Aussie Addition
Ravenswood Winery has introduced the 2002 Vintage Blend Shiraz
from Australia. The blend is dark, dense and spicy with smoky, meaty notes and
a long finish, according to the winery. The blend includes fruit from Australia’s
premier wine-growing regions, including Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare
Valley and Wrattonbully. The 2002 Ravenswood Vintners Blend Shiraz is available
on store shelves and in restaurants nationally, and retails for $10 per bottle.
The Vintners Blend series currently includes Zinfandel, Merlot, Chardonnay and
most recently Cabernet Sauvignon, released in September 2003.
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Berry debut
Van Gogh Vodka has introduced its newest flavor: Four Berry,
made with blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries and blueberries from the Zeeland
region in southern Holland. Four Berry Vodka will be sold in a white frosted
glass bottle with a clear window presenting a color etching of the Medieval
architecture of Holland’s Zierikzee Town Hall, various castles, historic buildings
and the port of Zierikzee as well as the four berries. Imported by Luctor International
LLC, Reno, Nev., Van Gogh’s Four Berry Vodka will be introduced in the United
States in August.
Fat burner
Innovative Technologies Corp., Dade City, Fla., recently introduced
Carb Crusher with GCA Natural Tea with Lemon. The tea is sold in resealable
12-ounce plastic bottles. GCA is a patent-pending extract from green coffee
beans (unroasted) that reduces carbohydrate and calorie absorption without stimulants
or causing gastrointestinal discomfort, according to the company. Additionally,
GCA is said to inhibit the release of sugar from glycogen stores in the liver
and muscles, burning off fat as an energy source.
Riesling offering
Chateau Ste. Michelle will introduce Saint M, a German Riesling
made by well-known winemaker Ernst Loosen this summer. The Dr. Loosen estate
has more than 200 years of winemaking experience producing only Riesling from
old vines in Germany's Mosel and Pfalz regions. The 2003 Saint M Riesling is
a fresh, crisp, fruit-driven wine with ripe flavors of peach and apricot, according
to the company. Its medium-dry style and touch of minerals are typical of the
Pfalz region. Saint M will be available nationally in July, and the suggested
retail price is $12 per 750-ml. bottle.
Tantalizing teas
Gordon Industries LLC now offers Intaba Teas of Africa teas
in flavors such as Traditional Rooibos Red Tea, Rooibos Honeybush, Rooibos &
Fennel, Rooibos & Lemongrass and Traditional Honeybush Tea. The organically
grown tea varieties include Traditional, “Bushbabies” Rooibos Honeybush, Rooibos
& Fennel and Rooibos & Lemongrass. The caffeine-free tea contains more antioxidants
than green tea with no artificial sweeteners and sugar, according to the company.
Selling the teas in 1.7-ounce boxes containing 20 tea bags, the company also
offers Traditional Honeybush Tea in a 2.12-ounce box.
Joe’s brew
Coastal Light Beer, produced by Paso Robles, Calif.-based Steinhaus
Brewing Co. and distributed by Monrovia, Calif.-based Trader Joe’s, is now available
in six-packs of 12-ounce dark glass bottles. The beer is brewed in small batches,
and contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than other craft-brewed ales and
lagers, according to the company. The Trader Joe’s-distributed Lager and Pale
Ale each retail for $4.99 per six-pack.
Juicy debut
The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, has introduced Minute Maid Premium
Light, an orange juice beverage with half the calories and sugar of traditional
orange juice. The light orange drink contains 50 calories and 10 grams of sugar
per 8-ounce serving. In addition, Minute Maid Premium Light offers 120 percent
of the daily value of vitamin C, and as much calcium and vitamin D as a glass
of milk in each serving. It is available nationwide in 64-ounce cartons and
8-ounce multipacks at a price comparable to other Minute Maid Premium orange
juice products.
Soy slender
The Hain Celestial Group, Melville, N.Y., has introduced WestSoy
Soy Slender Plain Soy Milk in 32-ounce shelf-stable packaging. Enriched with
calcium, vitamin D and riboflavin, one serving provides 6.25 grams of soy protein.
Additionally, the low-fat Splenda-sweetened beverage has 0 net carbs and only
1 gram of sugar. The soymilk is available in Plain, Vanilla and Chocolate flavors.
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Energy found
Hansen Beverage Co., Corona, Calif., has formed a partnership
with Lost International Inc. that involves licensing the rights to develop,
produce and distribute Lost Energy Drink. The energy drink, targeted toward
15- to 25-year-olds, builds on Lost's worldwide notoriety for surfboards, surf/skate
apparel and accessories. Lost Energy Drink debuted at the Action Sports Retailers
and Surf Expo earlier this year, and was initially launched in Southern California.
Vintner release
Murrieta’s Well Winery, Livermore, Calif., has released the
2001 Zarzuela, a Tempranillo blend from estate-grown grapes. Named for the famed
Spanish operettas, Zarzuela is a harmonic blend of Tempranillo, Petite Verdot,
Touriga Nacional, and Barbera, with added Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in American
and French oak barrels for approximately 14 months, the wine features ripe flavors
of blackberry, currants and anise, according to the company. Only 2,000 cases
were produced, and the wine has a suggested retail price of $27 per 750-ml.
bottle.
Coffee pods
Community Coffee, Baton
Rouge, La., recently introduced a line of premium, single-cup filter
products at the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Annual
Conference in Atlanta. The Community Coffee single-cup product family
features seven varieties of premium coffees, including flavored and
decaffeinated blends, in pre-measured ground coffee pods ready for brewing.
The pods are compatible with both stand-alone and waterline brewers. Each
pod is individually wrapped and nitrogen gas flushed.
New Product Introductions by Category | ||
No. of Reports | No. of SKUs | |
Category | ’03/’04/% change | ’03/’04/% change |
Wine & Wine Coolers | 42/47/12 | 104/174/67 |
Beer & Ale | 25/30/20 | 48/47/(2) |
Liqueurs & Other Alcohol Drinks | 68/50/(26) | 161/106/(34) |
Alcohol Beverage Substitutes, Low Alcohol | 3/1/(67) | 14/3/(79) |
Bottled Waters | 8/16/100 | 23/38/65 |
Soft Drinks | 25/15/(40) | 129/34/(74) |
Isotonic, Energy Producing Beverages | 22/25/14 | 45/37/(18) |
Health Drinks | 11/10/(9) | 45/25/(44) |
Fruit & Fruit Flavored Drinks | 48/35/(27) | 180/143/(21) |
Vegetable & Vegetable Flavored Drinks | 2/1/(50) | 7/1/(86) |
Baby Beverages | 12/6/(50) | 20/34/70 |
Milk, Non-Dairy Milk & Yogurt Drinks | 15/27/80 | 41/71/73 |
Tea | 29/30/3 | 200/104/(48) |
Coffee | 20/31/55 | 87/233/168 |
Beverage Mixes & Flavorings | 25/34/36 | 100/107/7 |
Grand Totals: | 355/358/1 | 1204/1157/(4) |
Source: Productscan Online (www.productscan.com). Current year-to-date introductions as of April 25, 2004. Previous year-to-date introductions as of April 25, 2003. |