What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches - from protein water to prebiotic soda

Cold-pressed shots: Mango Sunshine and Beet Balance

Plenish is introducing Mango Sunshine and Beet Balance to its cold-pressed shots range, rolling out this month in Tesco.

Both flavors (pictured above) will be available in a 60ml shot. Mango Sunshine offers 100% of the recommended intake (RI) of vitamin D, while Beet Balance is designed to support overall women’s health with 100% RI of vitamin B6.

The flavours will join Ginger Immunity, Berry Gut Health, Turmeric Recovery and Spirulina Detox, ensuring consumers have a daily shot for a variety of health needs.

Russell Goldman, Managing Director at Plenish, said: “The wellbeing shots category is growing fast, already worth £25.6m and by 2025 the category is projected to more than double [Nielsen data]. By offering a wide choice of flavors and benefits in the category, Plenish can help retailers cater to the growing shopper demand.”

The shots have no added sugar, preservatives or flavorings.

Mango Sunshine and Beet Balance will be available in 60ml shots with a MRSP of £2 each, and Mango Sunshine will also be available in a 300ml dosing bottle with a MRSP of £4.50. Manufactured in the UK, both flavors are initially rolling into Tesco, before becoming available more widely.

Protein water

Protein water brand, Vievé, is looking to deliver a ‘blissful fusion of taste and nutrition’ with its latest flavor, Wild Cherry; a fruity drink with 20g of protein in every bottle. 

The dairy and fat free drink comes in at 90 calories a bottle, and infused with 20g collagen protein, designed as a post-workout drink or hydrating top-up during the day.

“We are excited to be launching Wild Cherry as the latest addition to our range of protein waters,” said Rafael Rozenson, Founder and CEO of Vievé. “We found this to be the most popular flavour within our vegan range, but discovered that 50% of those purchasing it weren’t actually vegan. To meet the huge demand for this flavour, we’ve reformulated it into our core range with a significantly higher protein level.”

Wild Cherry will join Vievé’s core range of six naturally-flavoured protein waters which include: Strawberry & Rhubarb, Watermelon, Peach & Raspberry, Orange & Mango, Pineapple & Coconut and Citrus & Apple. 

Vievé’s new Wild Cherry Protein Water is available nationwide in independent retailers, gyms, Amazon and online via the company, with a RRP of £2.29 per 500ml bottle.

Lower sugar smoothies

Best known for its fruit and veggie smoothies, the Naked Brands is launching a new range of lower sugar smoothies in the US.

The new Naked Lower Sugar Smoothies offer 50% lower sugar in flavors Berrylicious, Glorious Greens and Tropical Sunrise.

The smoothies are made with real fruit and include a blend of natural, upcycled citrus fibers to deliver a sweet taste, smooth texture and the added benefit of 9g of fiber, including 6g of prebiotic fiber, per 15.2 fl oz bottle.

Each bottle contains 150 calories and is Non-GMO Project Verified.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring Naked Lower Sugar Smoothies to consumers who are looking for a lower sugar option they can enjoy while on the go this summer," said Monica McGurk, CEO of Tropicana Brands Group North America. "It was crucial for us to be able to create a lower sugar beverage that didn't compromise taste or texture and Naked Lower Sugar Smoothies deliver just that."

Naked Lower Sugar Smoothies are available at retailers nationwide including Albertsons, Walmart, Target and others in a 15.2 fluid ounce serving for $3.99 MSRP.

Prebiotic soda

New prebiotic soda LEVO launches in the US in six flavors: Cotton Candy, Splice, Cosmic Punch, Root Beer Float, Orange Creamsicle, and Voodoo Cola.

A 12 oz can of LEVO contains 5g of dietary fiber and 5g of cane sugar, all while keeping the calorie count to 30 and claiming 80% less sugar than the leading soda. It also contains prebiotics and uses natural sweeteners: being zero caffeine, zero aspartame and zero sucralose.

The look and feel of LEVO has been designed to transport consumers back to simpler times, ‘evoking joy with every satisfying crack of a freshly opened can’. 

To celebrate the launch, LEVO will be the official soda of choice at The Pollo Lounge, the new dining concept from Chain, the company founded by actor-writer B.J. Novak and Michelin-starred chef Tim Hollingsworth. The events will take place May 8th and 9th in Los Angeles from Chain’s private event space. Guests will have the first opportunity to try all six flavors of LEVO, and the open bar will feature Chain craft cocktails made with the prebiotic sodas. 

“It’s an exciting time to release LEVO, a soda that is actually good for you to drink and has an exceptional taste. We’re proud of the flavors we’ve created and can’t wait to see how people respond to modern twists on some of the old-school classics. Kicking off Chain’s The Pollo Lounge, we are continuing to look for interesting and unique ways to make LEVO the go-to drink of the summer season and beyond,” said Joseph Nickell, Chief Executive Officer, Clear Cut Brands.

Nescafé launches premium Espresso Concentrate Coffee

Nescafé is launching a new Nescafé Espresso Concentrate in China and Australia.

Designed to capture the out of home cold coffee experience, this premium liquid coffee concentrate ‘brings barista-style personalized iced coffees to consumers’ homes’.

Consumers can simply add a small shot of Espresso Concentrate to milk, to have a creamy iced Latte; or to water for a robust Americano, or even mix it with lemonade or juice in a refreshing twist.

