More than 22,300 attendees visited the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show in Chicago from Oct. 1-4. This year’s event featured a record number of international attendees from 58 countries, the association said. The NACS Show featured a 387,000-plus net square foot exposition floor with 1,333 exhibiting companies, including 324 companies new to the show. The following is a highlight of beverage-related features during the show.
Arizona Beverage Co., Cincinnati, (drinkarizona.com) introduced its new Raspberry Half & Half beverage that is made with black tea, juice and raspberry flavor and packaged in a bright red bottle. The company also highlighted its new CocoZona Coconut Water and Arnold Palmer Hard iced tea and lemonade alcohol beverage. Additionally, it announced new flavors for its Arizona 20-ounce PET tallboy bottles, including Unsweetened Brewed Tea, Pina Colada, Strawberry Colada, Blueberry White Tea, RX Stress Herbal Iced Tea and Raspberry Half & Half. It also featured a new Blueberry Coconut Water variety in its Rescue Water line.
Brooklyn Bottling, Milton, N.Y., (brooklynbottling.com) featured its newest varieties of Tropical Fantasy Tea, Nature’s Own soda, Calvin Cooler alcohol beverages, and a variety of Horchata, a Hispanic rice-based beverage.
The Coca-Cola Co. (thecoca-colacompany.com) highlighted the benefits of its aligned structure one year after its acquisition of its largest bottlers. The Atlanta-based company also introduced its $0.89 pre-priced 12.5-ounce bottle for its sparkling beverages that will launch early next year. The package will be heavily promoted outside of convenience stores to drive traffic inside, the company says. The Coca-Cola Co. also highlighted its frozen beverages, smoothies and Gold Peak iced tea dispensers as a method to help convenience stores increase traffic. It also promoted bundling options that pair its beverages with snacks from partners such as General Mills, Grupo Bimbo, Kraft Foods, The Hershey Co., Procter & Gamble and Kellogg Co. for a value proposition. The company also featured the Coca-Cola Freestyle dispenser, which it is testing in a handful of convenience store accounts.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Plano, Texas, highlighted the national launch of Dr Pepper Ten, the new Diet Snapple Half-and-Half and its partnership with enhanced water brand Hydrive Energy (drpeppersnapplegroup.com).
National Beverage Corp., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., (nationalbeverage.com) showcased new flavors from its Everfresh, Faygo, Ohana, Rip It, Shasta, Clear Fruit and Mr. Pure lines. A 16-ounce Pineapple Mango flavor and a 24-ounce Strawberry Banana flavor were introduced to the Everfresh line. The Faygo brand launched Pineapple Watermelon and Diet Peach in 20-ounce and 24-ounce bottles. The Ohana line of beverages now is available in 1-liter bottles. Rip It energy drinks are available in new Red Zone, 3-Way and Le Moan’r flavors. The Rip It brand also includes 2-ounce energy shots. The Shasta line introduced Fiesta Punch, California Dream and Very Cherry Twist flavors. Clear Fruit offers a new Tangerine flavor. Mr. Pure’s new flavor is Pineapple Mango.
Energy everywhere
5-Hour Energy, Farmington Hills, Mich., (5hourenergy.com) showcased its numerous convenience store displays as well as its latest release, 5-Hour Extra Strength Grape.
Bawls, Miami, (bawls.com) promoted its Cherry flavor, which launched in 10-ounce glass bottles in March of this year. The company’s other flavors, Original, Sugar Free and Root Beer, also are available in glass bottles.
Bazi, Denver, (drinkbazi.com) showcased its Bazi All Natural Energy Shot, which contains an antioxidant-rich blend of eight superfruit extracts, 12 vitamins and D-ribose.
Cold Star Inc., Ephraim, N.J., (coldstarinc.com) showcased its coffee-infused energy drink line Caf Fusion, as well as its ready-to-drink, all-natural TEAse line.
Tampa, Fla.-based Cott Corp. (cott.com) was on hand at the show featuring its lineup of functional shots and variety of beverages that are available for private label accounts.
Davies Enterprises, Cooper, Texas, showcased its Tweaker (tweakerenergy.com) energy shots. The 2-ounce shots are available in Pomegranate, Grape and Berry flavors and do not contain calories, sugar or carbohydrates.
DynaPep, Boca Raton, Fla., (dynapep.com) announced it will launch new flavors in the first quarter of 2012. Its DynaPep Energy line will introduce Grape and Cherry flavors, and its DynaCalm line will add a Vanilla Cream flavor. DynaPep Energy and DynaCalm products feature time-released micro-shot technology.
