Kellogg Co. extended its Special K line with the release of protein-fortified products including Special K20 Protein Waters. Set to release in November, the waters, along with snack and meal bars, are the first products to come from the company's new Health and Wellness division. Special K20 delivers 5 grams of protein per 16-ounce bottle with 50 calories. The water is available in Strawberry Kiwi, Lemon Twist and Tropical Blend in a four-pack for $5.99.

Special K20 Protein Waters
Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich.
Telephone: 269/961-3799
Internet: www.kelloggcompany.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Strawberry Kiwi: Water, contains two percent or less of sugar, whey protein isolate, natural and artificial flavor, phosphoric acid, citric acid, calcium gluconate, calcium lactate, sucralose,  acesulfame potassium and Red #40.

High Energy Holdings released P.i.n.k., a premium vodka from the Netherlands that has been distilled five times and infused with caffeine and guarana. The 80-proof vodka comes in a 750-ml. bottle and appears to radiate a pink glow. Distributed by Southern Wine & Spirits, P.i.n.k. has a suggested retail price of $40.

P.i.n.k.
High Energy Holdings LLC, New York
Internet: www.perfectpartyspirit.com
Distribution: Select markets

Green tea energy
Ferolito, Vultaggio & Sons introduced Arizona Green Tea Energy Drink, a green tea-based energy drink. Available in regular and diet, the energy drink is all natural and lightly carbonated with a blend of vitamins, minerals and herbs. A 16-ounce can retails for $1.99.

Arizona Green Tea Energy Drink
Arizona Beverages, Lake Success, N.Y.
Telephone: 513/784-9898
Internet: www.arizonabev.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Brewed green tea using filtered water, high fructose corn syrup, orange blossom honey, taurine, natural flavors, malic acid, citric acid, guarana, inositol, panax ginseng, caffeine, glucuronolactone, ascorbic acid, monopotassium phosphate, milk thistle, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.

Leading Brands relaunched Trek, an all-natural sports drink line, and introduced Nitro Energy Drinks. Trek Sports Drink – available in Orange, Fruit Punch, Lemon-Lime and Wildberry flavors – are sweetened with cane sugar, and are formulated to hydrate athletes quickly. Nitro Energy Drinks pack in thirst-quenching energy without carbonation, and come in Grape, Blue Raspberry and Red Berry flavors. Both drinks are packaged in a 20-ounce bottle with a loop cap that allows the bottle to be clipped. The drinks retail for $1.49 to $1.99.

Trek Natural Sports Drinks and Nitro Energy Drinks
Leading Brands Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia
Telephone: 866/685-5200
Internet: www.lbix.com
Distribution: United States and Canada
Ingredients: Trek Fruit Punch: Filtered water, cane sugar, natural flavors, citric acid, sea salt, fruit and vegetable juice (color) and potassium citrate.

PepsiCo. released Aquafina Sparkling, a carbonated water beverage with natural fruit flavor enhanced with a sweetener blend. Aquafina Sparkling comes in Berry Burst and Citrus Twist flavors, and contains zero calories, carbs, sugar and is low in sodium. The line is available in 20-ounce bottles and 16.9-ounce bottles in six-packs.

Aquafina Sparkling
PepsiCo Inc., Purchase, N.Y.
Telephone: 914/767-6000
Internet: www.aquafina.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Berry Burst: Sparkling water, natural flavors, citric acid, sodium citrate, potassium benzoate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium and calcium disodium EDTA.

Anheuser-Busch created Peels, an alcohol beverage made with fruit juice. Peels is lightly carbonated, with a slightly sweet taste, and can be enjoyed chilled, straight up, over ice, mixed or frozen. Targeted at women, Peels contains 100 percent natural ingredients – free of preservatives and artificial flavors – and is 5 percent alcohol by volume. The drinks in Cranberry Peach, Blueberry Pomegranate, Strawberry Passion Fruit and Pear Lemon flavors are packaged in single-flavor four-packs for $4 to $6, and variety packs.