In 2023, 32% of the coffee consumed out of home was cold, the equivalent of 1 in every 3 cups. As well as being one of the fastest growing segments in the coffee industry (with 15% consumption increase over the past four years), it’s particularly popular with younger generations.

Philipp Navratil, Head of Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit, said "Young coffee consumers start drinking their coffee cold. With the Nescafé Espresso Concentrate we want to capture the growing out of home cold coffee trend and bring it in-home, with a quality premium cold coffee, in a convenient, simple, and customizable way."

The Nescafé Espresso Concentrate is currently available in two flavors: Sweet Vanilla, for a touch of flavor to the coffee ritual, and Espresso Black, for a bold and intense coffee.

The Nescafé Espresso Concentrate is launching this month in selected retailers in Australia, in bottle format, and in e-commerce platforms in China as a single serve pod to pour over milk, water, or juice. It is set to expand to markets worldwide over the coming years.

Via Carota Craft Cocktails

Via Carota Craft Cocktails – the craft cocktail brand inspired by the eponymous West Village establishment – has announced a new range of single-serve, ready-to-pour sparkling cocktails.

The bubbly, bar-quality offerings are housed in bespoke bottles and crafted to be enjoyed straight or served over ice. The range includes:

• Negroni Sbagliato: A bubbly riff on the classic Negroni, combining citrus and orange peel with herbaceous wine notes, for a long and fresh, effervescent finish. 
• White Negroni Sbagliato: A charming twist on the modern classic, this refreshing cocktail substitutes a white aperitivo in place of the traditional red, harmoniously marrying bitter and sweet for a complex cocktail. 
• Spritz: Vibrant in color, this bright, bittersweet, and zesty cocktail is approachable and full-flavored with complex herbal notes. 
• Paloma: Citrus notes and bespoke Blanco tequila combine sweet, sour and a touch of bitter for a bold cocktail with a crisp and bright finish. 
• French 75: A bright and complex classic with delectable notes of citrus and elderflower for a crisp and vibrant finish.

“We couldn’t be happier to share these sparkling expressions with consumers, just in time for summer,” said Chief Executive Officer, Bart Silvestro. “Via Carota Craft Cocktails was designed to elevate the at-home cocktail experience, and after the tremendous growth seen with the core range over the last year, this carefully crafted lineup pays homage to classic sparkling cocktails, with the bar-quality liquid that has become synonymous with our unique chef-to-shelf brand.”

Each 200ml bottle contains one sparkling cocktail at 11% ABV.

The new Via Carota Craft Cocktails Sparkling Range joins the existing line of still, ready-to-serve cocktails launched in 2023, which includes Classic Negroni, White Negroni, Old Fashioned, Signature Manhattan, Espresso Martini and Signature Martini.

REBBL Smoothie Starter

REBBL, an organic and plant-based functional protein beverage brand, has announced its first move beyond 12 oz. ready-to-drink beverages with the launch of Smoothie Starter, a multi-serve line.

Smoothie Starter ‘transforms morning rituals, offering consumers an organic and convenient base to create nutrient-dense smoothies in seconds — without the mess’. With the simple additions of ice, fruit, or greens, users can quickly blend up a protein-packed and gut health-supporting smoothie to fuel their day. 

“The launch of Smoothie Starter marks a significant milestone in our product portfolio; we're proud to introduce this one-of-a-kind offering for smoothies that is unmatched in the current market," said Andy Fathollahi, CEO of SYSTM Foods. “We’ve eliminated the guesswork from smoothie prep and are offering consumers a quality, convenient foundation to enhance their morning ritual at an unrivaled value.”  

Offered in Coconut Milk and Oat Milk liquid base varieties, Smoothie Starter delivers 20g of plant-rich protein to kickstart the day, and features amplified benefits through postbiotics to support gut health.

The 32oz Smoothie Starter makes around four smoothies and launches this month at Target and Sprouts nationwide for $9.99.

Spanish wine Tapabrava

Pernod Ricard UK is introducing a new Spanish wine brand to its portfolio this spring with the launch of Tapabrava, a fusion of Spanish culture and modern wine making.

Available in two varietals, a red blend (12.5% ABV) and a white blend (11.4% ABV), Tapabrava is designed to capture the essence of a tapas evening in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor.

Blended wine is a growing category, which is being driven by new, non-traditional lifestyle brands that appeal to novelty-seeking consumers looking for an easy choice for everyday mealtimes and hosting occasions, according to the wine and spirits giant. Tapabrava is aimed at young adult drinkers who love food and are keen to explore and try new wine, tapping into the popularity of small plates and picky bits during the spring and summer months.

Lucy Bearman, Brand Director for Pernod Ricard UK, said: “Tapabrava is all about bringing people together and embracing the beauty of Spain. Dinner occasions are integral to wine, there’s nothing better than quality time around the table, celebrating togetherness and raising a toast with friends.

"Our target audience enjoy quality over quantity and are always on the lookout for a good deal. They like entertaining at home, often cooking new meals, and choosing new wines to compliment food. Both varietals of Tapabrava have distinct characteristics, and an approachable style, from the intense and fruit-forward nature of the red blend to the bright and citric notes of the white blend.”

The bottle’s label was created in collaboration with English illustrator Charlie Davis.

Tapabrava is now available in Asda and Tesco with a RRP £8.

Looking for more beverage NPD?

Last week's round-up includes new RTD cocktail flavors, non-alcoholic whisky, and world-first gin shots... ​​