After debuting the products in test markets last fall, Coca-Cola North America introduced Vault and Vault Zero to retail stores nationwide in February. Vault, an energy soda, delivers a citrus taste with less carbonation than most sodas, and the high octane of an energy drink. Vault and Vault Zero – a no-sugar version of the brand – are available in 20-ounce and 1-liter bottles, featuring a raised diamond-plate pattern to provide easier grip. More packages, including 2-liter bottles and 12-ounce cans, will launch later this spring.

Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, concentrated orange juice, sodium benzoate, erythorbic acid and EDTA, caffeine, potassium citrate, Yellow 5 and carob bean gum.

Ocean Spray’s new Diet Ocean Spray Juice Drinks are said to be an “excellent source” of vitamin C and have 5 calories per 8-ounce serving. Both varieties, Cranberry Spray and Orange Citrus Spray, will debut this month for a suggested retail price of $1.99 for 1-liter bottles, $3.59 for four-packs of 12-ounce bottles, and $1.39 for 16-ounce bottles.

Ingredients: Cranberry Spray: Filtered water, cranberry juice from concentrate, natural flavors, pectin, citric acid, fumaric acid, sucralose, sodium citrate, acesulfame potassium, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and Red 40.

Distribuidores De La Energia Inc. introduced a 16-ounce Caballo Negro-Double Kick, an energy drink with a combination of ingredients and flavor designed to appeal to both the Hispanic and non-Hispanic consumer. Caballo Negro-Double Kick retails between $1.99 and $2.39.

Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, citric acid, sodium citrate, taurine, glucuronolactone, potassium benzoate, caramel color, natural and artificial flavor, caffeine, inositol, niacin, D-pantothenol, pyridoxine HCL, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), guarana extract, ginseng extract, epimedium extract and cats claw extract.

Tampico Beverages introduced a line of naturally flavored, zero-calorie waters called Tampico Flavored Water Beverages. Tampico took water and added the essence of tropical fruits like coconut, mamey, mango, pineapple and grapefruit to create four flavors: Piña Colada, Mixed Berry, Mamey Mango and Grapefruit Tangerine. The waters are available in key U.S. markets – including Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Southern California and Texas – for a sug-gested retail price of $1.29 to $1.49 for a 1-gallon bottle.

Liquidity has begun importing Pinky Vodka from Facile & Co. in Stockholm, Sweden. The pink vodka is hand blended by wine tasters, using 12 botanicals of violets, rose petals and wild strawberries. A 750-ml. bottle of Pinky is 40 percent alcohol by volume, and retails for $32.99.

8th Continent LLC, a joint venture between General Mills and DuPont Nutrition & Health, launched 8th Continent Refreshers, a refrigerated juice and soy protein blended beverage. Each 8-ounce serving contains fruit juice, 20 percent of the daily value of calcium, 100 percent of the daily value of vitamin C and 6.25 grams of Solae soy protein. 8th Continent Strawberry-Banana Refreshers and 8th Continent Orange-Pineapple-Banana Refreshers are available in 48-ounce bottles, and can be found in the refrigerated section of grocery stores for $3.29.

Ingredients: Strawberry Banana: Water, white grape juice from concentrate, sugar, soy protein isolate, pectin, malic acid, calcium phosphate, citric acid, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), natural and artificial flavor, soy lecithin, Red 40, sulfur dioxide, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin A (palmitate), vitamin D2 and vitamin B12.

Heaven Hill Distillers Inc. released Pama Pomegranate Liqueur, a liqueur made with California pomegranates, premium vodka and tequila. The sweet and tart drink is launching in four markets – New York, Chicago, Miami and Southern California – and will be available in cities nationwide by spring. Pama is 34 proof, and available in a 50-ml. and 750-ml. bottle, with the latter retailing for $24.99.

New Product Introductions by Category
CATEGORY	SKUS YTD 2/28/06	SKUS YTD 2/28/05	PERCENT CHANGE
Alcohol Beverages	227	262	-13.4%
Coffee & Tea	189	225	-16%
Dairy Drinks & Alternatives, Health Drinks	75	51	47.1%
Fruit & Vegetable Drinks	47	286	-83.6%
Other Drinks	104	12	766.7%
Soft Drinks, Sports Drinks & Bottled Waters	92	71	29.6%
Total Beverages	734	908	-19.2%
Source: Productscan Online (www.productscan.com)

Old Orchard Brands Healthy Balance Prune juice cocktail has 65 percent less sugar and 25 percent more fiber than the leading brand of 100 percent prune juice. It is also fortified with calcium, providing 10 percent of the body’s daily calcium requirement, and contains 130 percent of the daily requirement of vitamin C with each 8-ounce serving. Old Orchard Brands Healthy Balance Prune juice joins 10 other flavors in the Healthy Balance line.

Ingredients: Filtered water, prune juice concentrate, maltodextrin (soluble dietary fiber), calcium gluconate, calcium lactate, citric acid, cellulose gum, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), natural flavors, sucralose and acesulfame potassium.