Peels
Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis
Telephone: 314/577-2000
Internet:www.enjoypeels.com
Distribution: National

New Product Introductions by Category
CATEGORY	SKUS YTD 6/27/06	SKUS YTD 6/27/05	PERCENT CHANGE
Alcohol Beverages	778	701	11.0%
Coffee & Tea	569	656	-13.3%
Dairy Drinks & Alternatives,Health Drinks	219	139	57.6%
Fruit & Vegetable Drinks	397	476	-16.6%
Other Drinks	257	163	57.7%
Soft Drinks, Sports Drinks& Bottled Waters	492	353	39.4%
Total Beverages	2,712	2,488	9.0%
Source: Productscan Online (www.productscan.com)

Aroma Water is bottled water sealed with a patented aromatic cap made with FDA-approved flavors. Since the flavors aren’t added to the water, there is no need for additives and preservatives. Over time, the cap adds aroma to the water. Since approximately 90 percent of taste is from the sense of smell, the company says consumers experience the sensation of flavor while they get hydration. Aroma Water is available in Lemon Lime and Mandarin Orange in 16.9-ounce bottles for $1.29 to $1.49.

Aroma Water
Aroma Water LLC, Haverford, Pa.
Telephone: 800/896-4777
Internet: www.aromawater.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Water and natural and artificial flavors, only in the cap.

Nico Worldwide Inc. launched Nic Lite, a drink targeted at cigarette smokers who fly. Nic Lite is a lemon-flavored water-based nicotine drink designed for smokers who can’t or choose not to smoke and have to quit smoking cigarettes for limited periods of time. Nic Lite is classified by the FDA as a dietary supplement, and is available for smokers 18 years and older. Packaged in an 8-ounce blue bottle, Nic Lite contains 4 mg. of purified organic nicotine (two cigarettes worth) infused in water with no calories or preservatives. Currently Nic Lite is available at airports for $2.99 and convenience stores for $1.99.

Nic Lite
Nico Worldwide Inc., Trabuco Canyon, Calif.
Telephone: 888/642-8463
Internet: www.nictime.com
Distribution: Select markets
Ingredients: Water, 4 mg. nicotine, potassium benzoate and natural flavor.

Pepsi plans to launch its first Sierra Mist limited-time-only offering. Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash, a crisp lemon-lime soft drink flavored with a hint of cranberry, will be available for eight weeks, beginning in November. Supported with national television and radio advertising, Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash will be available in 20-ounce and 2-liter bottles and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash
PepsiCo Inc., Purchase, N.Y.
Telephone: 914/767-6000
Internet: www.pepsi.com
Distribution: National

Coca-Cola made over its ready-to-drink Nestea iced tea product line with four new products, including reformulated flavors, the introduction of green teas and the return of the classic Nestea brand. Nestea reformulated its Lemon and Diet Lemon varieties, and added a Green Tea line featuring Peach and Diet Peach flavors. Nestea now will be offered in 12-packs of half-liter bottles and 20-ounce bottles, 12-ounce cans, 12-ounce FridgePacks and 2-liter bottles.

Nestea
Coca-Cola North America, Atlanta
Telephone: 404/676-2121
Internet: coca-cola.com
Distribution: National

Ito En developed its first ready-to-drink coffee, Café Sepia. Available in resealable 6.4-ounce steel cans, Café Sepia can be found pre-heated in Ito En display units or may be purchased cold and then poured into a cup and heated. Café Sepia – in House Blend and Mocha – are produced with coffee beans roasted in Japan, and retail for $1.79 to $1.99.

Café Sepia
Ito En Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Telephone: 718/250-4000
Internet: itoen.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Mocha: Brewed coffee (water, coffee), milk, natural beet sugar, nonfat dry milk, cacao extract, natural flavors, sucrose fatty acid esters and polyglycerol esters of fatty acids (emulsifiers).

Smucker extended its R.W. Knudsen Family with bottled Spritzers. Like the original line of 12-ounce cans, the four-packs of 12-ounce bottles in Tangerine, Red Raspberry, Mango, Black Cherry and Grape Spritzers are 100 percent fruit juice with sparkling water, and contain no added sugars or artificial sweeteners. A four-pack retails for around $4.99.

