What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches: from Havana Club to Actimel

23-Sep-2024 - Last updated on 23-Sep-2024 at 14:33 GMT

From flavored rum to functional shots, we take a look at some of the new beverage launches around the globe.

What's hot and trending in the world of beverage innovation? Keeping up with the latest beverage innovations is vital to staying ahead in this fast-moving industry: providing inspiration to drive innovation and new ideas.

Actimel+ Triple Action

Danone is celebrating 30 years of Actimel with the launch of Actimel+ Triple Action.

The Actimel+ Triple Action range will be progressively launched in 20 countries across Europe, with roll out started in September 2024

Actimel+ Triple Action is fortified with essential vitamins D and B6, to support the normal function of the immune system, magnesium to reduce tiredness, and vitamin C for its antioxidant properties.

Immunity remains a top priority for consumers, according to FMGC Gurus.

At Danone’s Research and Innovation Centre in Paris-Saclay, immunology experts have been dedicated to studying the impact of diet on preventing immunity-related disorders including allergies, recurrent infections, and autoimmune diseases.

With 70% of the immune system located in the gut, its role in supporting immunity is crucial.

Actimel’s recipe contain billions of beneficial ferments, including Danone’s exclusive L. casei, which promote the growth of good bacteria essential for gut health.

Actimel uses a unique 72-hour slow fermentation process to allow the L. casei cultures to develop in the best possible conditions. This method results in a higher concentration of these beneficial cultures in each serving, says the brand.

Actimel Triple+ comes in peach-passion fruit, strawberry pomegranate, blueberry-blackberry and orange-peach flavors.

Sparkling British Blackcurrant

UK soft drinks producer, Marlish Waters, is expanding its range of canned-at-source spring waters, with the launch of Marlish Sparkling British Blackcurrant.

Coming in at 10 calories per can, the drink brings ‘a well-balanced level of sweetness, met with the distinctive sharpness you’d expect to find from a freshly picked bunch of blackberries’.

Packaged and produced at source on Marlish Farm – a family farm nestled within the beautiful rolling hills of the Northumberland countryside – Marlish Sparkling British Blackcurrant now joins the brand’s existing line up of flavored spring waters, Pink Grapefruit, Sicilian Lemon, Raspberry, Brazilian Orange and Elderflower, along with its range of still and sparkling spring water and tonics and mixers.

19 Crimes

Treasury Wine Estates’ 19 Crimes wine brand has launched a new mid-strength range of red and chardonnay wines, with the launch of 750ml bottles at 7% ABV.

It’s a move in which 19 Crimes hopes will bring younger consumers into the brand, who are looking for wine options which are lower in alcohol.

Russell Kirkham, Head of Regional Marketing (EMEA) at Treasury Wine Estates explained: “With Millennials and Gen Z becoming more holistically health conscious, they have new attitudes and perspectives towards alcohol compared to previous generations, they don’t necessarily want to drink ‘less’, they want to drink ‘smarter’.”

The 19 Crimes Mid-Strength range is designed for consumers who are looking to try a wine which is lower in alcohol, without having to compromise on the taste or flavor of the 19Crimes wine they know and love. The 19 Crimes Mid-Strength Red Wine is described as ‘rich and round with bold flavors of dark cherries, rich chocolate and notes of vanilla’. Meanwhile, the 19 Crimes Mid-Strength Chardonnay is ‘full bodied with ripe stone fruit flavors balanced with high-acidity, toasty oak, honey and hints of spice and finishes with creamy notes of butterscotch and vanilla’.

The rum of the Seychelles

Takamaka Rum, the top spirit of the Seychelles, has unveiled Le Clos Napa Laz.

The latest addition to the luxury LeClos series, Napa Laz is made from a blend of 100% unaged Seychelles sugar cane rums.

As the most recent release in the Le Clos range, each expression serves as an example of Seychellois rum and is made with non-hybrid cane varieties sourced from farmers local to the distillery.

The drink can be enjoyed straight or on ice. On the nose, expect a blend of ‘freshly cut grass, with an immediate pop of spicy green peppercorn mixed with zingy, bright citrus and exotic fruit. An underlying hint of flint brings an earthy depth’.

On the palate, the profile of esters and volatile substances creates a ‘lively mineral punch with an assertive fruity roundness sit alongside savoury sourdough and a dash of umami.’

Just 408 bottles will be available in select markets from September 2024: available in France, Belgium, Slovakia, Germany, UK, Italy, Latvia, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Netherlands and Spain.

Wednesday's Domaine launches alcohol-free red wine

Wednesday’s Domaine is expanding its range of premium alcohol-free wines with the official launch of Vignette, a full-bodied non-alcoholic red wine, in the UK.

Crafted in collaboration with an award-winning English winemaker, Vignette promises ‘an unparalleled depth and complexity that culminates in a long, dry finish…. With rich notes of dark plums and damson, underscored by hints of spice and forest floor.’

Beginning with a blend of two wines - an oaked Petit Verdot and a more lively Tempranillo - from the historic La Mancha region of Central Spain, Wednesday’s Domaine’s wines are gently de-alcoholised using the latest technology before being blended with a handful of natural ingredients that lift body, flavour, aroma and length in the absence of alcohol.

Each glass contains under 19 calories and is vegan-friendly.

“A delicious non-alcoholic red wine is often referred to as ‘The Holy Grail’ of the alcohol free world, and we believe we've come pretty close. The intensity of the oaked Petit Verdot pairs wonderfully with the vivid fruitiness of the Tempranillo, combining to create something utterly unique within the space” says Luke Hemsley, founder of Wednesday’s Domaine.

Havana Club Mango Lime

Cuban rum brand Havana Club is rolling out Havana Club Mango Lime in Germany: eyeing up the popularity of flavored spirits in Europe.

“Flavored rum is currently driving significant growth in the rum segment, showcasing how consumers are increasingly gravitating towards more adventurous and diverse flavor profiles," says Jessica Templeton, head of Innovation at Pernod Ricard.

"We’ve listened to these evolving consumer preferences, and we’re excited to introduce this new product to our German portfolio. It perfectly balances fruity and decadent notes, making it an ideal addition to the Havana Club range."

Havana Club Mango Lime (RRP: €14.99) is available now in 750cl- and 1L formats in bars and retailers across Germany at an ABV of 30%.

ROBOT Kombucha

Sustainability focused start-up Net Zero Foods has launched an alternative to high sugar colas in the form of an organic certified kombucha cola called ROBOT in the UK.

The drink turns to honey for sweetness: using more than 6g of organic honey in every 330ml can. The result is around 90% less sugar than standard colas, without any artificial sweeteners.

“Honey has some truly unique health qualities” says Pascal Du Bois, founder of ROBOT ~ Organic Honey Cola Kombucha. “We were determined to solve the problem of using refined white sugar, given the colossal costs to health”.

The team used Ai to help design and develop the product, and hence the honour to that, is in the name of the drink - ROBOT ~ Organic Honey Cola Kombucha.

The super-premium drink is due to launch in a few weeks and will be on-sale in Harrod’s at £4:50 for a 330ml can.

The only sweetness in this product is in the form of organic honey, which is full of antioxidants, vitamins, omega 3’s and combined with a probiotic organic kombucha which gives the drink a natural fizz - and a super healthy, friendly gut probiotic - “we are certain that this healthy, organic cola will be extremely popular with a growing audience of health-conscious and net zero focused families,” said Du Bois.