New Products at Retail: Focus On Beverages
If the volume of new beverages NPM Compiled for this month’s issue is any indication, 2008 should be a big year for the drink category. The 2008 Winter Fancy Food Show in San Diego saw the debut of new beverages too numerous to count, and showcased several promising trends. An array of new sparkling beverages proved they don’t need to be super-sweet to taste good. One example is Vignette Wine Country Soda, a lightly carbonated, non-alcoholic soft drink sweetened only with the juice of California varietal wine grapes, in three varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rosé. Other new entries included the diet steaz sparkling green tea lline; Hiball Energy clear sparkling energy water; four new Hint water varieties and many more. Another beverage trend is the addition of organic, fair trade and superfruit lines in well-established tea brands such as Revolution, Ineeka, Rishi and Celestial Seasonings.
Maxwell House 100% Arabica beans
The iconic coffee brand Maxwell House is reformulating all of its canned coffee varieties with 100 percent Arabica beans, making it the only major canned coffee brand to offer 100 percent Arabica beans. Arabicas are known for their superior quality, rich aroma and distinctive taste. Arabica beans offer full flavor without bitterness.
SRP: $8.59 for 33- and 39-ounce plastic canister. Kraft Foods, Northfield, Ill. / www.kraftfoods.com
Mochasippi ready-to-drink beverages
The Community Coffee Co. introduced a ready-to-drink bottled version of its Mochasippi coffeehouse drink that will be sold in convenience stores in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Florida, in addition to café locations. The drinks are available in 9.5-ounce single bottles or in 4-packs and come in varieties including Vanilla, Mocha and Coffee.
SRP: $1.69-$1.99 Community Coffee Co., Baton Rouge, La. / www.communitycoffee.com
Lucid absinthe
Now that absinthe is legal in the United States, Viridian Spirits llc developed Lucid, Absinthe Supérieure, for sale in the United States and Europe. Lucid, Absinthe Supérieure is distilled from spirits and European herbs and uses no artificial additives, oils or dyes. Lucid begins with a full measure of Grande Wormwood (Artemesia absinthium), green anise, sweet fennel and other culinary herbs.
SRP: $59.99 for a 750-ml bottle Viridian Spirits llc, New York City / www.drinklucid.com
SanPellegrino Sparkling Fruit Beverages
Premium sparkling water maker SanPellegrino has repackaged and reformulated its SanPellegrino Sparkling Fruit Beverages Aranciata and Limonata. The all-natural beverages contain 16 to 18 percent real fruit juice and feature bottles with a texture reminiscent of natural fruits. The beverages are a healthier alternative to traditional carbonated sodas.
SRP: Varies Nestlé, Vevey, Switzerland / www.nestle.com
1. Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages is rolling out Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper, the third flavor extension in the brand's history. The new beverage combines the taste of Diet Dr Pepper with a sweet cherry dipped in chocolate. Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper has zero calories and zero carbs. The soft drink is available for a limited time. Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages, Plano, Texas / www.brandspeoplelove.com
2. Zevia Zevia is an all natural, sugar free alternative to diet sodas, and a carbonated stevia supplement. Stevia is an herb from the rainforest known as “sweet leaf.” The beverage is sweetened with erythritol, a natural sugar derivative, and is available in three varieties: Twist, Cola and Orange. Zevia has five calories or less, does not contain phosphoric acid and is certified kosher. Zevia llc, Seattle / www.zevia.com
3. Coole Swan cream liqueur Coole Swan cream liqueur combines premium Irish cream and Irish whiskey with a blend of natural chocolate, Madagascan vanilla and cocoa from the Ivory Coast. More than 200 blends were tested before a balance was achieved that was worthy of the “superior” distinction. The end result is a refined cream liqueur that can be served chilled or mixed. The Coole Quay Liqueur Co., Dublin, Ireland / www.cooleswan.com
4. Diet Steaz The Healthy Beverage Co. relaunched its Steaz Green Tea Soda line with new flavors and packaging. The Diet Steaz Sparkling Green Tea line is organic and fair trade-certified. Available in Blueberry-Pomegranate, Orange, Raspberry and Black Cherry, Diet Steaz contains organic Ceylon green tea and is lightly sweetened with organic cane juice that amounts to 9g of sugar per serving. The Healthy Beverage Co., Newtown, Pa. / www.steazenergy.com