Hydrive Energy, Rye, N.Y., (hydriveenergy.com) showcased its new labels that will debut next year. The beverage is moving from a supplement panel to a nutrition panel, a spokesperson said.
Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods debuted Mio Energy, the first expansion of its liquid beverage enhancer (kraftbrands.com/mio). Available in Black Cherry and Thunder Punch flavors, Mio Energy features caffeine and vitamins B3, B6 and B12.
LXR Biotech LLC, Brighton, Mich., (lxrbiotech.com) unveiled its Eternal Energy and Perfectly Petite energy shots. Eternal Energy is an energy shot that retails for $1.99 a bottle, or two for $3, the company says. Perfectly Petite, another value-priced offering, is an energy shot with a calorie-burning function. Drinking one bottle burns 100 calories, the company says. Perfectly Petite is not yet available in stores.
Monster Beverage Co., Corona, Calif., sampled a variety of its energy drinks (monsterenergy.com), including the new line extensions of its Rehab line.
New Whey Nutrition, Oviedo, Fla., (newwheynutrition.com) showcased its BetaNOX pre-workout energy shots, which are available in Citrus Blast and Berry Lemon Blast flavors. The product is packaged in tall 3.5-ounce vials.
NVE Pharmaceuticals, Andover, N.J., featured its Stacker2 energy drinks and shots (stacker2.com), including the Vitamin Shot line.
Pure Growth Partners, New York City, celebrated the launch of its Street King energy shot (streetking.com), which feeds a child in need with every bottle of Grape or Orange Mango sold, with an appearance from co-owner and musician Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson on Oct. 3.
Redux Beverages LLC, Valley Center, Calif., promoted its Cocaine beverages and introduced a new product: Cocaine energy shots (drinkcocaine.com). The bottle resembles a prescription bottle, the company says, and refers to its volume as a “dosage.” According to the company, it contains three and a half times more caffeine than the leading competitor.
Adding to the energy category, Downers Grove, Ill.-based Sara Lee Foodservice (saraleefoodservice.com) teamed up with Jacked Up Energy (jackedupenergy.com) to promote new energy beverages that will be available in early 2012. The companies also promoted the energy shot line, which is available in Gushin Grape, Wackedup Watermelon, Outrajus Orange, Bar Gin Berry and Lit Up Lime.
StarMaker Products LLC, Malibu, Calif., (starmakerproducts.com) unveiled its Power Energy Drops. The product delivers a jolt of energy by dispensing a drop of the liquid on the consumer’s tongue. Available in Power Apple and Power Lemon flavors, the drops were designed to improve performance, endurance, concentration and reaction speed without a high concentration of caffeine.
Xyience, Las Vegas, (xyience.com) released its new Xenergy Xtreme Frostberry Blast, which features Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight fighter Wanderlei Silva on the can. Frostberry Blast’s flavor is a balanced blend of blueberry and raspberry flavors, according to the company.
Functional formats
Boca Raton, Fla.-based Bio-Engineered Supplements and Nutrition Inc. (BSN) (bsnonline.net) featured its Endorush energy shot and two new flavors of Syntha-6 protein beverages, Strawberry and Banana, during the show.
BYB Brands Inc., Charlotte, N.C., (bybbrands.com) highlighted its Simmer and Tum-E Yummies brands. Simmer is a low-calorie relaxation drink made with 11 functional ingredients. It is available in Grape and Wild Cherry flavors in 16-ounce cans. Tum-E Yummies is a line of non-carbonated fruit-flavored drinks for kids. Each 10-ounce bottle is equipped with a spill-proof sport cap.
Chill Drinks LLC, Miami, (drinkchillo.com) showcased its C+Swiss Hemp Ice Tea, an all-natural hemp-infused ice tea that is packaged in a can made of paper.
Cutting Edge Beverages, Boca Raton, Fla., (cuttingedgebeverages.com) highlighted its X-Ade performance beverages, which come in six regular flavors and two low-calorie flavors.
VPX, Weston, Fla., (vpxsports.com) showcased new packaging and flavors. The company is phasing its Protein Rush! line out of Tetra Paks and into resealable plastic bottles. Additionally, its Redline Xtreme Energy Drink and Redline Xtreme Energy Shot now are available in a Lemonade flavor.
Natural profiles
Newport Beach, Calif.-based Activate (activatedrinks.com) promoted its two new flavors, Lulo Pear and Blueberry Pomegranate. Activate beverages hold the vitamins and flavors separate from the water until consumption. A twistable proprietary cap releases them into the water below.
