9 New Beverages Seen at the NACS Show

CHICAGO — Bold flavors and functional beverages were on display at the 2021 NACS Show in Chicago.

From alcohol to water to juice, here are nine new drinks that convenience stores can add to their cold vaults in coming months …

Constellation Brands, Chicago, is launching a new hard seltzer line with margarita flavors. Corona Hard Seltzer Seltzerita will launch nationally in March.

Seltzeritas are made with a splash of real Mexican lime juice and sweetened with agave and real cane sugar. The drinks have 6% ABV and come in Classic Lime, Strawberry, Mango and Peach flavors.

C4 Energy, the performance energy drink from Austin, Texas-based Nutrabolt, partnered with Newark, N.J.-based Mars Wrigley to launch four Starburst candy-inspired flavors: Strawberry, Cherry, Orange and Lemon.

The flavors rolled out at the end of October. The drinks are sold in 16-ounce cans at more than 20,000 retailers.

“Over two years in the making, both teams worked together to deliver the closest possible candy flavor experience via our zero-sugar performance energy drinks that will ignite one’s taste buds and exceed flavor expectations,” said John Herman, chief commercial officer of Nutrabolt. “The innovative flavor collaboration created with Mars Wrigley was inspired by our unwavering commitment to serve our loyal fans and help them maximize their performance while also having fun in the process.”

Vizzy Watermelon Hard Seltzer, from Chicago-based Molson Coors Beverage Co., is made with real watermelon juice and comes in Passionfruit Watermelon, Blueberry Watermelon, Kiwi Watermelon and Mango Watermelon flavors.

Vizzy Watermelon Hard Seltzer has 5% ABV, 100 calories, 2 grams of carbohydrates and 0 grams of sugar per 12-ounce can. The Passionfruit Watermelon flavor comes in both 12-ounce and 24-ounce cans.

BioSteel, a sports drink from Smith Falls, Ontario-based Canopy Growth Corp., is a clean sports drink that comes in five flavors, all made with zero sugar, essential electrolytes and without harmful colors and preservatives, according to John Celenza, co-founder and co-CEO of BioSteel. The flavors are Mixed Berry, Blue Raspberry, White Freeze, Rainbow Twist and Peach Mango. The drink comes in a 16.7-ounce Tetra Pak.

AC+ION, from Stamford, Conn.-based BlueTriton Brands (formerly Nestle Waters North America), is a 9.5 pH alkaline water. The water starts with a multistage purification and filtration process and is infused with a blend of electrolytes for taste and ion charge, according to the company. There is zero added sodium in the drink. The new 1-liter bottles will be available in March.

True North Energy Seltzer Water from Monster Beverage Corp., Corona, Calif., is a sparkling flavored-water line. The 12-ounce canned drinks have zero calories, sodium, carbs or sugar. Its energy blend is derived solely from plants with 120 milligrams of caffeine per can. It also is made with vitamin C, vitamin A, Zinc, B3, B5, B6 and B12 vitamins.

The drinks come in Cucumber Lime, Mandarin Yuzu, Watermelon Mist, Grapefruit Lemonade, White Peach Pear and Black Cherry.

The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, showed its Minute Maid Aguas Frescas line at the NACS Show. The juice drinks are made with real fruit and launch in March. The drinks comes in three flavors: Strawberry, Mango and Hibiscus.

Minute Maid Aguas Frescas satisfy Gen Z’s desire for unique flavors and indulgence, but with half the calories of the closest competitor, according to Coca-Cola.

Keurig Dr Pepper, Plano, Texas, is releasing its new Snapple Elements line in February. Three flavors include Rain: Agave Cactus juice drink, Fire: Dragon Fruit juice drink, and Air: Prickly Pear and Peach white tea.

The drinks come in 15.9-ounce bottles and have 25 grams of sugar per bottle.

Amino Energy Plus Electrolytes from Downers Grove, Ill.-based Optimum Nutrition has a new flavor: Orange Blast. The sparkling hydration drink has 5 calories, zero grams of sugar and 100 milligrams of caffeine from natural sources.

Other flavors in the line are Grape, Blueberry Lemonade and Juicy Strawberry. The drinks come in a single-serve 12-ounce can or a case of 12.