Coca-Cola North America and Caribou Coffee launched a line of premium ready-to-drink iced coffees in cities in the Midwest and Southeast. Caribou Iced Coffee is available in three flavors — Regular, Espresso and Vanilla — and is packaged in 12-ounce reclosable Alumi-Tek aluminum bottles from Ball Corp. The company says the suggested retail price is similar to other bottled coffee drinks. The product initially will be available in convenience stores and other retails outlets in Minneapolis; Chicago; Atlanta; Cincinnati; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit and Kansas City, Kansas, and in Caribou Coffee retail outlets.

First Blush Inc. created a brand of the same name in 100 percent all-natural varietal grape juices. First Blush juice is made from a collection of varietal grapes, including Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay and Rose. Each juice is flash pasteurized, and contains no added sugar, preservatives, alcohol or caffeine. A 16-ounce glass bottle retails between $3.79 and $3.99.

Ingredients: Cabernet:100 percent cabernet juice from concentrate, reconstituted with filtered water and natural flavors.

The Boston Beer Co. created a distinct, full-flavored craft brew, Samuel Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner. The limited-edition beer uses large quantities of the Hallertau Mittelfrueh hop, a rare Bavarian Noble hop variety prized for its distinct taste and aroma, the company says. The Hallertau Imperial Pilsner will be available in 12-ounce bottles in four-packs at select specialty beer stores for $9.99 for about six to eight weeks in most markets.

Naked Juice Co., a subsidiary of PepsiCo, introduced Naked Juice Probiotic, a 100 percent juice smoothie with probiotics and prebiotics. Naked Juice Probiotic is an all-natural five-juice blend that includes mango, orange and pineapple. With no added sugar or preservatives, Tropical Mango Naked Juice Probiotic contains bifidobacterium, which aids in digestive and immune health. The product also contains prebiotics to stimulate the good bacteria that are already in the digestive tract. Naked Juice Probiotic is available in single-serve 10-ounce bottles, with a retail price of $2.99.

Ingredients: Apple juice, mango puree, orange juice, pineapple juice, banana puree, fructooligosaccharides, natural flavors and bifidobacterium.

Healthy Innovations Inc. developed a line of all-natural premium sparkling green teas called VidaTea. The teas are enhanced with vitamins and antioxidants such as grape seed extract, alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10 and EGCG, and sweetened with organic blue agave. VidaTea comes in three flavors — Pomegranate, Wild Berry and Desert Pear — and is packaged in 12-ounce slim cans. The teas retail for $1.49 to $1.79.

Ingredients: Purified carbonated water, organic agave nectar, crystalline fructose, natural flavors, green tea, citric acid, phosphoric acid and stevia.

Coca-Cola North America added Simply Apple and Simply Grapefruit to its line of Simply juice products. Simply Apple is a pure-pressed, 100 percent not-from-concentrate apple juice, and Simply Grapefruit is a 100 percent not-from-concentrate grapefruit juice. Simply Apple and Simply Grapefruit are packaged in 59-ounce clear proprietary carafes, with a retail price of $3.49 and $3.89, respectively.

Starbucks Coffee Co. and Kraft Foods have released two new mild coffee blends: Starbucks Daily Horizons Blend and Starbucks Half Caffeinated Breakfast Blend. Daily Horizons Blend brings a mix of Latin American coffees with a lively taste and clean finish, the company says. Starbucks Breakfast Blend is the top selling variety of Starbucks packaged coffees in grocery stores, and now with Half Caffeinated Breakfast Blend, the company is offering the coffee with half the caffeine. Half Caffeinated Breakfast Blend comprises a variety of Latin American coffees, and is mild but flavorful.

Additionally, Starbucks Coffee Co. and PepsiCo, through their North American Coffee Partnership joint venture, released Starbucks Dark Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino. The limited-time Frappuccino blends Starbucks coffee with dark chocolate and peppermint. The drink is available at grocery and convenience stores from September 2007 to February 2008.

New Product Introductions by Category
CATEGORY	SKUS YTD 8/31/07	SKUS YTD 8/31/06
Alcohol Beverages	154	238
Beverage Concentrates/Mixes	189	245
Carbonated Soft Drinks	106	105
Coffee	133	142
Energy Drinks	91	98
Fruit/Flavored Still Drinks	75	105
Juice & Nectars	196	157
Malt & Other Hot Beverages	47	44
Meal Replacements & Other Drinks	44	47
RTD Coffee & Tea	93	114
Sports Drinks	36	17
Tea	150	204
Water	110	152
Total	1,424	1,668
Source: Mintel Global New Products Database

Heartland Spirits Group began importing Greenall’s London Dry Gin & Tonic from U.K.-based distiller G&J Greenall. The ready-to-drink gin and tonic contains G&J Greenall’s Premium Original London Dry Gin and tonic water, and is 20 proof. Packaged in a 12-ounce slim can, Greenall’s London Dry Gin & Tonic retails in a four-pack for $9.99.

