15 New Enhanced-Beverage Launches We're Watching

LAS VEGAS -- A wide variety of enhanced beverages, both isotonics and protein-based, made their debut to convenience-store retailers during the 2018 NACS Show in Las Vegas in October. Here’s a look at more than 15 protein- and hydration-rich beverages that crowded the show floor …

Danone North America added to its ready-to-drink line of cold-brew coffee with a new protein-enhanced beverage. Stok Protein Cold Brew Coffee is a mocha-flavored coffee drink that contains 20 grams of protein. It is packaged in a 15-ounce can and has 210 calories.

First Campbell Soup Co. moved its V8 juice brand into the energy-drink category with V8 +Energy and then Sparkling Energy. Now it’s trying the sports-drink angle with new V8 +Hydrate. The new plant-based hydrating drinks will launch in the fourth quarter in three flavors: Strawberry Cucumber, Orange Grapefruit and Coconut Watermelon.

The Coca-Cola Co. celebrated its new partnership in BodyArmor, which moves the sports drink into the Coca-Cola distribution system, with a visit from BodyArmor investor Kobe Bryant. The company also underscored that BodyArmor will continue to operate as an independent company (see related slide, next). Other products featured by Coca-Cola:

• Fairlife’s Core Power High Protein Milk Shakes are now available in five flavors: Chocolate, Banana, Vanilla, Strawberry and Coffee. Each drink has 26 grams of protein.
• Fairlife also launched Core Power Elite High Protein Milk Shakes in two flavors: Chocolate and Vanilla. Each drink contains 42 grams of protein.
• The Odwalla brand has added a Protein Shake line. The drinks are available in Vanilla and Chocolate flavors with 32 grams of protein, and Blueberry with 25 grams.

BodyArmor Super Drink debuted three new flavors of its sports drink: Coconut Lyte, Berry Punch and Berry Lemonade.

PepsiCo continued the crossover of its Mountain Dew brand with Mtn Dew Amp Game Fuel. The carbonated soft drink (CSD), energy drink, juice and sports-drink hybrid was sampled in Charged Berry Blast and Charge Cherry Burst flavors. Meanwhile, the drink maker also offered samples of Propel Vitamin Boost in Peach Mango and Strawberry Raspberry flavors, and Gatorade Zero in Berry and Glacier Freeze flavors.

On the heels of being acquired by Keurig Dr Pepper, Core Organic featured its antioxidant-rich drinks as functional beverages. The drinks are available in a variety of flavors, including Orange Mango and Cherry Berry Lime, as well as in a variety pack.

Cytosport’s Muscle Milk unveiled a new line of smoothies that will launch in two flavors: Strawberry Banana and Blueberry. Both flavors are made from Greek yogurt and contain 25 grams of protein.

Nescafe Coffee Protein Smoothies is a new line of coffee drinks enhanced with 15 grams of plant protein from oats and almond butter. The drinks are available in Banana and Mocha flavors.

Shamrock Farms displayed its redesigned packaging for its Rockin’ Protein lines, which include the Builder series with 30 grams of protein, the Lean and Recovery series with 20 grams each, and the Builder Max series with 50 grams.

Premier Protein featured two protein-filled lines during the expo, including shakes with 30 grams of protein in Vanilla and Chocolate, and Clear Protein Drink with 20 grams of protein in Tropical Punch and Orange Mango flavors.

Soylent, a ready-to-drink meal, put its new strawberry and vanilla flavors front and center in its booth, backed by its most popular flavor, Cacao. Each 12-ounce bottle contains 20 grams of protein and 20% of a consumer’s daily nutrition.

Ripple is milk made from peas. The original formula contains 12 grams of plant-based protein, while new Ripple Nutrition shakes contain 20 grams. Both drinks are available in Chocolate and Vanilla flavors.

Optimum Nutrition is bringing the branding power of its protein powders to the beverage category in three product lines: Isopure, Amino Energy and Pure Pro 50 high-protein shakes. Zero-carb Isopure contains 20 grams of protein in three flavors: Apple Melon, Grape and Alpine Punch. Amino Energy drinks contain 100 milligrams of caffeine in four flavors: Grape, Watermelon, Blueberry Lemonade and Juicy Strawberry. And Pure Pro 50 contains 50 grams of protein in six flavors: Banana Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookies & Cream, Milk Chocolate, Vanilla Bean and Strawberry.

Energy-drink brand Celsius featured its repackaged drinks in regular and its Heat line extension in multiple flavors. Both are said to burn fat and accelerate metabolism. Heat is marketed as a pre-workout drink to get metabolism started.

Foundation Fitness Protein Water is a line of drinks looking to make its way from health-food stores into convenience stores. The 11-ounce drinks contain 20 grams of protein and are available in several flavors, including Chocolate, Vanilla, Mocha, Orange Mango, Tropical Punch and Peach Tea.