquid that clings to the palate and offers huge bursts of caramelized apple and dark berries’.
Perrier & Juice
Perrier has launched a new line, Perrier & Juice drink, in Los Angeles.
The new line brings together Perrier's carbonated mineral water and natural fruit juices in three flavors: strawberry & kiwi; pineapple & mango; and peach & cherry.
The drinks have 45 calories per serving and are available in 8.45 fl oz slim cans and 11.15 fl oz sleek cans.
Perrier also launched Perrier & Juice flavors in Canada earlier this year.
