What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches, from cider to smoothies

Thatchers Cloudy Lemon Cider

Thatchers Cloudy Lemon cider, the bestselling lemon cider in the UK, is debuting a new look.

The refresh brings the brands’ appearance in line with the whole family of fruit ciders offered by the Somerset-based cider-makers.

Thatchers Cloudy Lemon cider four-pack has grown by 9.2% in the last 52 weeks in supermarkets,^, ​according to Circana data.

Thatchers Cloudy Lemon is a ‘naturally cloudy cider balanced with the zestiness of fresh lemon juice’. At 4% ABV, it’s a lightly sparkling cider, using dessert apples to give it a crisp, sweet taste finished with a refreshing, zesty zing.

Thatchers launched Cloudy Lemon Cider in 2020: followed with other fruit cider innovations such as Thatchers Blood Orange and Thatchers Apple & Blackcurrant.

Thatchers Apple & Blackcurrant launched in Nov ’23 becoming the fastest growing new product launch in the cider category since Blood Orange, taking a top five fruit cider slot within just 12 weeks of being released.

Hazy orange gin

UK brand, 6 O'clock Gin, has introduced the latest addition to its portfolio of artisan gins: 6 O’clock Gin Hazy Orange.

Following the launches of Elderflower gin and Spiced Orange and Cranberry gin, the new creation is timed to bring a fresh flavor for the summer months. 

Developed by head distiller Mark Hancock, Hazy Orange encapsulates botanicals led by juniper and coriander seeds, blended with hand-crafted orange essence for a bold hit of citrus. The natural oils from the fruit have been consciously retained to enhance flavour and mouthfeel, resulting in the signature ‘haze’. 

"The Hazy Orange is a testament to our dedication to pushing boundaries and providing our customers with exceptional, seasonal expressions that can be served with tonic or used to create refreshing cocktails," said Hancock.

"Hazy Orange is bright, fresh, zingy, slightly sweet and gently warming - it’s liquid sunshine!”

A versatile addition to any cocktail, 6 O’clock Gin Hazy Orange provides a refreshing twist to classic gin-based drinks, whether mixed in a G&T, incorporated into a zesty cocktail, or enjoyed over ice. Available in a 70cl bottle with an RRP of £37, 6 O’clock Gin Hazy Orange is available directly from the distillery and through regional wholesalers.

Havana Club summer bottle

Cuban rum brand Havana Club is launching a limited-edition bottle for Havana Club Original – Añejo 3 Años.

A staple ingredient for classic cocktails – like Mojitos and Daiquiris – the gold rum is accompanied by a ‘reimagined, bold design as vibrant and energetic as the streets of Havana.’

Crafted in collaboration with creative agency Golgotha, the limited-edition bottle label tells a tale of Cuban heritage and captures the lively essence of Havana through a motif of vintage stickers and holographic effects which echo the city colors.

Golgotha has enlisted renowned French photographer Raphael Lugassy to capture unique images that embody the new Havana Club release.

Havana Club Summer 2024 limited-edition bottle launches this month in Cuba and across European bars and stores in more than 20 markets, including in France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Portugal, Switzerland and Greece, with a RRP of €17.50.

Kids' smoothies

UK brand Three Robins is extending its oat milk range with two smoothies for kids.

Positioned as the perfect permissible lunchbox sweet snack or an on-the-go treat for health-conscious parents, the snacks are fortified with vitamins and minerals (Vit B12, B2, D, folic acid and iodine).

Super Berry and Totally Tropical contain ‘hidden veg’: made with carrot, parsnip, courgette and beetroot. Super Berry contains 45% vegetable content and Totally Tropical contains 25%.

The drinks are aimed at children aged 3-12 years old, are fiber rich and suitable for lactose intolerant children.

Brain-boosting meal powder

Australian complete meal powder brand vybey is launching into bricks and mortar retail in the UK, with the brain car nutrition range launching in Whole Foods.

Founded by Scottish entrepreneurs Gordon Belch and Rory Paterson in 2021, vybey set out to create a complete meal powder range with a higher probiotic dose, superior taste, 4x less salt, natural sweeteners and nootropics.

"We try and see things a little differently from a number our sports nutrition peers,’ said vybey co-founder, Gordon Belch. 

"Be that our innovative meal powders in a bottle, which not only enables consumers to add their liquid of choice but also dodge the unwelcome ‘added oil’ that many RTD meal shakes introduce to bump up the calorie count.  Then there’s vybey’s unwavering commitment to brain-boosting ingredients such as the nootropic lion’s mane mushroom, which supports cognitive function and wider wellbeing needs.”

Whole Foods will stock a 1.5kg pouch (vanilla and chocolate) and a 7 x 80g box (bottle variants) with the Braincare range set to follow.

Punchy hydration

Soft drinks brand Punchy is launching two new canned hydration drinks in the UK, marking the brand’s first foray into hydration.

Blueberry and Mango are both lightly sparkling, refreshing pick me ups with a dash of lemon juice to temper the natural sweetness of the lead fruits. They contain magnesium and potassium to support muscle function, reduce fatigue and balance electrolytes.

Blueberry and mango are available to purchase from M&S, Ocado, eight national wholesalers and online from the brand.  

RTD canned coffee

Japanese brand, Ueshima Coffee Company, has launched two new ready-to-drink canned coffees in the UK market for the first time. 

The Iced Latte and Iced Matcha Latte will be available nationwide, 60 years after Mr. Ueshima created the world’s first ever canned coffee in Kobe, Japan. 

Dating back to 1969, Ueshima Coffee Company holds the Guinness World Record for producing the longest-selling ready to drink canned coffee.

Both drinks have been made with premium quality ingredients, are low in both sugar and calories. The Iced Latte has 75 calories and 10g sugar per can, while the Iced Matcha Latte has 86 calories and 11g sugar per can. Ueshima’s Iced Latte and Iced Matcha Latte will be available online, retailing at £2.

Since its launch into the UK market in 2021, Ueshima Coffee Company has built partnerships with operators including Waitrose & Partners, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Ocado, Harvey Nichols, Sticks'n'Sushi, Harrods, Japan Centre, Shoryu, Oakman Inns and Compass, to name a few, and has opened a Ueshima Coffee Company Coffee Bar at Ichiba Westfield London.

Ueshima Coffee Company is a brand owned and operated by UCC, which serves foodservice, hospitality and retail operators.

Teisseire Zero flavors

French sirop brand Teisseire has launched two new flavors for its ‘Zero’ range: elderflower and strawberry-raspberry.

Elderflower has been a top trending flavor in cocktails in France over the last fdew years, while red fruit flavors remain a long-term favorite in the country.

Britvic’s Teisseire Zero range is without sugar: and the company has found that consumers switch flavors more frequently in the zero range than in the sweet version.

The new flavors are available with a recommended retail price of €2.39 (elderflower) and €2.99 (strawberry-raspberry).

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More beverage NPD news in last week's round-up, here!​