Lighter light beer
Miller Brewing Co. released MGD 64, a 64-calorie version of its Miller Genuine Draft Light. The beer was test marketed in Madison, Wis., last year, and this month will launch into Midwestern markets and be test marketed further in San Diego and Sacramento, Calif., and Arizona. MGD 64 will replace a 110 calorie version of Miller Genuine Draft Light in these markets.MGD 64
Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee
Telephone: 414/391-2000
Internet: www.millerbrewing.com
Distribution: Select markets
Pomegranate drinks
Coca-Cola North Americaadded Minute Maid Pomegranate Flavored Tea and Minute Maid Pomegranate Lemonade to its line of Minute Maid Enhanced Juices. The products are 12 percent juice and fortified with vitamins C and E. The tea and lemonade are available in 59-ounce PET bottles that feature an easy-pour side grip.Minute Maid Pomegranate Flavored Tea and Pomegranate Lemonade
Coca-Cola North America, Atlanta
Telephone: 404/676-2121
Internet: www.minutemaid.com
Distribution: National
Lifestyle drink mixes
Kraft Foods Inc. rebranded its “South Beach Diet” line to “South Beach Living,” and expanded its offerings into the beverage aisle with South Beach Living Tide Me Over Drink Mixes. The drink mixes are low-calorie, low-sodium and sugar-free fruit flavored mixes that can be added to bottled water. Available in Natural Strawberry Banana and Natural Tropical Breeze flavors, the mixes offer 3 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving. Packaged in packets in 7- and 10-count boxes, a 7-count box retails for $3.29 and a 10-count box is priced at $4.59.South Beach Living Tide Me Over Drink Mixes
Kraft Foods Inc., Northfield, Ill.
Telephone: 847/646-2000
Internet: www.southbeachdiet.com/kraft
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Inulin, whey protein isolate (from milk), citric acid, aspartame, maltodextrin, contains 2 percent or less: natural flavor, soy lecithin, calcium carbonate, sodium and potassium bicarbonate, magnesium oxide, silicon dioxide, dimethylpolysiloxane and Red #40.
Organic coffees
Celestial Seasonings launched a line of gourmet whole bean coffees. The coffees are USDA Organic and Fair Trade certified, and are available in five flavors. Morning Thunder, Decaf Morning Thunder, French Roastaroma, Caramel Mocha and Vanilla Hazelnut are packaged in resealable zipper lock bags that help preserve the flavor and freshness of the beans, the company says. A 12-ounce bag retails for $9.99.Celestial Seasonings Organic Coffee
The Hain Celestial Group Inc., Boulder, Colo.
Telephone: 303/530-5300
Internet: www.celestialseasoningscoffee.com
Distribution: National
Berry addition
Naked Juice Co., a subsidiary ofPepsiCo, added a new flavor to its Naked Juice Probiotic line. Very Berry offers a blend of blueberry, apple and bananas, and joins Naked Juice Probiotic Tropical Mango, which launched in September. The probiotic line contains live, active cultures of the bacteria, which are recognized for their digestive and immune health benefits. The all-natural, 100 percent juice smoothie contains two servings of fruit in its 10-ounce bottle. Very Berry retails for $2.99.Naked Juice Probiotic Very Berry
Naked Juice Co., Azusa, Calif.
Telephone: 626/812-6022
Internet: www.nakedjuice.com
Distribution:National
Homeopathic waters
Balance Water Co. released a line of functional, non-flavored spring waters with homeopathic Australian flower essences. The waters originally launched in the Australian market in 2005. Balance Water products include — Balance Water for Mind, for Women, for Traveling and for Children — and each contains a specific flower infusion based on its targeted audience or function. The waters are packaged in 1-liter and 500-ml. bottles that are priced at $1.99 to $2.29 and $1.29 to $1.31, respectively, except for Balance Water for Children, which is packaged in a 400-ml. bottle.Balance Water
Balance Water Co. LLC, West Orange, N.J.
Telephone: 917/720-0183
Internet: www.balancewater.com
Distribution: Select markets
Ingredients: Water for Traveling: Spring water enhanced with she-oak, grey spider, tall yellow top, crowea, bush iris and mulla mulla.
NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS BY CATEGORY
Super-grain beverage
Newport Quinoa Co. developed Quinoa Gold, a line of ready-to-drink USDA Organic quinoa-based beverages. Quinoa is a grain that was used by the Incas of the Andes Mountains in Peru and Bolivia that contains nine amino acids, fiber, protein, manganese, magnesium, iron, niacin, zinc, riboflavin and vitamins and minerals. The Quinoa Gold line includes three gluten-free flavors — Dark Berry, Mango Passion and Piña Colada — and are packaged in 16-ounce shelf-stable glass bottles. The drinks retail for $3.49.Quinoa Gold
Newport Quinoa Co., Newport, R.I.
