What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches: August
Bemuse
Bemuse, a low-alcohol mead range, has launched in the UK on-trade.
Taking Britain’s oldest alcoholic drink, entrepreneurs Nataliya Peretrutova and Anna Chalov have reimagined the drink to create a sparkling ‘modern craft mead’.
Co-founder Chalov explains: “Mead is made by fermenting honey and has been produced for thousands of years, with evidence pointing to mead being produced up to 9,000 years ago. The Romans loved it, the Medieval Britons used it as sparkling table wine and Tutankhamun’s tomb was even reputedly stocked with it. Now Bemuse offers an exciting and innovative twist for a new generation; a curiously modern craft mead.
“With its unique focus on low-alcohol meads, Bemuse has reinvented the style to produce an enjoyably fresh drink and, also, create a pioneering drinks category. A light, social, low-alcohol and low-calorie drink, the Bemuse mead range can be enjoyed all year round, on their own or as an accompaniment to food.”
The new launch is available in four styles: sweeter and fruitier (Raspberry); herbal (Tarragon, Basil & Hops), spicy (Ginger & Cardamom) and craft beer style (Hops). The drinks come in at 0.5% ABV and 40 calories per 330ml can.
Corona Hard Seltzer Limonada
Corona has launched Corona Hard Seltzer Limonada, an extension of its hard seltzer family which is ‘inspired by authentic Mexican limonada recipes and made with a splash of real lemon and lime juice’.
Corona Hard Seltzer Limonada comes in four flavors: Classic Lemon Lime, Strawberry, Watermelon and Grapefruit. It is available in retailers nationwide across the US, sold in a 12-pack (12 oz. slim cans) and containing 4.5% ABV, 100 calories, 3g carbs and 3g sugar.
Arlu Rum
UK brand Arlu Rum has launched its first RTD cans in three flavors: passionfruit and mango mojito; blood orange and ginger beer; and spiced rum and cola.
Liam Manton, Co-Founder of Alderman’s Drinks, said: “With the 2021 rum-aissance proving rum to be one of the most popular drinks of this summer, it was only a matter of time before we made an RTD version of our well-loved rums, so our customers can enjoy bartender quality rum cocktails no matter where they are.”
The 250ml RTD cans are available in packs of 4 or 12 from Booths supermarkets and online.
Aqua Pura
Mineral water brand Aqua Pura has launched its first sparkling water in the UK.
The sparkling category increased its share of the bottled water market to 14.6% in 2020, according to Kantar figures.
“The new Sparkling water, like all Aqua Pura water, is naturally protected and sourced next to a special area of conservation in Cumbria and is filtered through ancient rocks to provide a pure and delicious mineral water,” says the brand. “The source, which is drawn from one of the UK’s largest aquifers, is more than 300m below ground in the Penrith sandstone where the water is pure. Once the natural mineral water is removed from the ground, carbon dioxide gas is injected for the sparkling process which makes for optimum freshness and taste.”
The launch comes as Aqua Pura rolls out new sustainability messaging across its 500ml range. The lightweight 500ml bottles of Sparkling are made from 100% recycled materials and are 100% recyclable. Bottles will also include an ‘innovative twist, click and close’ intregrated cap which stays with the bottle after use instead of getting lost in nature.
Aqua Pura Sparkling will launch nationwide in Tesco in 8 x 500ml packs, reflective of the increased demand from consumers to purchase multipacks.
Bewiz
Spirits giant Pernod Ricard has launched a new hard seltzer, called Bewiz, in France.
The 4.5% ABV drink has 0.4g sugar and 94 calories per 330ml can.
The new hard seltzer is now available and comes in three flavors: lime, mint and elderflower; raspberry, hibiscus and lime; and finally lemon, ginger and grapefruit.
Portobello Vodka
Independent gin brand Portobello Road Gin is diversifying beyond juniper for the first time with a new portfolio of vodka made from English-distilled potato spirit.
Under a new trading name of Portobello Road Distillery, it will launch four new expressions: Potato Vodka, Golden Madagascan Vanilla Vodka, Calabrian Bergamot Citrus Vodka and Toasted Coffee Bean Vodka. There are also plans to launch Amalfi Lemon Vodka, Asparagus Vodka and Watermelon Vodka in the early autumn.
Having launched 10 years ago, Portobello Road Gin sees itself at the forefront of gin’s resurgence and aims to play a key role in the vodka-renaissance and growth of premium flavoured vodka category, which has already seen a 49% YoY increase in volume and 43% YoY increase in value.
