5 New Beverages for C-Stores

CHICAGO — This beverage roundup features a new coconut water, smoothie, beer flavor and more.

Click through to see what new drinks convenience-store retailers can add to their sets this month …

Vita Coco Boosted is an energy beverage that is made with coconut water and MCT oil. The drink comes in vanilla latte, coconut chocolate and chai, and aims to provide a natural kick of energy without any crash, according to the company. Each drink has 40 milligrams of caffeine, B vitamins and electrolytes from coconut water.

It will be available in stores in January.

Vita Coco, New York, also sells coconut water, coconut milk, coconut oil and more.

Friends Beverage Group, Miami, Fla., maker of Fun Wine low-ABV drinks, is launching a new formula in early 2021.

The new Hard Bubbly Collection is lightly carbonated and features three new flavors: Peach Passion Moscato, Cappuccino Chardonnay and Espresso Cabernet. These will be sold with original flavors, now in Bubbly, including Coconut Chardonnay, Strawberry Rose Moscato and Sangria.

Koia, Los Angeles, has launched ready-to-drink smoothies with low sugar and net carbs. Koia Fruit Smoothie has 9 grams of sugar per bottle, about 80% less sugar than leading fruit smoothie brands, according to the company.

The beverage comes in Magic Mango, Rise & Shine, Straw-nana Dream and Tropical Passion. All are made with no added sugar, prebiotic fiber, real fruit and plant protein.

Bud Light Chelada Fuego is a spicy beer variety that tastes like Tapatio hot sauce. The beer is available in stores nationwide.

“Bud Light Chelada already has such a bold flavor loved by many, but we wanted to spice things up a bit and partner with Tapatio to give consumers the first-ever hot sauce infused Chelada,” Desiree Sanchis, senior brand manager, said. “We are always pushing to innovate and provide consumers what they didn’t know they needed but always wanted."

Anheuser-Busch InBev, St. Louis, owns the Bud Light brand.

Hooked on the Holidays Spiced Cran is a canned cocktail from Spokane, Wash.-based Dry Fly Distilling.

The drink is made with Side Hustle Syrups, spicy cranberry and Dry Fly’s vodka.

On the Fly cocktails launched last year in the Northwest. The cocktails are available in four packs and sell for $12.99.