Coca-Cola North
America (CCNA) and Caribou Coffee have announced a national launch of a
new line of premium ready-to-drink iced coffees. Caribou Iced Coffee will be available in three flavors:
Regular, Espresso, and Vanilla, and will be packaged in a unique 12 oz.
reclosable Alumi-Tek aluminum bottle from Ball Corporation. The
suggested retail price will be at parity with the category in leading
convenience stores and other retail outlets initially in Minneapolis,
Chicago, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit and Kansas City, and
will be available in Caribou Coffee retail outlets in coming months.
The Caribou Iced Coffee launch will be supported with sampling,
in-store merchandising and print and radio marketing. For more
information, contact the Coca-Cola Co. at (770) 565-5440.
Spirits
The German spirits house Underberg has released XUXU,
a fresh strawberry puree with vodka. Currently available in key US
markets, XUXU retails at $20 per 1 L bottle. Fore more information,
call Underberg at (415) 567-6988.
Dos Lunas Tequila is launching Dos Lunas Anejo in September 2007 and Dos Lunas Grand Reserve,
a limited edition "Extra Anejo," in November. The Anejo will continue
the premium quality Dos Lunas Tequila has come to embody. Dos Lunas
Anejo, like its predecessors, will be chemical-free and all-natural.
MSRP’s are $49 and $54. Dos Lunas is available through Republic
National Distributing Company. For more information, call Dos Lunas at
(915) 533-2000.
Hiram Walker is stepping up its long tradition of innovation by introducing the seasonally influenced liqueur Hiram Walker Pumpkin Spice.
This product will hit retail stores on Oct.1, just as the autumn leaves
start to turn and will be available through the end of November.
Available in both a 750 mL and 1 L size for the October/November period
only, the suggested retail price will be $8.99-11.99 for the 750 mL.
For more information, call (203) 254-8225.
Old Forester
is blowing out the candles on founder George Garvin Brown’s 161st
birthday by honoring the creator of Old Forester with this year’s
expression of Birthday Bourbon. Brown was not only the founder of Old
Forester, but the first distiller to bottle whisky to ensure flavor and
quality. The 2007 edition of Birthday Bourbon is bottled at 94 proof
and was barreled in the Spring of 1994. Depending on the market,
Birthday Bourbon, a Brown-Forman product, retails between $35 - $40,
and is sold at most liquor stores. For more information, call Brown
Forman at (502) 774-6949.
Energy Drinks
The Healthy Beverage Company has introduced three new crisp and refreshing flavors of Steaz Energy.
Lime, Orange and Diet Berry will give health conscious consumers fun
new flavor options Introduced in January 2007, Steaz Energy is the
world’s first and only Organic and Fair Trade Certified energy drink.
The natural boost in Steaz Energy comes from four quality ingredients:
organic Fair Trade Certified Ceylon green tea from Sri Lanka, organic
Guayaki yerba mate, organic Sambazon Acai, and organic Guarana. This
product will be line priced with original Steaz Energy. For more
information, contact Healthy Beverage Company at (215) 321-8330.
The Liquid Experience Group has launched Voodoo Vibe,
an effervescent drink in its Jimi Hendrix line. Labeled with the charge
of peace, love, purpose, is now available in stores nationwide. The
mixed-berry flavored energy drink invites people to “taste life” and is
also aimed at promoting and encouraging consumers to live charitably as
a portion of all sales is donated to MusiCares, a program that aids
musicians as well as other philanthropic programs through The Liquid
Experience Partnership Program. The price range for the regular 16 oz.
can is $2.49 to $2.69 per can. Voodoo Vibe will also be promoted within
various concert tours throughout the next 12 months.
WildLife Energy Drink,
new from the Stevens Point Brewery, delivers “Energy for the Great
Outdoors.” Dedicated to outdoorsmen everywhere, WildLife Energy Drink
is the result of a unique partnership between the Stevens Point Brewery
and Mike Keyes of the “Keyes Outdoors” television show, seen every
Saturday on Fox Sports Net. Dedicated to the American outdoor sportsman
in every way, from its distinctive outdoor-themed packaging to its
support of wildlife conservation projects and outdoor programs, this
product is sold in cases and 4-packs of 16 oz. cans. For more
information call the Stevens Point Brewery at 715-344-9310.
Sports Drinks
WheyUP LLC has introduced a new flavor to the U.S. sports drink market. WheyUP Citrus
combines 20 grams of whey protein with an energy formula in a
sugar-free, non-carbonated beverage. WheyUP Citrus will be sold in
ready-to-drink 16 oz. plastic bottles and will be available in
September. Pricing is $2.99 per bottle. For more information, contact
WheyUP at (480) 628-1611.
ELATIONS,
a new joint health drink endorsed by Jerry Rice, promises to nourish
your joints and keep you moving. This once-a-day refreshing
fruit-flavored drink helps reduce joint pain and improve mobility
through a unique 4-in-1 formula: Glucosamine and Chondroitin (naturally
found in the body, but at decreasing levels over time) at the same
levels as triple-strength joint supplements; a patented, more
absorbable form of Calcium; and 100% of daily Vitamin C. The product
will launch nationally in September in two flavors: Raspberry White
Grape and Cranberry Apple, in 6-packs or individual 8 oz. recyclable
bottles. Suggested retail price for the 6-packs will be in the range of
$7.49-$8.49, and $1.39-1.49 for the individual 8 oz. bottles. For more
information, call (206) 270-4635.
