20 Bottled Waters That Stood Out at the 2017 NACS Show
By Steve Holtz on Nov. 10, 2017CHICAGO -- Still, sparkling, flavored, enhanced, premium, hydrating, pH-balanced, caffeinated: The descriptors were endless on the 2017 NACS Show floor as bottled-water manufacturers looked to get their new products into the hands of retailers crossing the vast terrain and ultimately on convenience-store shelves.
Here are 20 bottled-water products and innovations that stood out to CSP during the October event in Chicago …
1. Avitae
Avitae launched a couple years ago as a still caffeinated bottled water. It’s now available in a sparkling version in five flavors: Mandarin Passion Fruit, Berry Kiwi, Raspberry Lime, Black Cherry and Unflavored.
2. Bai
Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s Bai will tackle the bottled-water category in early 2018 with the launch of Bai Antioxidant Water in 1-liter bottles. The enhanced drink is infused with the antioxidant selenium. The drink will launch during the first quarter of 2018.
3. Belvoir
After years in glass bottles in the natural-grocery and restaurant markets, Belvoir gently bubbling waters will graduate to c-stores with a line extension in 12-ounce slim cans. The launch in cans will include three flavors initially: Raspberry Lemonade, Elderflower Presse and Coconut Water & Lime Presse.
4. Body Armor
Looking to capitalize on the success of its sports drinks, Body Armor launched its SuperWater in November. Carrying over the "superior hydration" mantra, the new drink touts a balanced pH and added electrolytes to speed hydration. The water comes in 1-liter and 20-ounce bottles. Body Armor is one of Dr Pepper Snapple Group's allied brands.
5. Cascade Ice
Unique Beverage Co. now offers its Cascade Ice Sparkling Waters in eight-packs of 12-ounce cans.
6. Core Hydration
On the heels of its success in the premium-water category, Core Hydration—one of Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s allied brands—will take its Core Organic line of flavored antioxidant waters national. After a soft launch in late 2016, the drinks will expand their footprint nationally in the first quarter of 2018 in six flavors.
7. Evian
Evian released its first package intended for children in August. The 310-mL bottle launched in a Spider-Man bottle with plans to rotate packaging design based on a variety of licensing agreements. In 2018, the package will celebrate the new Mickey and the Roadster Racers TV series. Also in 2017, Evian released its first sports-top bottle, a 750-mL PET bottle designed to fit in the hand for use during strenuous activities.
8. good2grow
Good2grow fortified water updated its packaging to be easier for children to hold, but the drinks maintain their unique cap designs.
9. Hint
Hint has added caffeine to its latest line extension of flavored bottled water. Hint Kick is available in Lemon Cayenne, Black Raspberry and Apple Pear with 60 milligrams of caffeine per 16-ounce bottle.
10. Nestle Waters
Nestle Waters North America has redesigned the packaging for the sparkling versions of its regional bottled-water brands. The 20-ounce PET bottles sport colorful labels featuring fruit images. The sparkling waters will also now be packaged in colorful 12-ounce cans packaged in eight-packs. The new packages will be available in February 2018.
11. Niagara
Niagara Bottling, a company best known for its private-label bottled waters, will enter the branded premium-water category in 2018. After working with retailer 7-Eleven to launch a premium 7-Select Pure bottled water (pictured), the company saw an opportunity to combine its budget private-label approach with a branded premium water. The new drink will come in 20-ounce and 1-liter PET bottles.
12. Nothing Water
Nothing bills itself as the “world’s purest spring water.” Packaged in 1-liter and 500-mL bottles, the premium water is sourced from “a deep, subglacial artesian aquifer in Norway.”
13. Oxigen water
Oxigen is a distilled bottled water infused with O4 molecules to speed absorption of the water in the body. The drink comes in 20-ounce bottles.
14. Perfect Hydration
Perfect Hydration touts an “ideal” alkalinity (9.5+) for hydrating drinkers, plus electrolytes to speed absorption. The new-to-c-stores product is available in 1-liter and 20-ounce bottles.
15. Polar
Polar’s new SeltzerAdes combine sparkling water and light juices to bring a new twist to the bottled-water category. In this case, the new products are available in 12-packs of 12-ounce cans. Meanwhile, unique limited-time flavors of Polar’s children’s line of 8-ounce cans of sparkling waters include two unique new editions: Yeti Mischief and Dragon Whispers.
16. Pristyn
McLane Co. highlighted its private-label purified bottled water Pristyn. The water line is sold in individual bottles and 24-packs. The bottles are 100% recyclable.
17. Talking Rain
Talking Rain spread its wings in terms of flavor and a new venture. Its Sparkling Ice line of flavored bottled waters introduced a Ginger Lime flavor. Meanwhile, Talking Rain is bringing Himalayan Water, bottled in India, to c-stores. The premium "source water" will be tested in Chicago and Boston during fourth quarter of 2017.
18. Top Pop
Top Pop is expanding its 99-cent line of carbonated soft drinks into the sparkling-water category. The 24-ounce PET bottles include Original Seltzer, Original Sparkling Water, Raspberry + Grape, Watermelon + Cucumber, Orange + Mango and more flavors.
19. Vitaminwater Active
Coca-Cola Co. will extend its vitaminwater product line with vitaminwater active, “a nutrient-enhanced performance drink for fitness enthusiasts.” The drink will launch in January 2018 in 15.2-ounce PET bottles. It will be available in three flavors: move it (strawberry black cherry), werk it (orange mango) and pump it (lemon lime).
20. Voss
Voss continued to expand its line of sparkling premium waters, adding a Lime Mint flavor to its previously released Lemon Cucumber and Tangerine Lemongrass flavors.