In Brief . . .
Coffee and Tea…
Comfort Foods Inc., North
Andover, Mass., has infused naturally grown herbs into Catapult Coffee to
provide what it says is a refreshing physical and mental lift. With yerba
mate, angelica sinensis and guarana seed powder, Catapult Coffee comes in
12-ounce cans in four varieties: Dragon Roast, Cinnamon Dragon, Vanilla
Crane and Hazelnut Tiger...
Mountain View Coffee Roasters, Ruckersville, Va., created a premium line of specialty organic
coffees that support Fair Trade practices. The Righteous Bean coffees are
available in seven retail varieties: Sumatra Gayoland, Viennese Roast,
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Guatemalan Huehuetenango, Mountain Medley, Breakfast
Blend and Decaffeinated Sumatra.
Juice…
Nantucket Nectars, a
product of Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages in Rye Brook, N.Y.,
inducted Orange-Pineapple-Mango organic juice to its lineup. In addition to
its traditional 15-ounce plastic bottle, the flavor will be available in a
new 32-ounce size...
Leading Brands Inc.,
Vancouver, British Columbia, ushered in three new flavors of TrueBlue Blueberry Juice Cocktail in the United States and
Canada. Blueberry-Green Tea, Blueberry Pomegranate and Blueberry-Cranberry
are available in a new rectangular 64-ounce PET bottle and a round 16-ounce
bottle...
U.S. Beverage Inc.,
Newman, Ga., just released its Chugger Citrus Punch in Dollar Tree stores
nationwide. The Chugger Citrus Punch contains 30 percent less sugar than
other juice drinks and 100 percent of the daily value of vitamin C.
Soft Drinks…
The Coca-Cola Co. is
looking to introduce a coffee-flavored variety of its flagship brand,
according to press reports in the United Kingdom. The Independent, a London newspaper,
said the company could release a coffee version of Coke in the United
States and Europe as soon as next year.
Wine and Spirits…
Allied Domecq Spirits,
Westport, Conn., launched Malibu Passion Fruit in a 750-ml. bottle for
$13.99. Passion Fruit joins the original Malibu, Malibu Mango and Malibu
Pineapple flavored rums line...
Cruzan Ltd., West Palm
Beach, Fla., launched another premium-distilled spirits line with Shakka.
Available in three colorful flavors – Kiwi, Apple and Grape –
Shakka is a tropically inspired, fruit-based liqueur distilled from grain
and blended with all-natural flavors...
Seagram’s Coolers, a brand managed and marketed
by United States Beverage LLC, Stamford, Conn., unveiled its new flavors for 2005: Pineapple
Coconut Calypso Colada and Strawberry Margarita. The new flavors come on
the heels of Seagram’s Coolers 20th anniversary and the release of its new contemporary
look, bottle and graphics...
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates,
Woodinville, Wash., has expanded Red Diamond wine distribution to all U.S.
retail markets. Red Diamond Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are
available for a retail price of $10...
Brown Forman’s Five Rivers Winery in Paso Robles, Calif., is debuting new packaging
featuring the Goddesses of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, and a new Five
Rivers Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara. Each variety, priced at $9.99,
features one of the goddesses, along with a tale of her involvement on the
Central Coast...
Pernod Ricard USA, New
York, extended Seagram’s Vodka line to include Black Cherry and
Orange. The average price for a 750-ml. bottle is $12. The company also
released to the United States Chivas Regal 18-Year-Old Gold Signature
Scotch Whisky...
Remy Amerique Inc.,
Chicago, will begin importing Highland Park’s first 30 Year Old
Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Scotland’s Orkney Islands. The
Highland Park 30 Year Old will be available in June in fine wine and spirit
stores nationwide for a retail price of $349.95 for a 750-ml. bottle.
Beer…
St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch
Co. will add a watermelon-flavored variety
to its Bacardi Silver lineup...
Deschutes Brewery Inc.,
Bend, Ore., inaugurated a 22-ounce Bond Street Series. The year-round
rotating selection highlights Deschutes’ Public House ales with the
first featured beer in the series being Bachelor Bitter, a longtime pub
favorite, with Bond Street Brown following. The series will have limited
distribution in the Northwest...
Tiger Beer USA, New York,
has launched its No. 1 selling beer in Singapore, Tiger Beer, to North
America. Brewed in Singapore by Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd., Tiger Beer is
a joint venture between local Sigaporean company Fraser & Neave and
Heineken NV of The Netherlands.
Alternative Beverages…
Tropical Beverage Inc.,
Santa Ana, Calif., released a line called Pure Gutz, an energy sports drink
that is packaged in a flask. The line includes three grouped offerings, an
oxygenated water with a suggested retail price of $0.99, a line of flavored
sports drinks, and an energy drink line called Energy Push. Each grouping
will have multiple flavors that are scheduled to be available in the coming
months...
Transylvania Imports,
Beverly Hills, Calif., added the energy drink Vamp N.R.G. to its
“supernatural” lineup. Despite the brands lighthearted
marketing theme, Vamp’s key energizing ingredients are a combination
of taurine and caffeine.