5 Significant Beverage Introductions at the NACS Show

Coca-Cola’s debut at the NACS Show of Dunkin' Donuts Iced Coffee brings a significant new brand name to the growing ready-to-drink coffee category. The drink will be available in 13.7-ounce bottles and four flavors: Original, Mocha, Espresso and French Vanilla. The product will come to market in early 2017.

In perhaps the most significant reintroduction and repackaging of the year, Nestle Waters North America has completely made over its Nestea line, reformulating the 70-year-old brand to make it more healthful, with “easy drinkability." The drinks, in seven flavors, will roll out in the first quarter of 2017 in 23-ounce bottles.

Monster Energy’s introduction of the long-awaited Mutant Super Soda is a major step toward usurping Mountain Dew’s large and dedicated customers. Available in lemon-lime and red dawn, the drinks are the first from Monster packaged in 20-ounce PET bottles.

PepsiCo has kept its Mountain Dew brand fresh with limited-time offers, and creative flavors and marketing. That will continue with Mtn Dew White Label (tropical citrus), Mtn Dew Green Label (green apple kiwi) and Mtn Dew Spiked Raspberry Lemonade (spiked with prickly pear cactus juice). Its spinoff line extension, Mtn Dew Kickstart, also will grow with the addition of a Mango Lime flavor.

Bai, one of Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s allied brands, has found a receptive audience with its quirky ads and healthful low-sugar, antioxidant proposition. It stands to gain additional consumer penetration with a sparkling “infusion” line dubbed Bai Black that features typical soda flavors, including Kohola Kola, Simbu Citrus, Rioja Root Beer, Jambi Ginger Ale and Colombia Cream.