DLR Associates released Potencia Energy Drink, a drink created by Latinos for Latinos, the company says. Potencia’s initial fruit flavor is Tamarind, with Mandarin and Guava varieties to launch in coming months. Potencia’s 16-ounce can contains information in Spanish and English.

Ingredients: Tamarind pulp, water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, caramel coloring, phosphoric acid, xanthan gum and preservatives (sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate).

Integrated Beverage Group released Power Ice, a frozen sports beverage formulated to cool, hydrate efficiently and quickly, and replace electrolytes. Power Ice is frozen in a 50-ml. size, and packaged in a flexible pouch. Power Ice is available in Lime Kicker and Orange Blast flavors, and is sweetened with sugar and does not contain caffeine.

Ingredients: Water, sucrose, maltodextrin, citric acid, ascorbic acid, sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, monopotassium phosphate, natural flavors, gum Arabic and FD&C Yellow No. 5.

Scientific Response introduced Drink & Shrink, a hoodia-enhanced dietary shake. Available in two flavors, Deep Dark Dutch Chocolate and Creamy Chocolate Almond, the shakes contain Hoodia Gordonii, which the company says has been reported to suppress appetite. With 80 calories, the shake contains no added sugar or lactose. Drink & Shrink is available nationally at GNC stores, and is packaged in 10.7-ounce Tetra Pak containers. Additional flavors as well as a fruit drink line will follow, the company says.

Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages offers Rose’s Cocktail Infusions and Rose’s Mojito Cocktail Mix. The mixers can be used to create martinis or mixed drinks by adding vodka or rum. Rose’s Mojito Cocktail Mix is available in Mango Mojito, Traditional (Lime) Mojito and Passion Fruit Mojito varieties. Further expanding cocktail options, Rose’s Cocktail Infusions are offered in Blue Raspberry Martini Mix, Pomegranate Twist Martini Mix and Sour Apple Martini Mix flavors.

High Voltage Beverage Co. developed Volt, a line of sports and soft drinks targeting a young male audience. The sports drink, Volt High Performance Rehydration, is available in Blue Raspberry, Orange, Lemon-Lime and Fruit Punch flavors, and provides electrolyte replacement, vitamins B6, B12, A and E, taurine and gluconoronolactone. Volt Energizing Citrus Shock is a carbonated soda with a citrus flavor that also contains taurine, guarana and ginseng.

Ingredients: Citrus Shock: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavor, taurine, monopotassium phosphate, salt, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, caffeine, clarified orange juice concentrate, ginseng, guarana extract, ester gum, brominated vegetable oil and Yellow No. 5.

Fillmore St. Brewery’s newest Pimp Juice addition is Pimp Juice: The Purple Label. The energy drink is lightly carbonated and possesses a prickly pear and pomegranate flavor. The drink contains an antioxidant blend of acaí, ascorbic acid, grape extract, green tea extract, pear extract, pomegranate juice and yerba maté. Pimp Juice maintains its energy boost with 81 mg. of caffeine per serving, and includes taurine and guarana.

Ingredients: Carbonated water, sucrose and/or high fructose corn syrup, pear, pomegranate and acaí juice from concentrate, citric acid, natural grape flavor with other natural flavors, D-ribose, ascorbic acid, inositol, caffeine, guarana seed extract, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, yerba maté, FD&C Red No. 40, taurine, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, FD&C Blue No. 1, green tea extract and cyanocobalamin.

Mix 1 Beverages, founded by Izze co-founder Greg Stroh, developed Mix 1, an all natural and nutritional beverage. With 200 calories per 11-ounce bottle, Mix 1 provides an optimal blend of carbohydrates, proteins and nutrients to offer balance and sustained energy throughout the day. Mix 1 — available in Mix Berry, Lime, Mango and Blueberry Vanilla flavors — contains 15 grams of lactose-free whey protein, 22 vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and 3 grams of dietary fiber. The drinks contain no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors. Mix 1 retails for $2.

Ingredients: Mix Berry: Purified water, whey protein isolate, organic cane sugar, organic evaporated cane juice, juice concentrate (blueberry, strawberry, raspberry and apple), extra light olive oil, citric acid, pectin, natural flavor, black carrot juice concentrate (color) and lactic acid.