Rockstar released Rockstar Juiced, an energy-juice hybrid with 70 percent juice. Made with all natural mango, orange and passion fruit juices, Rockstar Juiced gets its energy by blending the juice with Original Rockstar. The bright gold and orange can is available in 16- and 24-ounce varieties and retails for $1.99 and $2.49, respectively.

Ingredients: Carbonated water, fruit juice concentrates (a blend of apple, pear, mango, orange and passion fruit juice from concentrates), glucose, taurine, citric acid, taurine, natural flavors, sodium benzoate, ascorbic acid, caffeine, potassium sorbate, L-carnitine, inositol, milk thistle extract, ester gum, ginko biloba leaf extract, sucralose, guarana seed extract, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, panax ginseng root extract, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, beta-carotene and cyanocobalamin.

Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co. created the Coffee Cooler, a ready-to-drink, shelf stable-coffee drink. The low-fat drink is brewed with 100 percent Arabica coffee, and comes in Double Vanilla, Decadent Dark Mocha, Santa’s White Christmas and Caramel varieties. Packaged in a high-density, poly-plastic 11-ounce bottle, the product is shelf stable for nine months, and retails for $1.99.

Ingredients: Santa’s White Christmas: Milk, water, coffee extract, sugar, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, sodium phosphate, monoglycerides, sodium polyphosphate, sodium citrate, natural and artificial flavor and lactic acid.

Leading Brands Inc. launched LiteBlue Reduced Calorie Blueberry Juice Cocktail. Sweetened with a combination of cane sugar and Splenda, LiteBlue contains 50 percent fewer calories than the company’s line of TrueBlue Blueberry Cocktails. Available in Blueberry and Blueberry Raspberry, the lighter formulation comes in a 64-ounce PET bottle.

Ingredients: Water, blueberry juice from concentrate, grape juice from concentrate, cane sugar, citric acid, color, natural flavor, ascorbic acid and sucralose.

Tropicana Products Inc., a division of PepsiCo Inc., released Tropicana Pure Premium Essentials with Fiber. The juice delivers 3 grams of fiber in an 8-ounce serving, which is as much fiber as a medium-sized orange. Available for a suggested retail price of $3.49 for a 64-ounce carton, Tropicana Pure Premium with Fiber joins Tropicana’s Essential line of products, which are intended to meet the individual nutritional needs of consumers.

Starbucks Coffee Co. launched its new ready-to-drink coffee drinks – Starbucks Iced Coffee, Starbucks Iced Coffee Light, Starbucks DoubleShot Light and Starbucks Strawberries and Crème Frappuccino – through the North American Coffee Partnership, a joint venture with Pepsi-Cola Co. Starbucks Iced Coffee is made with Starbucks Italian Roast coffee and just a touch of milk and sweetness. In addition to the launch of Iced Coffee, the North American Coffee Partnership released two line extensions: Starbucks DoubleShot Light, a blend of espresso and cream with a lower fat, calorie and sugar content than the original, and Starbucks Strawberries and Crème Frappuccino crème beverage, a blend of strawberries and low-fat milk. Strawberries and Crème Frappuccino is the first coffee-free bottled Starbucks Frappuccino crème drink. Available in Starbucks-operated retail stores in March, all the products will be in grocery and convenience stores in May.

Simply Orange, a brand of the Coca-Cola Co., is extending its not-from-concentrate orange juices into the chilled juice drink category with Simply Lemonade and Simply Limeade. Available in a 1.75-liter clear PET carafe, the new products will be sold in supermarkets nationwide for $2.49.

Liquid Treasure Imports introduced Khukri Rum, distilled by Nepal Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. in Kathmandu, Nepal, to the U.S. market. Khukri Rum has an aroma of oak and caramel with smooth and balanced flavors of brown spice, dried fruit and butterscotch. The rum is presented in a 375-ml. dagger-shaped bottle.

Odwalla Inc. added Odwalla Soymilk to its lineup in three varieties: Plain, Vanilla Being and Choc-ahh-lot. A combination of organic soybeans, inulin soluble fiber and Omega 3 DHA, all three varieties are fortified with Martex DHA, a vegetarian source of a brain nutrient called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Packaged in multiserve, 64-ounce gable-top cartons at a suggested retail price of $3.49, Odwalla Soymilk will be available in April in natural food stores.

Ingredients: Vanilla Being: Organic soymilk (water and organic soybeans), water, organic evaporated cane juice, less than 2 percent of: inulin, calcium carbonate, vanilla extract, carrageenan, sea salt, algal oil, natural flavor, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D2, riboflavin and vitamin B12.

Boston Beer added Samuel Adams Brown Ale to its Samuel Adams Brewmaster’s Collection of hand-crafted beers. Made from a blend of two-row malt, including Harrington, Metcalfe, Caramel, Munich, roasted Carafa and Maris Otter, Brown Ale is complex and full-bodied. Available as part of the 12-pack Brewmaster’s Collection for $11.99 to $13.99, Brown Ale also is offered in six-packs for $6.99 to $7.99.

