New Products

Citrus Hybrid Energy Soda
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.
Vault and Vault Zero
Coca-Cola North America, Atlanta
Telephone: 404/676-2121
Internet: drinkvault.com
Distribution: National
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.
Calories cut
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.
Diet Ocean Spray Juice Drinks
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.,
Lakeville-Middleboro, Mass.
Telephone: 508/946-1000
Internet: oceanspray.com
Distribution: National
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.
Black horse
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.
Caballo Negro Double Kick
Distribuidores De La Energia Inc., Burlingame, Calif.
Telephone: 650/347-6800
Internet: caballonegro.biz
Distribution: National
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.
Tropical twist
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.
Tampico Flavored Water Beverages
Tampico Beverages, Chicago
Telephone: 773/296-0190
Internet: tampico.com
Distribution: Select markets
Pretty in pink
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.
Pinky
Liquidity, Manhasset, N.Y.
Telephone: 310/881-8060
Internet: pinkyvodka.com
Distribution: Select markets
Juice/soy beverage
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.
8th Continent Refreshers
8th Continent LLC, Minneapolis
Telephone: 800/247-6458
Internet: 8thcontinent.com
Distribution: National
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.
Pomegranate spirit
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.
Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
Heaven Hill Distillers Inc., Bardstown, Ky.
Telephone: 502/348-3921
Internet: pamaliqueur.com
Distribution: Select markets
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) |
More fiber, less sugar
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.
Old Orchard Healthy Balance Prune
Old Orchard Brands LLC, Sparta, Mich.
Telephone: 616/887-1745
Internet: oldorchardbrands.com
Distribution: National
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.
Juiced up
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.
Rockstar Juiced
Rockstar Inc., Las Vegas
Telephone: 702-939-5535
Internet: rockstar69.com
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.
Cool coffee
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.
Coffee Cooler
Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co., Orlando, Fla.
Telephone: 407/854-6600
Internet: barniescoffee.com
Distribution: National
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.
Reduced-calorie blueberry
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.
LiteBlue
Leading Brands Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia
Telephone: 604/685-5200
Internet: trueblueberry.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Water, blueberry juice from concentrate,
grape juice from concentrate, cane sugar, citric acid, color, natural
flavor, ascorbic acid and sucralose.
OJ with fiber
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.
Tropicana Pure Premium with Fiber
PepsiCo Inc., Purchase, N.Y.
Phone: 914/767-6000
Internet: tropicana.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: 100 percent squeezed pasteurized orange
juice and Fibersol-2 fiber (maltodextrin).
RTD treats
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.
Starbucks Iced Coffee, Starbucks Iced Coffee Light,
Starbucks DoubleShot Light, Starbucks Strawberries and Crème Frappuccino
Company: PepsiCo Inc., Purchase, N.Y.
Phone: 914/767-6000
Internet: pepsi.com
Distribution: National
Lemon and Lime
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.
Simply Lemonade and Simply Limeade
Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta
Telephone: 800/871-2653
Internet: simplyorangejuice.com
Distribution: National
Dagger approach
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.
Khukri Rum
Liquid Treasure Imports,Oreland, Pa.
Telephone: 215/885-3685
Distribution: Select markets
Soy for the brain
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.
Odwalla Soymilk
Odwalla, Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Telephone: 800/639-2552
Internet: odwalla.com
Distribution: National
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.
Brewmaster addition
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.
Samuel Adams Brown Ale
Boston Beer Co., Boston
Telephone: 617/368-5000
Internet: samadams.com
Distribution: National
Vitamin-filled refresher
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.
SoBe Life Water
Pepsi-Cola North America, Purchase, N.Y.
Telephone: 914/253-2000
Internet: sobelifewater.com
Distribution: National
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.
New Carafe bottle
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.
Uncle Matt’s Organic Orange Juice Carafe
Uncle Matt’s Organic Inc., Clermont, Fla.
Telephone: 352/394-8737
Distribution: Select markets
Fruity wine
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.
Wild Vines Frutézia Tropical Blend and Passion
Blend
E&J Gallo Winery, Modesto, Calif.
Telephone: 209/341-3111
Internet: frutezia.com
Distribution: National
Bubble sensation
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.
Dasani Sensations
Coca-Cola North America, Atlanta
Telephone: 404/676-2121
Internet: dasani.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Lemon-Lime: Carbonated water, citric
acid, natural flavors, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate, sucralose,
acesulfame potassium, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride and salt.
At a glance . . .
Wine and spirits
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…
Coffee and tea
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…
Bottled water
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…
Alternative beverages
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…
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!