Stevens Point Brewery launched WildLife Energy Drink, which was created for the American outdoor sportsman. WildLife Energy Drink is a functional drink formulated for times where extended endurance is needed such as when hunting, fishing or trapping. WildLife Energy Drink contains taurine, guarana, ginseng, L-carnitine and vitamins C and B2. WildLife Energy Drink is bottled in 16-ounce cans and packaged in four packs.

Healthy Beverage Co. added three new flavors of its Steaz Energy drink. Lime, Orange and Diet Berry Steaz Energy are sweetened by organic sugar cane juice, and contain no refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors or preservatives. The organic and Fair Trade certified energy drinks retail nationally at Whole Foods.

Purple Beverage Co. combined seven antioxidant-containing fruits to create Purple. The all-natural and no-sugar-added drink contains acaí juice, black cherry, pomegranate, black currant, purple plum, cranberry and blueberry. The company says Purple can be consumed by itself or added to a fruit smoothie or cocktail. Purple is available in a 10-ounce glass bottle and a 13-ounce plastic bottle. Both sizes retail for $3.99.

Ingredients: Acaí juice, black cherry juice, pomegranate juice, black currant juice, apple juice, purple plum juice, cranberry juice and blueberry juice from concentrate.

This autumn, Starbucks Coffee Co. and Kraft Foods are releasing Tazo Organic Apple Red Herbal Infusion and Tazo Vanilla Apricot White Tea in filter bags. Organic Apple Red offers the taste of apple, cinnamon and caramel flavors along with rooibos, but without caffeine. Vanilla Apricot White Tea mixes Chinese tea buds plucked early with Tahitian vanilla and notes of apricot.

Jones Soda Co. launched limited-edition Halloween flavors: Lemon Drop Dead, Strawberry Slime, Candy Corn, Gruesome Grape and Monster Mojito. Packaged in themed cans and bottles, the sodas are available nationally at select locations.

The Sunny Delight Beverages Co. began test marketing FruitSimple, a line of 100 juice smoothies designed to provide two servings of fruit in an 8-ounce serving. Available in Strawberry Banana, Pomegranate Blueberry, Mixed Berry and Orange Mango flavors, the juices can be found in the refrigerated section. FruitSimple is in test market in Arizona, and is being launched nationally in Spain, the company’s strongest market.

Unilever added three new flavors to its line of Lipton Pyramid teas: Tuscan Lemon, Bedtime Story, and White Tea with Blueberry and Pomegranate…

Caffe D’Amore, Monrovia, Calif., introduced RoBoosto, a caffeine-fortified energy latte mix. RoBoosto has a caffeine content of 150 mg. per 1 ounce of mix. Prepared hot, over ice or blended with ice, RoBoosto also is available in single-serve packets to be mixed in 12 ounces of bottled water…

TalkingRain Beverage Co., Seattle, released four organic flavors of its sparkling water and added four organic flavors to its Twist line…

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif., released its Anniversary Ale in bottles. The product previously only had been available in draft at the brewery pub during the fall season. The American Style IPA features prominent use of Cascade hops, and will launch in select markets…

This month, St. Killian Importing Co., Kingston, Mass., the exclusive importer of Otro Mundo Brewing Co.’s Golden Ale and Red Ale, released the beers to the U.S. market. Both beers are offered in 16.9-ounce bottles…

Bacardi USA, Miami, launched Rubi Rey rum, a single-barrel finished white rum, in Chicago, Denver and South Florida. The rum is 43 percent alcohol per volume, and is packaged in a gem-shaped ruby-colored bottle. Bacardi will take Rubi Rey nationwide in 2008…

Pernod Ricard USA, Purchase, N.Y., released a seasonally inspired liqueur, Hiram Walker Pumpkin Spice. Pumpkin Spice will be available for the months of October and November…

Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, filed a label application with the federal government for Pomacai, a pomegranate and acaí flavored vodka. The vodka has 35 percent alcohol by volume, according to the label…

Phillips Distilling Co., Minneapolis, extended its UV Vodka line with UV Lemonade, a pink-colored spirit offering the flavor of pink lemonade…

Castle Brands Inc., New York City, introduced Knappogue Castle Whiskey 1995, the latest in its series of vintage-dated single malts from Ireland. A 750-ml. bottle retails for $34.99...

Laird & Co., Scobeyville, N.J., added Casoni Limoncello from Sorrento to its portfolio. Casoni Limoncello is produced following traditional methods using only peels of lemons from the Sorrento peninsula of Italy…

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based Imperial Brands Inc., a subsidiary of Belvédère SA, began importing premium Polish Sobieski Vodka to select markets in the United States…