Water
Both Ozarka and Arrowhead have new a new Eco-shape bottle
in their half-liter size, with about 30 percent less plastic than the
average half liter plastic beverage container. The new bottle is billed
as the lightest half liter plastic beverage container on the market
today. Ozarka Eco-shape is currently available throughout the
Southwestern region of the United States at local grocers including
H.E.B., Albertsons and CVS as well as through mass merchandisers such
as Target and Wal-Mart and Club stores, while Arrowhead is available in
the Western region of the U.S. In grocery stores, the Eco-shape is sold
in a 6-pack with a suggested retail price of $2.49 or in a 24-pack with
a SRP of $4.99. In some markets it is also available in a 12-pack,
28-pack, or 35-pack. For more information, contact Nestle Waters NA at
(617) 939-8388.
CSDs
Gamers anxiously awaiting the September 25 launch of Halo 3 will now have the perfect drink to get them ready for play – Mountain Dew Game Fuel.
Created in conjunction with Microsoft's Xbox 360 exclusive title, Halo
3, Game Fuel has the same Mountain Dew flavor with a blast of citrus
cherry and 30 percent more caffeine for a unique and invigorating
taste. Game Fuel will be available in 20 oz. bottles, 2 L bottles and
12-packs of 12 oz. cans through November. For more information, call
PepsiCo at (914) 253-2964.
Beer
This fall, frequent hunters’ friend Miller High Life
is donning its own blaze orange attire and hunting-themed packaging to
make sure consumers are properly equipped for their post-hunt
celebrations. The hunt for the High Life begins Sept. 1, as the
limited-edition packages hit store shelves in select markets throughout
the United States. Proceeds from the sale of the hunting-themed
packaging, available in 24 and 30-pack cans, will contribute to Miller
High Life’s continued support of Whitetails Unlimited, Pheasants
Forever and the National Wild Turkey Federation. The High Life hunting
packaging is scheduled to remain on store shelves through October, but
supplies may vary from market to market. This product will be
line-priced with other Miller offerings. For more information, call
Miller Brewing at (414) 931-3377.
Heineken USA has rolled out its new, cutting-edge Heineken Premium Light Draughtkeg.
This latest innovation from Heineken features specially-designed,
patented pour technology to keep Heineken Premium Light fresh for up to
30 days after tapping while providing consumers more opportunities to
enjoy and share the ultimate premium-quality draught beer experience
anywhere. The Heineken Premium Light Draughtkeg reached national
availability in August; Heineken suggests a retail price of $19.99. For
more information, call Heineken USA at (914) 681-4153.
From Anheuser Busch comes Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale,
a limited edition autumn beer brewed with select seasonal spices and
real Oregon-grown Golden Delicious pumpkins. Available nationwide
through November, this popular robust ale has aromas of pumpkin,
nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and clove. Brewed at the Anheuser-Busch Fort
Collins, Colo. brewery, Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale has 5.5 percent
alcohol by volume (ABV) and is available on draught at bars, clubs and
restaurants, as well as in 12 oz. bottles in six-packs at grocery and
convenience stores. Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale is the first in
Anheuser-Busch's series of seasonal beers, which also includes Winter's
Bourbon Cask Ale, Spring Heat Spiced Wheat and Beach Bum Blonde Ale.
For more information, contact Anheuser-Busch at (314) 577-7530.
Tea
Ferolito
Vultaggio & Sons, makers of AriZona Beverages, have introduced a
new 20 oz. single–serve, wide-mouth plastic bottle for their AriZona
products. Seven AriZona products are being packaged in the new plastic 20 oz. bottle.
Lemon Tea, Green Tea, Diet Green Tea, Pomegranate Green Tea, Sweet Tea,
Raspberry Tea and Arnold Palmer Half & Half will be available in
the new package. The 20 oz. bottle is made with amber plastic to help
preserve and protect the products and keep them fresher longer. The new
package is making its way to store shelves this month in AriZona test
markets in New York, Florida and Chicago. The package has a suggested
retail of $1.29/bottle. For more information, contact AriZona at (513)
357-4750.
Mixers
Stirrings, the innovative cocktailing brand, has introduces limited edition Sugar Plum and Egg Nog Mixers
to their growing holiday product selection. These products retail for
$10.95 and are available through liquor, foodservice and gourmet
distributors nationwide. For more information contact Stirrings at
(212) 754-1400.
Malternatives
Geloso’s O’Sullivans
is a malt-based product that comes in two flavors, B-52 and Irish
Cream. They have the cream flavor of the traditional sprit-based
product with 12.5 percent alcohol by volume. The B-52 is sold in
4-packs of 250 mL glass bottles, while the Irish Cream is in 750 mL
glass bottles. MSRP is forthcoming. For more information, call Geloso
Beverage Group at (585) 359-3658.