What's hitting the shelves? New product launches: November
Ocean Spray launches Frutas Frescas
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer families, has launched Frutas Frescas: a new line of light and refreshing beverages made with real fruit juice in a variety of fruit flavors – all with fewer calories and sugar than leading juice drinks.
Available in three flavor offerings rooted in the cranberry – Cranberry Pineapple Passion Fruit, Cranberry Lemon Raspberry, and Cranberry Raspberry Pear – Frutas Frescas is made with fruit juice, no artificial sweeteners, and 100% Daily Value of Antioxidant Vitamin C per serving.
In addition, Ocean Spray is introducing two new flavors of 100% Juice – Cranberry Elderberry and Cranberry Watermelon – both with no sugar added. This marks the first extension of flavors to the 100% Juice line since 2017.
These launches accompany the newly available 64-ounce bottles of Growing Goodness product line, all available in Walmart stores in the US this month.
The suggested retail price of Ocean Spray Frutas Frescas is $2.98 per 64-ounce bottle, Ocean Spray 100% Juice is $3.28 per 64-ounce bottle, and Ocean Spray Growing Goodness is $2.98 per 64-ounce bottle.
Gin in a tin
New Zealand gin brand Sundown is launching its new canned gin and natural mixer drinks ready for the Southern Hemisphere’s summer.
The Bay of Plenty based company has launched the line with three flavors: pink gin with soda, raspberry, rose and rhubarb; blood orange gin and tonic; and gin with grapefruit, elderflower and soda.
“It’s no surprise that canned beverages are more popular over summer,” says CMO of Premium Liquor, Kate Smith, whose company distributes Sundown. “Cans are mobile, lighter, more compact, and better for single servings. Plus they get incredibly cold - just the way you want a good G&T to be.”
Locally made, Sundown is small-batch botanically infused gin, made with a blend of delicate botanical extracts. Harnessing East Cape water, Sundown is triple distilled and charcoal filtered to balance flavours.
“We are thrilled to launch this new extension to the range. Serving our favourite Sundown cocktails in canned form enables the utmost practicality for all those al fresco gatherings planned over Summer. Because let’s face it, a can is much more convenient to add to your picnic basket, than the spirit, mixer and all the bar kit you’d need to make a cocktail,” added Smith.
Wine brand launches new gin
Australia’s Fourth Wave Wine Partners is taking its sustainable wine brand Tread Softly into the spirits world with two new gins – one dry and one pink.
“The original brand was developed as a ‘new generation of wine for a new generation of drinker’, and it exceeded budget forecasts by 515% in the first year,” says Nicholas Crampton, co-owner at Fourth Wave.
“We felt there was room for that ethos to be carried over into spirits to respond to the growing desire among consumers for brands that care about the planet.”
The packaging has been created by Denomination to highlight the brand’s sustainability focus. The front label is fashioned from natural paper stock and features a ladybird; while the design on the back of the bottle is screen printed with illustrations of flora and fauna. The bottle is made from 100% recycled glass.
Coastal inspiration
New London Light, a UK collection of contemporary non-alcoholic spirits and aperitifs, is launching two new expressions: ‘Midnight Sun’ and ‘Aegean Sky’ crafted by Salcombe Distilling Co.
‘Midnight Sun’ and ‘Aegean Sky’ have been inspired by coastal locations around the globe. Through their exploration of flavor combinations from each region, combined with the use of kombucha as a stabilizer and a ‘pioneering approach’ to the production process, these two new all-natural expressions are designed to transport the drinker to another place and a new world of flavor without alcohol or added sugar.
“The non-alcoholic space is a fast-growing and exciting playground that has provided us with an opportunity to get creative and explore some innovative techniques and processes,” explains Howard Davis, co-founder and director at Salcombe Distilling Company.
“Our distilling team have an incredible understanding of distillation, are passionate about botany and foraging and have so much patience for perfecting each part the process. We love learning and experimenting and both 'Midnight Sun' and 'Aegean Sky' are fantastic examples of our uncompromising approach to creating bold flavor combinations. It is a challenge to provide something alternative to alcohol that doesn’t compromise on taste, and for us to be able to achieve this whilst keeping as much of the distillation process in house as possible is something we're extremely proud of.”
