What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches: June

Coors Slice

Coors Slice has returned to Canada for summer after its debut last year: along with the introduction of a second flavour, Coors Slice Lime (pictured above).

At 4.2% alcohol by volume, Coors Slice Lime hits the same “sweet spot, offering extreme sessionability, inviting familiarity and just a hint of sweetness,” according to Molson Coors.

Coors Slice, which Molson Coors says has helped change the trajectory of its flagship Coors Light and recruit new female drinkers to the brand in its seasonal appearance last year, is also becoming a year-round brand for 2020 in some regions of the country. 

It will be sold in stand-alone packs of each flavor as well as a variety 12-pack, which includes four cans of each Coors Slice Orange, Coors Slice Lime and Coors Light.

Kanguru

Australian functional botanical infusion drink Kanguru has been launched in South Korea by chilled beverage manufacturing and distribution giant Binggrae.

Kanguru, developed by Australian company Red Kangaroo Beverages, is headed up by surgeon and ophthalmologist, Dr David Kitchen. The drink contains five natural botanicals: Korean Red Ginseng, Yerba Mate, Guarana, Schisandra and Green Tea; as well as a set of vitamins including B1(Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin) B3, (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic Acid), B6 (Pyridoxine) and B12 (Cyanocobalamin).

Vice President of Binggrae’s Chilled Food Business Division, Mr Choi said: “We are pleased to be bringing Kanguru to South Korean shelves and welcoming our partnership with the Red Kangaroo Beverages team. This product is a welcome addition to our range of beverages due to its health benefits and its scientific, evidence-based formulation – it is completely on trend for our market.”​

Dr Kitchen said: “The Korean culture has a natural, holistic approach with centuries of messaging about natural botanicals ​transcended from one generation to the next. The long-term deal we’ve signed with Binggrae is testament to ​the confidence around our product talking to this audience. We have chosen the highest quality botanicals to feature in our drink, including 225mg of Korean Red Ginseng in every can.”​

Kanguru is available in convenience stores across South Korea including the top three chains: 7Eleven, GS25 and EMart25. It is available in the original flavor, with more flavors due to be added over the next 12-18 months.

Project Sip

Beauty brand cocokind is entering the holistic functional foods space with Project Sip, a new range of drink mixes for the fast-growing ingestible beauty category.

Using blended superfoods, adaptogens, and beauty actives, these mixes are designed to infuse well-being into daily rituals. The three mixes are:

Morning Mocha: An adaptogenic latte drink with a superfoods mix to start the day strong and radiant. It will boost without the jitters or mid-day crash. (Beauty: Beta Glucan, Ginkgo Leaf, Chia. Function: Maca, Ashwagandha, Chicory root)

Detox Chlorophyll: A cleansing tonic drink mix to refresh body and skin, while supporting digestion for body and skin health and encouraging a natural glow. (Beauty + Function: Probiotic Enzyme Blend, Spirulina, Ginger, Chlorella, Aloe Vera).

Sleep C: A calming tonic drink mix to reset and promote beauty sleep. Contains vitamin C to boost immunity and skin to help make the most of beauty sleep.  (Beauty: Dragon Fruit, Acerola (vitamin c), Hibiscus. Function: Dragon Fruit, l-theanine, Acerola (Vitamin C)).

Each mix has less than 1g of sugar and is vegan, gluten-free, glyphosate-free and nut-free.

Aquarelle 

Aquarelle, Molson Coors’ line of vodka-based canned drinks, has launched across Canada.

The RTD brand is a key part of Molson Coors’ efforts to grow its footprint in the beyond beer segment, says the company.

The still water version of Aquarelle, which contains 100 calories in each 355ml can with a 5% ABV, represents the first-to-market vodka-still water ready-to-drink beverages available in Canada. It’s available in mango and blackberry, while the vodka soda version comes in three flavors: lime, passionfruit and berry pomegranate.

Unlike other beverages in the category, Aquarelle has differentiating flavors, but won’t overwhelm drinkers’ taste buds, according to Maddie Gillmeister, assistant brand manager for Aquarelle.

“The flavors are subtle. You won’t get that intense flavor common to the category,”​ she says. “Flavor expectations are so important for the consumer to understand as they enter and experiment in this category.”​

Costa Coffee at-home products

Coca-Cola HBC has launched a new range of Costa Coffee products for consumption at-home, on-the-go or at-work.

This marks the first products to launch in multiple European markets since Coca-Cola acquired Costa Coffee last year.

The full range of Costa Coffee products will include whole beans, roast & ground coffee, coffee pods, RTD coffee and self-serve barista-quality coffee on-the-go, via Costa Express machines.

Products are rolling out across Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Switzerland, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Ireland and Northern Ireland; with more markets to follow.

Turmeric Chai

Launched by Tea India, Turmeric Chai has hit shelves in UK supermarket Waitrose.

The launch comes as ‘feelings of uncertainty and anxiety continue’.

“Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has strong antioxidant properties essential for cell function with studies showing that diets rich in antioxidants may help lower risk of infections and disease,” ​​noted the firm.

“Turmeric is also famous for its immune-boosting properties and has long been used in Indian recipes and as part of Ayurvedic medicine.” ​​

The turmeric blend is comprised of turmeric, ginger, fenugreek, assam black tea, galangal, cinnamon, and Indian psyllium. A pack of 40 sachets retails for £2.50.

Premium health drinks 

UK beverage company The Naked Collective is launching a new range of premium health drinks, based on a ‘clean and simple’ philosophy.

Brewed from plants, vitamins and water, the So-Beer non-alcoholic lagers and Mude isotonic drinks aim to appeal to the increasing number of consumers who are looking for alcohol-free and low-sugar options.

The Light Lager and Grapefruit flavoured So-Beers boast minerals and complex B vitamins that arise naturally during the brewing process, while the Mude range is ‘built around your day’ with vitamin-based functionalities – chill, work, play, sleep, and immunoboost.

The drinks are packaged in slim 33cl Sleek cans from Ardagh, and will be available online this month and in retailers in the UK and Ireland in July.

Two Brooks hard seltzer 

A new hard seltzer brand - Two Brooks – is launching in the UK with three flavors: Passion Star, Mango Hi-Ball and Lime Cooler.

Described as the perfect alternative to beer, the 4% ABV drink is made from natural ingredients, has no added sugar, and contains around 80 calories per 250ml. The drinks are gluten-free and vegan.

Two Brooks is available online as a pack of 12 for £30 (£2.50 per can), soon to be launching packs of 6 and 24.

Sparkl Hard Seltzer

Sparkl Hard Seltzer has been launched in UK supermarket Morrisons nationwide.

The 4% ABV naturally flavoured alcoholic sparkling water is dubbed as ‘water with attitude’ and comes in two flavours - Peach & Rose, and Lemon, Ginger & Chilli.

More flavours are due to be released later this year.

A drink contains 80 calories per 330ml bottle, and is gluten-free with no-added sugar.

Sparkl says it wants to challenge the normal canned format of hard seltzers by launching in bottle form.

The makers chose a premium transparent glass bottle “to help consumers connect with what the product is – clear, clean and contemporary.”