7 Beverage Headlines From CSP’s CRU 2017
By Steve Holtz on Mar. 02, 2017GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Convenience-store retailers got to sample a number of new beverage products coming to c-store shelves in the product gallery at CSP’s Convenience Retailing University 2017.
Held Feb. 22-24 in Glendale, Ariz., the conference brought together more than 200 retailers to hear first-rate speakers, network and check out products from conference sponsors.
Here’s a look at drinks that drew attention …
Monster unveils Hydro
Many retailers—and at least one business journalist—were pleasantly surprised to catch their first glimpse of Monster Hydro in the c-store product gallery during CRU 2017. The long-awaited new product—coming in March in three flavors—moves into a yet-to-be-defined new category that bridges enhanced bottled water, isotonics and energy drinks. “We’re trying to figure out where it’s going to fit best in the cooler,” Dean Zurliene, Monster’s director of category management, small store, said during a breakout session titled "Winning With Innovation."
Also coming in March from Monster Energy is Monster Ultra Violet, a grape flavor of the brand’s zero-calorie, zero-sugar line initially introduced exclusively in Sam’s Club.
The new taste of Nestea
Nestle Waters North America brought its recently reformulated Nestea to CRU 2017 for sampling. The beverage maker relaunched the product in all-new packaging in February.
The new fruit-flavored Nestea product line comes in six-packs and 23-ounce single-serve bottles in these flavors:
- Lemon
- Peach
- Raspberry
The new Nestea brewed line includes:
- Unsweetened Black Tea
- Slightly Sweet Black Tea
- Slightly Sweet Black Tea & Rooibos
- Slightly Sweet Organic Green Tea
WhiteWave Foods’ trio of innovation
WhiteWave Foods continues to focus its packaged beverage offer on convenience stores with single-serve versions of three drinks:
- Stok Cold Brew Coffee comes in three flavors (black, vanilla and mocha) in 13.7-ounce bottles. All are available now.
- The company will add a Cashew Caramel flavor to its single-serve (12 ounces) line of Silk Almond drink. The new flavor will roll out in June 2017.
- WhiteWave also will add a quart-sized Tetra Pak to its Horizon Organic milk line in whole milk, 2% milk and 1% chocolate milk beginning July 2016.
Moonshine Sweet Tea goes after c-stores
Moonshine Sweet Tea goes back to 1946, but the brand is actively targeting the c-store channel for the first time. Its six flavors—original, sweet peach, mint & honey, mango, unsweet and lemon—are sweetened with real cane sugar and available in single-serve 16-ounce plastic bottles. A portion of each purchase also helps children’s charities.
New brews from Boston Beer
In addition to updating its packaging on its original beer Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Boston Beer Co. introduced Rebel Juiced IPA made with mango juice and citrusy hops. The company’s Angry Orchard Hard Cider also added a new flavor called Easy Apple, a less-sweet, unfiltered version of its original Angry Orchard cider.
New packaging for Argo Teappuccino
Argo Tea will launch new packaging for its Teappuccino brand this year, aiming to improve branding and flavor cues while differentiating the brand from smoothie lines on the market. The photo above shows a current bottle of Teappuccino and renderings of the new look.
High Brew sweetens its deal
High Brew has removed the artificial sweetener—stevia—from three flavors of its cold-brew coffee and will do the same with all its drinks before the end of the year to meet consumer preferences. The reformulated drinks are now sweetened with sugar.