Telephone: 914/557-5620
Internet: www.quinoagold.com
Distribution: Select markets
Ingredients: Dark Berry: Filtered water, organic agave nectar, organic quinoa, natural flavors and citric acid.
Superfruit and renewable energy teas
Honest Teareleased two new teas and new multi-serve flavor varieties. Citrus Decaf Spice Tea is a black tea spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, orange peel, cloves and ginger. The tea also uses agave syrup as a sweetener, and contains 17 calories per serving. Jasmine Green Energy Tea is a blend of green and white teas, and the product is named as such because Honest Tea purchases renewable energy credits to offset the CO2 emissions generated from the production of the tea. The company also now offers Moroccan Mint Green Tea and Mango Acai White Tea in 64-ounce multi-serve bottles.Honest Tea Citrus Decaf Spice Tea and Jasmine Green Energy
Honest Tea, Bethesda, Md.
Telephone: 301/652-3556
Internet: www.honesttea.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients:Citrus Decaf Spice Tea: Purified water, organic cane sugar, organic agave syrup, organic decaffeinated black tea, organic spice blend (cinnamon, cardamom, orange peel, cloves and ginger), organic orange flavor and citric acid.
Australian Grape Vodka
Foster’s Wine Estates has imported Boomerang Vodka to the U.S. market from Australia. The vodka is sourced from Chardonnay grapes grown in Australia’s Barossa Valley. The spirit is distilled five times, charcoal filtered and bottled in Southern Australia. Boomerang Vodka is made by Australian Chris Williams, the proprietor of Wattle Creek Winery in Sonoma, Calif., and marketed and distributed through Foster’s Wine Estates. A 750-ml. glass bottle retails for $19.99.Boomerang Vodka
Foster’s Wine Estates, Napa, Calif.
Telephone:707/259-4500
Internet: www.boomerang-vodka.com
Distribution:National
RTD iced coffee
Rowland Coffee Roastersreleased Bustelo Cool Café Con Leche. The ready-to-drink iced coffee beverage is made with roasted Bustelo espresso beans, blended with milk and then chilled in an 8-ounce can. Bustelo Cool is available through retailers in Miami, New York City and Chicago.Bustelo Cool Café Con Leche
Rowland Coffee Roasters Inc., Miami
Telephone: 800/990-9039
Internet: www.bustelocool.com
Distribution: Select markets
Ingredients:Café Bustelo Espresso Coffee brewed with filtered water, evaporated cane juice, milk, jerzee blend creamer, maltodextrine, cellulose gum, carrageenan, dipotassium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate.
Irish liqueur
Scion Spirits Co. Ltd. began distributing Coole Swan fromCoole Quay Liqueur Co.in Dublin, Ireland. The brand was launched last year in Ireland and began to target the U.S. market this winter in New York City. Coole Swan combines Irish cream and Irish whiskey along with vanilla and chocolate. Coole Swan is available in 750-ml. and 1-liter bottles, and retails for $24.99 and $34.00, respectively.Coole Swan
Scion Spirits Co. Ltd., Manhasset, N.Y.
Telephone: 516/869-9170
Internet: www.cooleswan.com
Distribution:Select markets
Enhanced vodka line
Delicious Brands released Lotus Vodka, a new line of high-end, enhanced vodkas. White Lotus, the first vodka in the line, offers all-natural ingredients. The second launch, Blue Lotus Vodka, contains taurine and guarana. The vodkas contain 40 percent alcohol by volume, and are packaged in 750-ml. glass bottles.White and Blue Lotus Vodka
Delicious Brands, San Francisco
Telephone:415/848-2362
Internet: www.lotusvodka.com
Distribution: Select markets
Pink drink
X-Rated Fusion Liqueur was acquired recently by Gruppo Campari, and is being re-introduced and distributed by Skyy Spirits LLC. The liqueur is a blend of French vodka and organic fruit juices from blood oranges, mango, passion fruit and grapefruit. X-Rated Fusion retails for $25.99 in 750-ml. bottles.X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
Skyy Spirits LLC, San Francisco
Telephone: 415/315-8000
Internet: www.drinkpinkvodka.com
Distribution: National
Caffeinated malt beverage
Phusion Projects LLCexpanded its Four caffeinated malt beverage brand to include Four Maxed. The caffeinated malt beverage contains taurine, guarana, wormwood and 10 percent alcohol by volume. Four Maxed is available in a Grape flavor in 16-ounce cans that retail for $1.59.Four Maxed
Phusion Projects LLC, Chicago
Telephone:888/402-5247
Internet: www.drinkfour.com
Distribution:Select markets
Natural smoothies
Whitney’s Foods, part ofSteuben Foods, repacked and resized its Yo on the Go Smoothies. The low-fat yogurt drinks are shelf-stable for six-months and sweetened with fruit and juice. With 90 calories per 4-ounce serving, the drinks offer protein, calcium and 10 vitamins and minerals. In addition to its 8-ounce package, Yo on the Go is available in a 4-ounce kids’ size with omega 3 fatty acids. Yo on the Go 8-ounce comes in Strawberry, BananaBerry, Peach and Mixed Berry flavors, while the 4-ounce size is available in Strawberry, BananaBerry and Mixed Berry.Yo on the Go Smoothies
Steuben Foods, Jamaica, N.Y.
