What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches: from blue drinks to mezcal

BLUwater​

BLUwater – a naturally blue, antioxidant-rich canned beverages using on spirulina – launches this month (pictured above).

The drink is the brainchild of FUL Foods, a female-founded food innovation startup based in the Netherlands.

Spirulina is a ‘nutritional powerhouse’ that is packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential fatty acids – and contributes a distinctive blue color.

But the taste and shelf-life of spirulina has proved challenging to date.

FUL Foods, however, has created a proprietary process that allows it to grow spirulina in a controlled environment.

It then extract its hero ingredient, phycocyanin, in a way that ensures stability across heat treatments and pH balances.

Maison Lillet x Emily in Paris

French aperitif Maison Lillet is partnering with Netflix hit series Emily in Paris ​to showcase two exclusive limited-edition Lillet x Emily in Paris ​bottles, now available in the US.

The launch is accompanied with a ‘tres chic’ partnership this week with a Parisian culinary experience in NYC: designed to recreate a Parisian summer lifestyle.

Both the limited-edition bottles and cocktail recipes can be found in the “Lillet x Emily in Paris ​Café de Lillet Collection,” an exclusive e-commerce offering available on ReserveBar.com,​ which allows consumers to enjoy Lillet's French bistro experience at home.

Season 4 of Emily in Paris ​will be released on Netflix on August 15.

Mezcal Picante

Lockdown Liquor & Co., a London-based cocktail company, has launched of the Mezcal Picante in partnership with mezcal company The Lost Explorer. ​​

The Mezcal Picante is a variation on Lockdown Liquor’s best-selling cocktail, the Picante, replacing the tequila base for The Lost Explorer’s Espadín mezcal. 

Mezcal is a handcrafted spirit made from 100% agave, from Oaxaca in Mexico. 

The Mezcal Picante blends sweet and mildly smoky Mezcal alongside fresh Mexican lime, agave nectar and habanero. It’s described as ‘fresh, easy to drink, and tastes unmistakably of agave’.

The drink should be poured into a cocktail shaker with ice and shaked, then strained into a Tajín-rimmed rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with a lime wheel.

Tango Cherry Sugar Free 

Tango is bringing back fan favourite, Tango Cherry Sugar Free, in the UK.

Brand-owner Britvic says the new and improved Cherry flavor will appeal to a wide range of shoppers – from consumers who already know and love the flavor, to those who are on the hunt for bold new fruit flavors.

Flavor innovation is fundamental to keeping shoppers engaged with the fruit flavored carbonates category, says Britvic. And cherry is the fourth biggest flavor in total carbonates, worth £309m, according to Nielsen data.

“We’ve had many consumers requesting the return of our iconic Tango Cherry flavor on social media, so there really was no better time to bring it back and excite the category with yet another bold, popular flavor,” said Ben Parker, Britvic’s Retail Commercial Director in Great Britain. 

“We know how important it is to keep innovating to keep shoppers interested and excited by the category and we are confident this one is going to be a hit in-store.”

The launch follows Tango’s release of its Apple flavor in a sugar free format back in 2022, which has seen the SKU become the second biggest Tango Flavor. Through this, Tango Apple Sugar Free is now worth £29.8m, having experienced an increase in sales of 94.8% vs last year.

Tango Cherry will be available to the grocery, convenience and wholesale channels from October.

RTD coffee​

Australian RTD coffee market leader, Hunt And Brew, is launching in the UK.

The single-origin ready-to-drink coffees are available in three cold brew coffee origins, Brazil Coffee, Ethiopia Coffee (black, dairy-free) and Colombia Coffee (all with a RSP of £3.45 per 330ml).

According to YouGov data, 74% of UK drinkers that don’t currently buy RTD coffee are put off because they don’t feel products live up to coffee shop expectations. And 30% are put off by added sugar.

Hunt and Brew, which will be made in the UK in Berkshire, uses ‘real coffee, fresh British milk and nothing else’.

"We’re really excited to introduce Hunt And Brew,” said Doni Savvides, chief growth officer at Hunt And Brew​. “There are many well-founded preconceptions about ready-to-drink coffee being full of sugars or sweeteners, and we’re here to shake things up. Our commitment to real coffee and clean ingredients sets us apart.”

Fruit waters​

UK brand Cawston Press is adding a new drink to its range of child-friendly, school approved Fruit Waters.

The new Sunshine Orange variety joins Apple & Pear, Apple & Summer Berries, Apple & Mango.

Cawston Press Fruit Waters are made with at least 40% fruit water, mixed with natural still water.

They contain no added sugars, sweeteners or preservatives, or ‘no jiggery pokery’.

“Here at Cawston Press, we get emotional about ingredients, with added sugars creating anger and fruit fakery serving anxiety,” says Milly Tuck, senior brand manager at Cawston Press.

“This is why we are offering families a healthier, no jiggery pokery alternative this summer.”  

Primo Water introduces rolling cooler​

Primo Water has launched a 5-Gallon Rolling Cooler: an insulated bag and wheeled carrying cart for sporting events, pre-game tailgates, campsites, school functions, outdoor parties and more.

The cooler bag was created to hold a 5-gallon water bottle (sold separately), and up to five pounds of ice. Its lightweight cart makes it easy to transport and can also be rolled to water-bottle exchanges and refill stations to quickly refresh a supply.  

“Our new Rolling Cooler continues Primo Water’s commitment to supplying consumers with quality water in a sustainable way,” said Ryan Sinclair, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Primo Water. “We’re proud to launch this easy-to-use option that makes healthy hydration accessible wherever you go.” 

Features of the carrier include:

• Leak-resistant and easy to clean canvas bag with a polyester shell, PVC and EPE foam-insulated lining. 
• Sturdy carrying handle to support up to a 60-pound load.    
• Lightweight, foldable cart collapses for easy storage and transport.   
• Heavy-duty zippers are designed for prolonged use.   
• Convenient side pocket holds manual and optional dispenser.  

Additional features (sold separately) include a pump and rechargeable water dispenser.

Available in black or blue, the Primo Water Rolling Cooler will be sold online for $89.99 starting August 1 at Shop.Water.com, Target.com, HomeDepot.com and Lowes.com. Each cooler includes two coupons that can be used to purchase a Primo Water 5-gallon bottle.  

The launch follows Primo Water and BlueTriton announcement in June that the two companies will merge to create a pure-play healthy hydration leader in the US.​

Looking for more beverage NPD?

Twinings has launched a new range of Fruit Coolers (pictured right): offering caffeine-free summer refreshment in the UK.

And in the US, MOMMENPOP is redefining its American aperitif with a fresh, Californian twist.

More beverage innovation in last week's round-up!​