6 Beverage Releases for Spring
By Hannah Hammond on Mar. 21, 2022CHICAGO — Whether consumers want to find out what outer space may taste like, have a nonalcohol brew or try a THC sparkling water, there are packaged beverage innovations for that.
Here are six new beverages for convenience-store category managers to consider for their cold vaults this spring.
Hoplark
Brewer Hoplark, Boulder, Colo., is launching Hoplark 0.0, a nonalcohol craft brew with zero calories, alcohol, sugar, carbs, gluten and added flavors. Hoplark 0.0 Citra, the first product in the new line, is available now. It has a double-dry hopped flavor, according to the brewer.
"We know how much people love beer but want more options when it comes to drinking, or not drinking," said Dean Eberhardt, co-founder and CEO of Hoplark. "Whether you're wanting to avoid the next day's side effects or are focusing on your health, Hoplark 0.0 is for everyone.”
The drink is currently available for purchase at HoplarkZero.com, BevMo, Natural Grocers, Sprouts, Fry’s Food Stores and King Soopers locations and at various retailers in Colorado, southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and New York.
Coca-Cola Starlight
Coca-Cola Starlight is a limited-edition offering from Coca-Cola Creations, aimed at quenching Gen Z’s thirst for discovery through a series of unexpected beverages and packaging designs, culturally relevant expressions and creative collaborations, according to the Atlanta-based beverage maker.
Coca-Cola Starlight fuses signature Coca-Cola taste with unexpected touches, including a reddish hue and cooling taste sensation, evoking the feeling of a journey to space, Coca-Cola said. The creation comes 35 years after Coca-Cola partnered with NASA to become one of the first soft drinks to travel to space.
“Experimenting with such an iconic brand requires a big leap of faith,” said Oana Vlad, senior director of global brand strategy with The Coca-Cola Co. “It all started by asking ourselves how we could bring the magic and mystery of the cosmos to life, sip by sip, in a quintessentially Coke way. We set out to make the intangible, tangible.”
Coca-Cola Starlight and Coca-Cola Starlight Zero Sugar are available for a limited time in bottles and cans.
Coca-Cola Creations is a global innovation platform that will take the iconic Coca-Cola trademark and lend it to new expressions. Through limited-edition, sequential releases, Coca-Cola Creations will introduce new products and experiences throughout the physical and digital worlds.
Weller CBD
CBD beverage maker Weller, Boulder, Colo., is launching a THC sparkling water line. The THC lineup will include three flavors: Tropical Peach, Blackberry Hibiscus and Starfruit Lime. Each has 5 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 5 milligrams of cannabidiol (CBD) per 12-ounce can. The drinks have zero sugar and calories.
Weller also has CBD sparkling waters sold in grocery, convenience and foodservice channels nationwide. The sparkling water line has 25 milligrams of CBD and comes in Black Cherry, Peach Mango, Tangerine and Watermelon.
SESH
SESH, a ready-to-drink hard seltzer, is expanding with four new flavors available in eight new states. In addition to its current cocktail flavors—Mojito, Gin & Tonic, Paloma and Moscow Mule—SESH will now come in Margarita, Whiskey Soda, Whiskey Ginger and Mimosa.
“Innovation is at the core of everything we do, and we always intended to build SESH beyond the initial four drinks,” said New York-based XED Beverage co-founder Ezekiel Bronfman. “After establishing a strong following and demand around the first four flavors, we have heard our customers’ requests to add new cocktails to our lineup. With the incredible velocity and rate of sale metrics we are seeing in our first four test markets, we are incredibly excited to expand this brand with some of the best retail partners in the country.”
SESH, made by XED Beverage, distributes in Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Ohio and will be expanding to Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Tennessee.
Hiball Energy Seltzer
Hiball Energy Seltzer is introducing a new flavor: Hiball Blood Orange. The drink, from St. Louis, Mo.-based Anheuser-Busch, is a premium, unsweetened energy seltzer with zero sugar, zero calories and organic caffeine. Other flavors include Lemon Lime, Watermelon Mint, Blackberry, Wild Berry, Peach, Grapefruit and Vanilla.
Hiball Blood Orange has 160 milligrams of caffeine. It launched at Whole Foods and will soon expand to other retailers.
Unicorn Rose Bubbles
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Woodinville, Wash., is releasing one of its most popular canned wine flavors in a 750-mililiter bottle. 14 Hands NV Unicorn Rose Bubbles is a light and fresh rose with delicate fruit flavors and a juicy, crisp finish, according to the company. 14 Hands wines are available nationwide.
The flavor also comes in a 377-mililiter can that retails for $6, while the bottle sells for $15.
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