The 70cl bottles have a RRP of £27.50.
Nescafé’s AR experience
Nescafé Gold Blend is introducing its first ever limited-edition winter jar featuring an augmented reality (AR) recipe creation experience in the UK.
The jar has a winter design and features a QR code which coffee fans can scan with their mobile to discover festive coffee recipes and try them at home with Nescafé Gold Blend instant coffee.
There are three seasonal recipes including Smoked Cinnamon Coffee, White Chocolate Mocha and Creamy Caramel Latte to help consumers get into the festive spirit.
Tiffany Wigger, Assistant Brand Manager for Nescafé Gold Blend at Nestlé UK and Ireland said:“We are very excited to introduce our first ever limited-edition winter design jars to Nescafé Gold Blend to help consumers bring the festive coffee shop experience home.
“This season, our coffee lovers will not only be able to enjoy the rich and smooth taste of Nescafé Gold Blend in a winter design jar but also will have the opportunity to unwrap three delicious festive coffee recipes to try at home.”
The limited-edition jars of Nescafé Gold Blend are available in supermarkets across the UK and Ireland.
NotMilk Chocolate
NotCo, a food tech company using AI tech to create plant-based options that function like their animal-based counterparts, has launched NotMilk Chocolate.
The company uses a first-of-its-kind patented AI technology called Giuseppe, which creates plant-based options that taste, feel, cook and function like animal-based versions.
“While chocolate milk is a staple in many American households, most have a flavor profile that is more sugar than chocolate,” says the company. “NotMilk Chocolate is made the way chocolate milk should be, with a creamy, rich flavor from cocoa. Made with an unexpected combination of 100% plant-based ingredients such as peas, pineapple, cabbage, and cocoa, NotMilk Chocolate tastes, feels, and functions just like animal-based milk, but is now even more delicious. Each serving has less sugar than other chocolate plant-milks, is an excellent source of calcium, vitamin D, and B12, and a good source of potassium making it perfect to sip on its own as a chocolatey treat or pair with an afternoon snack.”
NotMilk Chocolate joins the brand’s existing 64 oz. varieties, including NotMilk Whole, NotMilk 2% Reduced Fat, and new NotMilk 1% Low Fat. NotMilk Chocolate comes in 64 oz. cartons and an 8 oz. on-the-go format in single, 4-pack, and 12-pack varieties.
NotMilk is available at Whole Foods Market across the US, Stop & Shop, Harris Teeter’s, Sprouts, Wegmans, D’Agostino’s, Kings/Balducci’s, Harmons, New Seasons, Earth Fare, Bristol Farms, Rouses, Weis, Gelson’s Markets and more, in addition to the uptrend Imperfect Foods and vegan ecommerce site Vejii. The brand is currently available at more than 3,000 stores across the country.
The company is also behind NotBurger, NotMeat, NotIceCream and NotMayo; and has operations in the US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.
Mushroom coffee
Four Sigmatic, a mushroom and mushroom coffee pioneer, has launched Immune Support Ground Coffee and Perform Ground Coffee: following the launch of Chill Decaf Ground Coffee in September.
Mushroom coffees are designed to taste like coffee, not mushrooms, and to avoid the jitters or afternoon crashes. They features Fair-Trade beans sourced in Honduras and high quality mushrooms.
“Perform Ground Coffee is the highest caffeine ground mushroom coffee created by Four Sigmatic to date,” says the brand. “With notes of dark chocolate and nuts, this coffee features a base of premium organic dark roast beans amplified with power-balancing and productivity-supporting Cordyceps mushrooms, coffee bean extract, and L-Theanine to fuel the body and mind through even the busiest days. This mushroom coffee is made for high performers looking for energy and productivity.
“Immune Support Ground Coffee is a medium roast mushroom coffee that doubles as a daily bodyguard. Like Perform, this brew also features a base of premium organic coffee, but with four immune supporting ingredients – Chaga mushrooms, Vitamin D, Zinc, and Turkey Tail. Each bag is blended with Vitamin D derived from real, whole mushrooms, which delivers 140% of the daily Vitamin D needed for immune system support. With chocolate and caramel notes, this mushroom coffee is crafted for those looking for a delicious way to elevate their internal defences.”