Telephone: 718/291-3333
Internet: www.whitneysfoods.com
Distribution: Select markets
Ingredients: Strawberry: Low-fat yogurt (cultured reduced-fat milk and sugar), fat-free milk, water, strawberry juice concentrate, modified food starch, natural flavors, pectin, whey protein concentrate, locust bean gum, carrageenan, citric acid, DHA algal oil, Red No. 40, vitamin C, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamins B6, A and B2, folic acid, biotin, and vitamins D3 and B12.
Yerba mate tea
Guayaki introduced a new version of its Organic Traditional Yerba Mate Tea Bags. The Yerba Mate Tea Bags contain caffeine comparable to coffee, plus theobromine, a euphoriant also found in chocolate, and theophylline, another stimulate. The new package features rainforest wildlife, plants and native people and is designed by artist Akari Inoguchi. A box of 25 tea bags retails for $6.95.Guayaki’s Traditional Yerba Mate Tea Bags
Guayaki, Sebastopol, Calif.
Telephone: 888/482-9254
Internet:www.guayaki.com
Distribution: Select markets
Redesign and new size
XL Energy Drink redesigned its can and released a new 16.9-ounce size. The energy drink is now in a blue can, with XL Energy Drink still branded in red and silver. XL Energy Drink is available in portions of 24 states.XL Energy Drink Corp., New York City
Telephone: 212/594-3080
Internet: www.xl-energy.com
Distribution: Select markets
Fruit and veggie tea blends
FullyLoaded Tea released fruit and vegetable tea blends. The premium whole leaf green, black and white teas are available in: Citrus Spiked Black Tea, Tomato Rebel Black Tea, Goji Force Green Tea, Naked Strawberry Green Tea, Cucumber Mojo White Tea, Shameless Berries Fruit Tea, Bulletproof Currant Fruit Tea and Sweet Addiction Fruit Tea. A 14-count box retails for $7.99.FullyLoaded Tea
FullyLoaded Tea, Vancouver, British Columbia
Telephone:888/408-1875
Internet: www.fullyloadedtea.com
Distribution: North America
Ingredients: Citrus Spiked Black Tea: Black tea leaves, orange peel, orange flowers, safflowers, blue mallow flowers and natural flavors.
New York water
New York Spring Water Inc.released New York Springs Natural Spring Water, a water bottled and sourced in the Catskill Mountains in New York from a spring on Vly Mountain. The water flows from the spring into three separate filtration systems and is then ozonated before being exposed to an ultraviolet light. New York Springs Natural Spring Water is packaged in plastic bottles in 8-ounce, 16.9-ounce, 1-liter and 1.5-liter sizes. The water also is available in a 6-gram plastic cup that contains 8 ounces of New York Springs Natural Spring Water.New York Springs Natural Spring Water
New York Spring Water Inc., New York City
Telephone: 212/777-4649
Internet: www.newyorksprings.com
Distribution: Select markets
Juice for toddlers
First Juice Inc. developed an organic fruit and vegetable juice beverage of the same name. First Juice is designed to be lower in sugar, specifically for kids 30 months to age 6. First Juice has 12 grams of sugar and 25 calories per 8-ounce serving with no added sugar, preservatives or artificial sweeteners. A blend of organic fruit and vegetable juice concentrates and purified water, First Juice has been designed to provide the right amount of flavor for developing taste buds, the company says. The drink also is fortified with calcium and vitamins A, C and D. First Juice is sold in an 8-ounce spill-proof sippy-top bottle for $1.99 to $2.49 and a 32-ounce container for $3.29 to $3.99.First Juice
First Juice Inc., Mt. Freedom, N.J.
Telephone: 815/372-4486
Internet: www.firstjuice.com
Distribution: Select markets
Ingredients: Apple + Carrot: Purified water, organic apple, organic pear, organic carrot and organic pineapple juice concentrates, calcium lactate, malic acid, organic natural flavors, vitamin C and vitamin D3.