Pepsi-Cola released SoBe Life Water, a line of vitamin-enhanced water beverages that contain antioxidant vitamins C and E. Available in five flavors – Pomegranate Cherry, Blackberry Grape, Passionfruit Citrus, Orange Tangerine and Strawberry Kiwi – Sobe Life Water provides 20 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin E and 10 percent of the recommended daily value of B vitamins B6, B12, niacin (B3) and pantothenic acid (B5). With no artificial flavors or preservatives, SoBe Life Water is available in 20-ounce PET bottles.

Ingredients: Blackberry Grape: Filtered water, fructose, natural flavor, citric acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), grape juice concentrate, grape skin extract, sodium citrate, DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride and cyanocobalamin.

Uncle Matt’s Organic introduced a gourmet look for its organic orange juice line with its new 59-ounce carafe bottle. Made from clear PET No. 1 plastic, the new bottle carries Uncle Matt’s Organic Orange Juice in three varieties: Pulp Free, With Pulp and Calcium + Vitamin D. The juices retail for $4.99.

E & J Gallo Winery expanded its Wild Vine Vineyards line with Wild Vines Frutézia Tropical Blend and Passion Blend. Tropical Blend combines mango, pineapple, guava, grapefruit and lime flavors while Passion Blend brings together strawberry and kiwi flavors. Frutézia has a low alcohol content, and retails for $3.99 for 750-ml. bottles and $6.49 per 1.5-liter bottles.

Coca-Cola introduced Dasani Sensations, a flavored line extension with some fizz. Dasani Sensations is sweetened with Splenda and ace-k, mixed with natural fruit flavors and carbonated for light bubbly refreshment. Similar to Dasani and Dasani flavored water beverages, Dasani Sensations contains no calories or carbohydrates. In two flavors – Mixed Berry and Lemon-Lime – Dasani Sensations comes in 20-ounce PET bottles.

Ingredients: Lemon-Lime: Carbonated water, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride and salt.

Sidney Frank Importing Co., New Rochelle, N.Y., added Michael Collins Irish Whiskey to its portfolio. Distilled by Cooley Distillery, Michael Collins is available in blended and single malts in 1-liter, 750-ml., 375-ml. and 50-ml. bottles…

Preiss Imports, Ramona, Calif., has begun importing Tequila Chinaco Blanco, Reposado and Anejo. Chinaco Tequila is packaged in artisan bottles like cognac, and has a smooth taste…

Speyside Distillery Co. Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland, released The Glenrothes Select Reserve, its first non-vintage selection, making the product more widely and continuously available. Select Reserve is a blend of casks from different years. The single malt is available for $45 for a 750-ml. bottle…

U.K.-based Hi Spirits has launched Sebor Absinth to U.S. consumers online. A blend of 13 herbs and alcohol (55 percent by volume), Sebor is infused with notes of mint, menthol and eucalyptus as well as fennel and angelica. Sebor Absinth is available in a 50-cl. green bottle for $100…

Herzog Wine Cellars, Oxnard, Calif., after completing its first harvest in its new Central Coast winery, released three new wines: 2003 Special Reserve Edna Valley Syrah ($30), 2005 Herzog Late Harvest Zinfandel ($20) and 2004 Baron Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon ($13)…

Brown-Forman Wines, San Rafael, Calif., has released, through Jekel Vineyards, an off-dry Gewürztraminer, and also returned a Monterey Pinot Noir to Jekel’s varietal offerings…

Delta Blues Iced Tea Co., Atlanta, launched Delta Blues Iced Tea Punch, a blend of brewed tea, citrus, spices and spearmint. Iced Tea Punch is packaged in 16-ounce and 25.4-ounce glass bottles…

The Republic of Tea, Novato, Calif., introduced a collection of teas blended in the spirit and creative expression of musician Jerry Garcia. The five teas – Morning Brew, Jerry Cherry, Shady Grown, Magic Herb Blend, Spirit of Sage – are packaged in tea tins, with labels featuring Jerry Garcia’s original artwork.  Most tins contain 50 tea bags and retail for $9…

Snapple has created a line of tea bags infused with juice that come in four varieties: Le-mmm-on, Wild ‘Bout Berries, Orange-Inality and Strawberry. A box of 20 bags retails for $2.99…

Pepsi-Cola North America, Purchase, N.Y., added FlavorSplash Grape to its line of flavored waters from Aquafina. FlavorSplash Grape joins the three other flavors – Citrus Blend, Wild Berry and Raspberry. Sweetened with Splenda, FlavorSplash Grape has zero calories, carbs and sugar and is low in sodium…

Nutrition Research Group, the parent company of ANSI, released the newest flavor of its energy drink Xtreme Shock: Mandarin Orange. The beverage retails in 12-ounce PET bottles for $3…