Steven Seagal Enterprises released Lightning Bolt Energy Drink made with 100 percent natural juice. The product is all natural with no sugar added and also contains vitamins B3, B6, B12 and B5. Lightning Bolt is available in both 8.4-ounce and 16-ounce sizes, individually or in four-packs. The energy drink comes in three flavors: Asian Experience, Cherry Charge and Root Beer Rush.

Ingredients: Cherry Charge: Carbonated water, cane juice concentrate, herbal tonic blend (guarana extract, green tea extract, gogi berry extract, cordyceps, yerba mate, American ginseng, ginkgo biloba), citric acid, natural flavors, natural color, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine HCL and cyanocobalamin.

Urban Brands and Spirits LLC released Party a Go-Go, a line of premium, pre-mixed bag-in-box spirits. The bag-in-box package with an easy-to-pour spout, ensures long-lasting freshness and must be refrigerated after opening. Seven flavors – Appletini, Cosmopolitan, Lemon Drop, Chocolate, Blue Passion (Fruit), Classic Lime Margarita and Long Island Iced Tea – are available in 1.75-liter boxes, and range in retail price from $14.99 to $18.99.

Swanel Beverage Inc. extended its premium bag-in-box energy drink brand Banzai Energy Drink to now include a 16-ounce can. Banzai has the classic energy drink color, fragrance and taste profile, but without any aftertaste, according to the company.

Ingredients: Water, sucrose, fructose, citric acid, taurine, sodium citrate, maltodextrin, natural and artificial flavor, sodium benzoate (as a preservative), caffeine, inositol, caramel color, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium phosphate and riboflavin.

KDM Global Partners launched Thousand Oaks wine at participating 7-Eleven stores throughout the United States. A California vintage, the new wine will be available in three varietal selections under the Thousand Oaks brand: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot. The private label wines have a suggested retail price of $6.99.

United Brands Co. developed 3Sum, a premium malt beverage in a 16-ounce can. The drink infuses triple-filtered malt beverage with fruit flavors and a combination of caffeine, ginseng and taurine. Available in Original, Apple, Watermelon and Tropical flavors, 3Sum is designed to attract the twentysomething consumer, with its vibrant colors corresponding with the drink’s fruit flavors. 3Sum retails for around $1.99.

North American Beverage Co. has introduced the first line extension to its Chocolate Moose with the launch of Mega Moose Strawberry Blast Energy Drink. Made with real milk and fortified with vitamins A and D, the company aims to provide kids with an energy that is good for them. Strawberry Blast comes in a 500-ml. full-shrinkwrapped glass dairy bottle. The bottle offers both UV protection and shatter resistance, and is shelf-stable for 24 months.

Ingredients: Low-fat milk, water, sugar, cellulose gel, natural and artificial flavors, dipotassium phosphate, mono and diglycerides (contains refined soybean oil), cellulose gum, asorbic acid, carrageenan, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3 and FD&C Red No. 3.

New Product Introductions by Category
CATEGORY	SKUS YTD 10/3/05	SKUS YTD 10/3/04	PERCENT CHANGE
Alcohol Beverages	1070	657	62.9%
Coffee & Tea	775	850	-8.8%
Dairy Drinks & Alternatives, Health Drinks	237	278	-14.7%
Fruit & Vegetable Drinks	627	517	21.3%
Other Drinks	272	284	-4.2%
Soft Drinks, Sports Drinks & Bottled Waters	655	491	33.4%
Total Beverages:	3636	3077	18.2%
Source: Productscan Online (www.productscan.com)

Sweet Leaf Tea introduced 64-ounce PET bottles of its Original, Diet Original and Mint & Honey Green teas into its oeuvre of brewed all natural teas. The 64-ounce Original and Mint & Honey Green teas are 100 percent USDA organic. Sweet Leaf Tea contains no preservatives and uses sugar cane for its sweetener. The Diet Original uses Splenda, and contains zero calories.

Zola Acaí, a beverage company selling products made from pure Brazilian acaí berry, released Zola Acaí Brazilian Berry Power Juice Beverage. Packing an antioxidant punch from the berries, along with vitamin A and C, protein, fiber and omega fatty acids, Zola Acaí is not mixed with any other fruit. It follows the traditional Brazilian recipe that relies on acaí berry pulp mixed with evaporated organic cane juice for sweetness and guarana for a caffeine boost. Available in fine grocers and natural product stores, Zola Acaí is packaged in an 11-ounce recyclable carton priced at $2.49.

Ingredients: Purified water, acaí fruit pulp, organic cane sugar, citric acid, natural guarana powder (24mg. natural caffeine) and natural flavors.

Ajinomoto launched a ready-to-drink supplement formulated with all natural ingredients. New Amino Vital Puredge packs a supply of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), the muscles’ preferred source of energy for strenuous exertion, according to the company. Combined with the amino acid arginine, another protein building block, BCAAs also deliver a quicker recovery with less soreness after especially tough workouts, the company says. Available in 20-ounce bottles, Puredge comes in Citrus Orange and Fruit Punch flavors, and retails for $3.

Ingredients: Water, dried sugar cane, pear juice concentrate, fructose, natural flavors, citric acid, calcium lactate, monopotassium phosphate, salt, potassium phosphate, salt, potassium phosphate.

Rockstar Inc., Las Vegas, is releasing Rockstar Twenty-one and Rockstar Twenty-one Light through Rockstar Brewing Co. The premium malt beverage is 6 percent alcohol by volume, and contains natural and artificial flavors, caffeine, taurine, ginseng, guarana, caramel color and FD&C Yellow #5. The regular and light versions are packaged in 16-ounce black and white cans, respectively. The malt beverages will be available in select markets.