Almond beverages
Pacific Natural Foods launched single-serve 8-ounce Almond Beverages in Low Fat Chocolate and Low Fat Vanilla varieties. Both non-dairy products are made with roasted almonds, and provide calcium, vitamin D and riboflavin. A four-pack retails from $3.49 to $3.99. Pacific Natural also released Organic Unsweetened Almond Beverage in Original and Vanilla flavors. The organic beverages are low fat, kosher, gluten free, and are packaged in 32-ounce shelf-stable containers.Pacific Natural Foods Almond Beverages
Pacific Natural Foods, Tualatin, Ore.
Telephone: 503/692-9666
Internet:www.pacificfoods.com
Distribution: Select markets
Ingredients:Low Fat Chocolate: Filtered water, evaporated cane juice, almonds, alkalized cocoa powder, tricalcium phosphate, chocolate, natural flavor, potassium citrate, sea salt, carrageenan, lecithin, riboflavin, vitamin A palmitate and vitamin D2.
A canned option
The Healthy Beverage Co. added a 12-ounce can option for its Steaz Organic Sparkling Green Teas. Lightly carbonated and decaffeinated, the new cans are available in four flavors: Raspberry, Orange, Root Beer and Green Tea with Lemon. The Steaz Sparkling Green Teas in cans have received USDA approval for use in School Nutrition Programs, the company says.Steaz Sparkling Green Tea
The Healthy Beverage Co., Newton Pa.
Telephone: 215/321-8330
Internet: www.steaz.com
Distribution: National
Butch Cassidy label
Newman’s Own Inc., Westport, Conn., debuted Newman’s Own 2006 California Chardonnay and Newman’s Own 2006 California Cabernet Sauvignon. The company worked withRebel Wine Co., a joint venture betweenThree ThievesandTrinchero Family Estates, to produce the wines. Like all other Newman’s Own products, actor Paul Newman and the Newman’s Own Foundation will donate profits and royalties after taxes to educational and charitable purposes. The wines are crafted from grapes from California’s coastal vineyards, including Napa, Sonoma and San Luis Obispo counties. The products’ labels feature Newman’s face with a play on his role as Butch in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The wines have a suggested retail price of $16 per bottle.Newman’s Own Wines
Rebel Wine Co., St. Helena, Calif.
Telephone: 866/584-2697
Internet:www.threethieves.com,www.newmansown.com
Distribution:National
AT A GLANCE . . . Alternative beverages
Guayaki, Sebastopol, Calif., introduced Gaucho’s Fuerte Mate Blend, an espresso yerba maté designed for preparation in a coffee maker. The yerba maté has been processed into a fine grind and formed into granules...Youngevity, Chula Vista, Calif., partnered with Projoba International, Laguna Hills, Calif., to create Pollen Burst, a pollen-based energy powder. Pollen Burst includes hypoallergenic, organically grown flower pollen extracts, green tea extracts and B vitamins in packets...
Rockstar Inc., Las Vegas, added Rockstar Roasted Coffee & Energy drinks in Mocha, Latte and Light Vanilla varieties. The drinks are a blend of coffee, cream, sugar and energy ingredients packaged in a 15-ounce can...
Tea and coffee
S&D Coffee, Concord, N.C., added 100 percent Colombian coffee to its lineup of Rainforest Alliance certified coffees, which includes Rainforest Select, Rainforest Select Decaf and Rainforest Caramel Creme...Beer
Distinguished Brands International, Littleton, Colo., is importing Cisk Lager, a bottom-fermented beer from Malta. The line includes Cisk Lager, Cisk XS Strong Lager, Farsons Traditional Shandy and FarsonsWine and Spirits
Mystique Brands LLC, Brooklyn, N.Y., launched two spirits: Tomintoul Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Los Arango Tequila. Tomintoul is distilled at the Glenlivet Estate, is bottled at 10, 16 and 27 years, and retails for $39.99, $59.99 and $199.99, respectively. Los Arango Reposado and Añejo Tequila are sold at $59.99 and $69.99, respectively, and are packaged in hand-blown blue bottles with leather labels...Killer Juice Vineyards, Ripon, Calif., released a 2005 Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon in a 3-liter wine cask for $19.99 and $5 for a 750-ml. bottle...
Whitley Neill USA, Hollywood, Fla., announced the launch of Whitley Neill London Dry Gin in the United States after its release in the United Kingdom. The gin contains 42 percent alcohol per volume and nine botanicals, including the Baobab and Cape Gooseberry...
Domaine Select Wine Estates, New York City, added three new Averna Sambucas — Traditional, Licorice and Citrus — and Averna Limoni, a lemon liqueur.