Bai Brands LLC (drinkbai.com) showcased its lineup of coffee fruit-infused beverages, such as the original Bai lineup, the five-calorie Bai5 line and the five-calorie Bai5 line in glass bottles. The Princeton, N.J.-based company also promoted its new marketing campaign, “The Secret is Out,” which showcases the benefits of coffee fruit.
Blk Beverages (blkbeverages.com) extended its line of enhanced waters with the addition of Mango, Citrus and Berry varieties. The all-natural flavored waters contain the same fulvic acid, antioxidants, electrolytes and 77 trace minerals as the original Blk water, the New York City-based company says.
Bug Juice International Inc., Brighton, Mich., (drinkbugjuice.com) promoted its new Bug Juice Naturals line. Bug Juice Naturals contain no added sugar, high fructose corn syrup, as well as no artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. The company says each 10-ounce bottle provides the following: two servings of fruit, one serving of vegetables, a half serving of milk, 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C, 25 percent RDA of vitamin D, 30 percent RDA of calcium and 350 mg. of potassium.
Cintron Beverage Group, Philadelphia, featured its expanded line of Cintron Iced Teas and Fruit Ades (cintronbeveragegroup.com). The teas feature a blend of green or black teas with floral notes and fruit flavors, while the juice drinks are sweetened with organic cane sugar and made with 10 percent fruit juice.
Frubob USA Inc., Brandon, Fla., (frubobusa.com) plans to move production from the U.K. to Florida by the end of the year. Therefore, it is changing its bottle sizes from 16.9 ounces and 8.4 ounces to 16 ounces and 8 ounces. It also announced plans to launch a new flavor, Strawberry, in the coming months. Frubob fruit floats feature pieces of real fruit in the beverage.
Hint Water, San Francisco, (drinkhint.com) featured its Premium Essence Water as well as its Hint Fizz sparkling water, which is available in Blackberry, Watermelon, Strawberry-Kiwi and Peach flavors.
InZone Brands, Atlanta, (inzonebrands.com) promoted its Tummy Tickler Tots, Tummy Tickler and Belly Washers juices for children. The drinks’ packaging are BPA-free and spill proof.
Ito En USA Inc., Honolulu, (itoen.com) showcased new packaging and flavors for its line of Teas’ Tea beverages. It also highlighted its antioxidant-filled Sencha Shot and Oolong Shot.
Lifeway Foods (lifewaykefir.com) introduced its new 8-ounce “Grab & Go” sizes for its Lifeway Lowfat Kefir. The 8-ounce size also is available for the Lifeway Lassi and Lifeway Organic Kefir Probugs. The Morton Grove, Ill.-based company also promoted its Lifeway Bio Kefir, available in four-packs of 3.5-ounce bottles.
New York City’s New York Spring Water (newyorkspringwater.com) reported a record-breaking show with new accounts taking on its V-Blast product, which features liquid vitamins that are added to spring water upon opening.
Pulse Beverage Corp., Westminster, Colo., (pulsebeverage.com) introduced its line of Cabana 100 percent Natural Fruit-Flavored Lemonades. The ready-to-drink lemonades are sweetened with a blend of pure cane sugar and stevia and are available in Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Cherry Lemonade, Tropical Mango Lemonade and Island Spice Lemonade varieties.
Vita Coco, New York City, (vitacoco.com) promoted its new sand-and-beach environmental marketing campaign as well as sampled its coconut waters, the flavors of which include Tropical Fruit, Acai & Pom, Pineapple, Tangerine, Peach & Mango and 100 percent Pure Coconut Water.
Zico Pure Premium Coconut Water, Hermosa Beach, Calif., (zico.com) sampled its Chocolate coconut water variety.
Adults only
The Boston Beer Co., Boston, celebrated its support for convenience stores by sampling its popular seasonal Samuel Adams Octoberfest variety (samueladams.com) and Twisted Tea flavored malt beverages (twistedtea.com).
E.&J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, Calif., (gallo.com) highlighted its new Barefoot Bubbly Sparkling Pink Moscato Champagne and Edna Valley Chardonnay.
Hangover Joe’s Products, Cincinnati, (hangoverjoes.com) featured its Hangover Joe’s Recovery Shot with new labels that include characters from the movie “The Hangover.” The product is designed to take in the morning to aid in relief of a hangover, the company says.
Party Armor, Bay City, Mich., (drinkpartyarmor.com) showcased its hangover shot that is designed to be consumed prior to going to sleep.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif., (sierranevada.com) sampled a few of its beers and highlighted the launch of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in cans available nationwide in February. BI