R.W. Knudsen Spritzers
Smucker Quality Beverages Inc., Chico, Calif.
Telephone: 530/899-5000
Internet: knudsenjuices.com
Distribution: National
Ingredients: Black Cherry: Sparkling water, apple, pear, cherry, pineapple and plum juice concentrates, natural flavors.

Froid Coffee Co. unveiled Froid organic ready-to-drink coffee beverages in Original and French Vanilla flavors. The gourmet coffee drinks are served in shelf-stable 11-ounce bottles, and can be enjoyed chilled or hot. The company also released organic chai tea. Froid offers a rich creamy taste and all-natural ingredients.

Froid
Froid Coffee Co. LLC, Canoga Park, Calif.
Telephone: 866/463-7643
Internet: froidcoffee.com
Distribution: Select markets
Ingredients: Water, organic milk, organic cane sugar, organic coffee, organic maltodextrin, natural flavors, pectin, sodium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate.

Coca-Cola North America, Atlanta, added a Grape flavor to its Dasani, Powerade and Powerade Option brands…

Elite FX, Delray Beach, Fla., added two new flavors to Celsius, a calorie burning soda: Wild Berry and Orange. Celsius gets its calorie burning power from a blend including green tea with EGCG, ginger, caffeine, B vitamins and C vitamins, and retails for $1.99 per bottle…

PTS Labs, Vernon Hills, Ill., released a ReVital pediatric electrolyte solution in a 1-liter Tetra Brik Aseptic package. The children’s drink will be sold under the licensed Care Bears name…

BevSpec Inc., Austin, Texas, has gained full USDA Organic certification through Quality Assurance International for its Syzmo Energy drink…

Bliss Beverage, Scottsdale, Ariz., released Hulk Energy Powered by Socko, an energy drink in the traditional Socko can that has been redesigned and rebranded with a Hulk Hogan image…

Smucker Quality Beverages Inc., Chico, Calif., added Organic Low Sodium Very Veggie to its R.W. Knudsen line. With no added salt, the 100 percent juice product provides a full serving of vegetables in a 6-ounce glass. A blend of tomatoes, carrots, celery, other green vegetables, lemon juice and bell peppers, the veggie drink retails in a 32-ounce bottle for $2.99…

Stomping Grounds, Portland, Ore., released 32-ounce espresso concentrates called Stomping Grounds Lattés. Consumers just add milk and heat on the stovetop to make a latté. Available in Espresso, Vanilla, Caramel and Mocha Latté, a box retails for $6 and provides 12 8-ounce servings…

Lindsay’s Teas, San Francisco, extended its line by offering all-natural flavors, including Guava Green, Honeydew Green, Blanc de Pom Pom White, Fig de Blanc White, Vanilla Pu Erh, Kookiedoodle and Cinnamon Orangerie Black Tea... 

Preiss Imports, San Diego, added Curacao Clear, Blue and Orange to its line of Senior & Co. Curacao Liqueurs…

Sonoma Wine Group launched Better Half, a wine bottle half the size of a traditional wine bottle that was created with the beer distribution network in mind. The 375-ml. bottle dons a QualitySeal screw-top closure, and comes in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Turtle Moon Chardonnay, Bluey White Zinfandel and Los Danzantes Shiraz. The wine retails between $6.99 and 7.99…

Prestige Imports LLC, St. Clair Shores, Mich., created Jaguar Vodka, a triple-filtered premium vodka. A portion of sales goes toward jaguar habitat preservation in Central America...

Pernod Ricard USA, White Plains, N.Y., released Seagram’s Gin Distiller’s Reserve, a premium 102-proof gin in 1.75 liter, 750-ml., 375-ml., 200-ml. and 50-ml. bottles…

Southampton Publick House, Southampton, N.Y., added a Grand Cru to its line of 750-ml. series of cork-finished champagne-style bottles. The series features uncommon styles of brew that may be cellared for five to 10 years, and over time the flavor will continue to evolve. Grad Cru is distributed on the East Coast and retails for $12 a bottle…

Miller Brewing Co. released a caffeinated malt beverage under its Mickey’s brand called Mickey’s Stinger. Distributed initially in Arizona, California and Nevada, the drink features an infusion of caffeine, guarana and taurine. Mickey’s Stinger contains 7 percent alcohol by volume, and retails for $1.79.