The company’s recipe originates from the early stages of the pandemic, when it created 40,000 units of hand sanitiser for the Metropolitan Police. Unable to obtain English wheat spirit for gin, it found a supplier of English spirit distilled from potatoes.
“Truth be told it was something of a travesty to be using such a high quality alcohol for hand sanitiser so we vowed to revisit this ingredient and use it to create something altogether more befitting of its quality - and so Portobello Road Vodka was born”, explained master distiller and co-founder Jake F. Burger.
The new products will be available for the on and off trade from early August with a RRP of £24 per 70cl bottle and distributed through Mangrove.
Echo Falls new look
Fruit fusion and flavored wine brand Echo Falls has unveiled a new look for its Fruit Fusions 5.5% and 9.0% portfolio.
Fruit Fusions 9.0% appeals to Echo Fall’s core demographic of younger wine shoppers, whilst the 5.5% variation has performed well with consumers tapping into the growing trend around moderation.
The fresh new look differentiates between the two variants and aims to support shelf standout whilst maintaining simplicity. Fruit Fusions 5.5% will feature a silver capsule colour, whilst the 9.0% offering will vary in colour depending on the flavour.
An enlarged ABV call out will be consistent across the entire range to ensure clarity in-store.
Echo Falls, now worth £120m, is the UK’s number one fruit fusion and flavoured wine brand with a 54% share of the market. Echo Falls Fruit Fusions 5.5% and 9.0% will be available in grocery, convenience, and wholesale with an RRP of £4.25 and £6 from August.
Nine Yards Hard Seltzer
Global wine company Accolade Wines has launched a new hard seltzer line in the UK, called Nine Yards.
Coming in three flavors (Pink Grapefruit, Watermelon and Morello Cherry) the hard seltzer is made from 100% natural flavours, no added sweeteners, plus the addition of milk thistle. The 4.5% ABV, 330ml cans are also vegan friendly and gluten free.
Over the next five years, hard seltzers are likely to see the highest growth rate within the UK’s RTD category, notes the carbon neutral brand brand, quoting IWSR figures. On the go consumption, and sustainability (with reduced chance of waste from small formats) remain a priority for consumers, with millennials the key purchasing demographic of seltzers.
Tom Smith, Marketing Director at Accolade Wines, said: “Hard seltzers have soared in popularity in the UK and Nine Yards is aimed at the growing group of adventurous and environmentally-conscious shoppers. The cans are the ideal format for out of home consumption during the summer months and a refreshing option to enjoy when in the home.
“With vibrant packaging, strong sustainability credentials and clear brand positioning, we’re confident that our new 90 calorie and vegan friendly Nine Yards line up will stand-out from the competition. Nine Yards offers a chance for people to explore a new category with exciting flavors in a convenient format.
“By launching the range direct to consumer, we can also establish Nine Yards as a fun brand that fits seamlessly into consumers’ lifestyles.”
Nine Yards is available online at £2.50 per can in a 12 pack.
Plant-based Yoi
Yoi, a new plant-based F&B company, has launched in Bay Area independent grocers in California this month with its Probiotic Nut and Seedmilks.
Yoi, which means ‘good’ in Japanese, crafts its tart beverages in small batches from organic ingredients including almonds, coconut, and pumpkin seeds.
After working together in the dairy industry for more than a decade, co-founders Ellie Wells and Tosh Nakagawa and their families moved to a primarily plant-based diet. They said they noticed people in their communities were doing the same: from cutting back on meat and dairy and incorporating more plants into their diets to going full-fledged vegan.
"It was a non-negotiable for us that Yoi be organic and with a great nutritional profile — a high count of probiotics plus prebiotic fiber and plant protein, without added sugar — while also tasting good. So we went through quite a few different ideas and iterations before we landed on the products we wanted to bring to market," said Wells.
Nakagawa adds the company was also inspired by the ancient art of Japanese fermentation and the concept of ikigai - 'your reason for being' or 'whatever gets you out of bed in the morning'.
"We saw the opportunity and thought, 'How can we apply our knowledge and experience in cultured dairy foods to create healthy and tasty plant-based cultured foods?'"
The 10oz bottle is offered in Strawberry, Vanilla Bean, Pineapple, and Cacao Nib flavors for $4.99. Yoi is also available in a large 23oz bottle in Plain Unsweetened and Vanilla Bean for $8.99.
