What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches: from rum to coffee
Keeping up with beverage NPD is essential to stay ahead: and brand developers can draw inspiration from across the market.
Our weekly round-up of the latest innovations is here to showcase some of the launches.
Panama rum
Premium spirits distributor Highball Brands is launching CASA BARÚ in the UK (pictured above).
CASA BARÚ is crafted in the highlands of Chiriqui, Panama, where the rich volcanic soil and rainforest climate provide ideal conditions.
It uses locally grown sugar cane and artisanal hand-made sugar syrup.
The expressions of CASA BARÚ are:
- Blanco: A white rum that offers a delicate blend of fruit, citrus, and fresh cane notes.
- Double Crop: This expression marries Panamanian sugarcane with Geisha coffee fruit for a distinct flavor profile.
- Xopa Coffee Liqueur: Combines Panamanian rum with artisanal roasted local coffee for a rich, velvety experience.
OLIPOP sleek cans
US better-for-you soda OLIPOP has launched a new, sleek can format.
The same OLIPOP formula and flavors will now be available in tall, 12oz cans exclusively available at C-Store locations across the U.S.
Functional beverage OLIPOP launched in 2018 to shake up the US soda category, and this year was featured in Time100's Most Influential Companies 2024.
With the launch of this new format, OLIPOP says it is poised for growth in the C-store sector as it continues its mission to bring healthier beverages to Americans as an alternative to traditional soda.
Each drink contains 2-5g of sugar, high fiber, and supports digestive health thanks to its blend of botanicals and prebiotics, with each ingredient chosen for its biome-supporting benefits.
Death Wish Coffee: Light roast blend
Death Wish Coffee Co., the #1 organic and #1 Fair Trade coffee brand in the US, has launched its first-ever light roast blend.
The three-bean blend has been crafted to highlight the sweet fruit notes of Colombian coffee, the bright acidity of Peruvian coffee and the depth and body of Robusta.
The Fair Trade Certified™, USDA Organic, and Kosher roast can be enjoyed hot or iced.
The new blend joins the brand’s core lineup of dark, medium and espresso roasts.
Nettle gin
Stirling Distillery has launched its nettle-infused gin across Co-op supermarkets in Scotland.
Made with six botanicals carefully chosen to reflect the unique flavor of Stirlingshire’s countryside, the smooth, lingering finish carries a peppery tang and at 43% ABV the mouthfeel is both spicy and dry. By using local nettles the distillery wants to create a sustainably sourced spirit with links to their Stirling heritage.
The bottle is sealed with a hand-dipped wax seal, and decorated with unique illustrations of the Wallace Monument and the Old Stirling Bridge by Scottish artist Ritchie Collins.
Wenlock Spring cans
UK water brand Wenlock Spring has revamped its cans to target Gen Z.
The new look 330ml still and sparkling cans signal a move away from the firm’s existing branding, offering a bold new typography-led aesthetic that it hopes will boost chiller presence alongside the rising number of popular canned beverage brands now offered within the HORECA sectors.
Wenlock Spring hopes the cans will also appeal to sober-curious consumers: who are looking for an alternative to alcohol in hospitality venues. In these locations, cans chill faster than other formats, are easier to stack and store, and act as an efficient barrier to light and oxygen.
And, with 60% of Gen Zs favouring brands with sustainable credentials (according to research by First Insight), and over half of UK adults believing cans to be more environmentally friendly, Wenlock Spring believes the recyclable cans also appeal to the environmentally conscious. Using manufacturing methods designed to protect the environment while reducing the company’s carbon footprint, each new can takes just 60 days to be recycled and remade into a new one using 95% less energy than using raw materials.
Matthew Orme, director at Wenlock Spring, said: “Our canned format is perfect for outdoor events and festivals – they are light, convenient to store, and can be easily recycled. They also take less time to chill down in a fridge, requiring less energy to do so.
“With a focus on bolder aesthetics, increased brand cohesion, and enhanced shelf presence, we wanted to redesign our cans to create a stronger and more distinctive visual identity that strengthens our position in the market and ensures we remain at the forefront of the industry.
“The younger generation is also bringing unique, often online influenced habits to beverage consumption which our industry needs to be aware of, with many seeking eco-friendly products and low and non-alcoholic drinks as they turn to healthier lifestyles.”
Looking for more beverage NPD?
Nespresso and Brewdog Distilling Co are among the companies revealing new launches.
