Although more consumers are doing their best to trade sugary beverages for healthier options, one thing they’re not willing to sacrifice is taste, says Bob Yates, president and chief executive officer for Pulse Beverage Corp., Denver. Therefore, when the company developed its Cabana line of low-calorie lemonades and Pulse line of functional beverages, it was determined to focus on both health and taste.
Available in Lemonade, Tropical Mango Lemonade, Cherry Lemonade, Blueberry Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade and Island Spice varieties, Cabana drinks are sweetened with a blend of cane sugar and stevia for an all-natural, low-calorie positioning. Each flavor contains approximately 60 calories in an 8-ounce serving, Yates says. The brand launched in November 2011 and landed in the No. 10 spot on Chicago-based Information Resources Inc.’s (IRI) list of the top single-serve bottled lemonades for the 52 weeks ending May 19, 2013, in U.S. supermarkets, drug stores, mass market retailers, military commissaries, and select club and dollar retail chains. Dollar sales for the brand were up 617 percent during that time frame compared with the prior-year period, reaching nearly $2.6 million and more than 1.5 million in unit sales, according to IRI data.