Through another licensing agreement with Von Dutch Originals, Rockstar will release a new energy drink called Von Dutch. Starting this fall, Coca-Cola Enterprises will distribute it, and Rockstar, Coca-Cola North America and CCE will all share in the profits…

The Spoetzl Brewery will celebrate its 96th anniversary by launching Shiner 96, a limited-edition, Märzen-style brew. Shiner 96 marks the countdown to the Spoetzl Brewery’s centennial in 2009 and will be the first of five commemorative brews to be released.

Pepsi-Cola North America released Mountain Dew Pitch Black II for a 10-week period through November. The product is Mountain Dew with a blast of black grape and a cool metallic silver label. Pitch Black II is similar to last year’s limited-time offer of Mountain Dew Pitch Black, but this time the product has a sour bite. Pitch Black II will hit stores in 20-ounce bottles, 2-liter bottles and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium benzoate (preserves freshness), caffeine, sodium citrate, gum arabic, ascorbic acid (to protect flavor), red 40, calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor), brominated vegetable oil, blue 1.

Funkin has launched its fresh fruit purees into the U.S. market through importer White Toque after previously launching in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Ireland and Australia. Funkin is a line of fresh fruit purees ready to pour from a squeezable and resealable packet. Made from 100 percent fruit and free from artificial flavorings, Funkin offers a one-year self life at room temperature, and once opened can be stored in a refrigerator for up to eight days. Currently available only for foodservice, Funkin plans to launch 11 of the purees – Apricot, Blackcurrant, Green Apple, Lychee, Mango, Morello Cherry, Passion Fruit, Peach, Pear, Raspberry and Strawberry – for cocktails, smoothies, mochas and other mixed drinks.

Trinity Springs Inc. introduced a line of certified organic flavored waters – Trinity Organic. The new products blend water from Trinity Springs with organic flavors. The company unveiled the first two flavors – Lemon and Raspberry – with more flavors, such as Coconut and Mint Leaf on the way. Trinity Organic is available at natural foods and grocery stores in 16.9-ounce bottles for $1.29.

Gleukos Inc. released Gleukos, a beverage for energy replenishment and hydration. The formula utilizes glucose to quicken replenishment times and eliminate energy dips associated with other sports drinks. The two flavors – Lemon and Punch – will be sold in a 16-ounce standup pouch at 7-Eleven stores nationwide. Gleukos plans to introduce new flavors about every two months.

Snow Beverages introduced its first product, Snow, a natural, mint-flavored carbonated beverage. Snow can be enjoyed after dinner, as well as in clubs and bars as a smart cocktail. Snow was designed for a more discerning palette with a taste for mint, the company says. The beverage is packaged in a glass bottle and retails for $2.49.

Organic India, Boulder, Colo., released The Tulsi Tea Collection – an assortment of its six blends: Original Tulsi, Tulsi Ginger, Tulsi Gotu Kola, Tulsi Chai, Tulsi Green Tea and Tulsi Darjeeling...

Creative Enterprise International Inc. has begun importing Jana Skinny Water, a new beverage in the functional hydration category. Skinny Water aids the body’s fat-burning mechanism by curbing appetite, increasing metabolic rates and blocking carbohydrate formation, the company says…

Pepsi-Cola North America released Frawg, a new apple-flavored, caffeinated soda available exclusively at 7-Eleven as a Slurpee and a Big Gulp fountain drink. 7-Eleven has exclusive rights to Frawg for one year…

Beverage Options Inc., Montgomery, N.Y., released Orange County Choppers High Octane Fuel, a blue raspberry flavored, non-alcohol beverage that contains vitamins, caffeine, taurine and guarana…

7-Eleven Inc. launched Formula 7, a line of functional beverages and foods. Fortified with vitamins, minerals, herbs, antioxidants and amino acids, the chain’s first wave of new beverage products includes a Formula 7 Energy Drink, available in Cherry Lime Lightning and Super Citrus Charge flavors in a 16-ounce can; Formula 7 Beverage, available in Blood Orange and Raspberry Mint in a 20-ounce bottle; and Formula 7 Fitness Beverage, available in Apple Rose and Natural Peach in a 20-ounce bottle. The suggested retail price for bottled beverages is $1.79, and $2.49 for canned energy drinks...

Arecella Premium Brands LLC, Las Vegas, introduced Redcliff Liqueur, a blend of 15 distinctive ingredients with a Southwestern look and feel. Redcliff Liqueur will be launched first into Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico…

Zardetto Spumante, through importer Winebow Inc., is introducing its first new wine in the U.S. market in 15 years. The new Zeta Prosecco di Conegliano DOC is a single-vineyard, single-vintage Prosecco. The Italian sparkling wine, which retails for $20, is fuller bodied and more complex than Zardetto’s bestselling Prosecco Brut…

Pacific Wine Partners, Gonzales, Calif., a Constellation Wines U.S. company, launched a new range of food-friendly Australian wines called Knife & Fork, specially crafted for serving in casual restaurants, cafes and bars. The brand’s Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are packaged in 1-liter bottles and sealed with screw-caps. Knife & Fork is available on-premise nationally for a suggested price of $5 per glass…

F.X. Matt Brewing Co., Utica, N.Y., released Saranac Octoberfest and Pumpkin Ale for the fall season. Pumpkin Ale was produced by using malts that impart a nutty character and flavor, along with pumpkin puree…

Merchant du Vin, Tukwila, Wash., imported Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale for the winter season. The rich honey-amber ale derives from Tadcaster, England...