9 New Beverages for the Cold Vault

CHICAGO — From energy drinks to beer to reformed sports drinks, there are several new beverages convenience stores can consider adding to their cold vaults this summer.

Here’s a roundup of nine new beverages available in c-stores…  

Bud Light Seltzer, from St. Louis, Mo.-based Anheuser-Busch, is releasing a limited-edition Bud Light Seltzer Retro Summer Pack starting on June 14. The packaging features a tie-dye design. Three flavors are included in the variety pack: Cherry Limeade, Blue Raspberry and Summer Ice.

The flavors come in a variety 12-pack of 12-ounce slim cans. Customers can also buy the flavors in a 12-pack variety of 2-ounce Frozen Icicles, according to Bud Light.

The products are made with cane sugar, natural flavors and have 100 calories with less than 1 gram of sugar and 5% ABV.

Rowdy Energy, a better-for-you energy drink created by two-time NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Busch and beverage entrepreneur Jeff Church, raised $13 million in a recent fundraising round.

The money will go to Rowdy’s marketing initiatives aimed to further build the brand and on unique programs in partnership with retailers, the Mooresville, N.C.-based company said.

The beverage is formulated with sequenced energy release of caffeine, sugar reduction ingredients and high levels of electrolytes, according to the company. One can has 160 milligrams of caffeine derived from green tea. It comes in seven flavors including Cherry Limeade, Sour Green Apple, Chiseled Ice and Strawberry Lemonade.

“I’m thrilled to see a variety of investors and retailers showing their support for Rowdy—within just one year, Rowdy Energy has earned shelf space in over 25,000 retail stores, something that could not be accomplished without the unwavering support of investors as well as our retailers and consumers,” Busch said. “I’m looking forward to the continued growth of Rowdy Energy and being able to provide consumers with the clean ingredients and bold flavors that aren’t found in other products currently in the market.”  

Gatorlyte is an innovation from sports drink Gatorade that’s designed to provide rapid rehydration for athletes, according to the rand.

The drink is formulated with a five-electrolyte blend, low sugar and no artificial flavors or sweeteners. It’s available in c-stores nationwide in three flavors: Cherry Lime (West and Central regions), Orange and Strawberry Kiwi.

PepsiCo, Purchase, N.Y., owns the Gatorade and Gatorlyte brands.

Reed’s Inc., Norwalk, Conn., maker of beverages like Reed’s Real Ginger Ale and Virgil’s handcrafted sodas, released its first resealable packaging format.

The 20-ounce resealable bottles will primarily be available in the refrigerated and single-serve aisles, allowing for more immediate consumption for consumers, the company said. Reed’s Real Ginger Ale Original, Virgil’s Handcrafted Root Beer and Virgil’s Handcrafted Dr. Better are available at c-stores nationwide in the new format.

Dry Fly Distilling, Spokane, Wash., launched a new cocktail as part of its On the Fly canned cocktails.

The new drink, Greyhound, features gin and grapefruit juice. The Greyhound drink gained popularity in the 1940s after being featured in Harper’s Magazine. It’s named from the Post House restaurant, which was located in Greyhound bus station terminals, according to the company.

The On the Fly cocktails were launched in 2019. There are now six available: Gin & Tonic, Moscow Mule, Spicy Lemonade, Huckleberry Lemonade, Bloody Mary and the Greyhound. They come in four packs and sell for around $12.99 each.

Island Brands USA, Charleston, S.C., is launching two new products: Island Southern Peach and Island Lemonada.

The two flavors deliver an alternative to traditional beers typically found in the shandy and hard tea categories, according to the company. The beers are made without added fillers, Island Brands USA said.

Island Lemonada is inspired by the coastal lemon groves along the Mediterranean. Island Southern Peach is made with peaches, Southern tea and premium beer to created a twist on a Souther staple.

“We've always loved the crushability of shandy style beers but never found one that wasn't made with corner-cutting fillers and or cloying artificial flavors,” said Co-Founder Brandon Perry. “These all clean beers fit perfectly into our brand family.”

The drinks are available in 6, 12 and 24 packs and can be found in major retailers, like c-stores, across the Southeast in states including Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

Copa di Vino, The Dalles, Ore., a wine by the glass producer, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. To commemorate the milestone, it’s now offering four-packs of the four most popular flavors: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pino Grigio and Merlot.

Founder and owner James Martin discovered the concept on a bullet train adventure through the south of France. The wines are exclusively sourced from U.S. vineyards. The containers feature a splash cap to prevent spillage, recyclable material and a freshness seal to keep wine fresh for more than a year, Copa di Vino said.

Essentia Water added a new 500 milliliter six-pack to its premium water lineup. The move was made in response to increased consumer demand for multipack options during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bothell, Wash.-based company said.

Essentia is the first high pH water to offer a six-pack of 19.9-ounce bottles, the company said. They will be available at c-stores, and other retail outlets including Kroger, Target, CVS, Walmart, Albertsons, Safeway and Publix.

“As consumers reduced the number of trips outside their homes during COVID-19, we saw a surge in multipack purchases, and Essentia’s innovation has been able to respond to this demand,” said Scott Miller, Essentia Water CEO. “The launch of our 500mL six-pack fulfills our customers' needs while driving the brand’s growth in the category.”

Essentia waters also come in 12-ounce, 20-ounce, 700-milliliter sports cap, 1-liter- and 1.5-liter bottles.

Myx Beverage LLC, New York, is entering the category of lower-calorie and low-alcohol wines.

The company is offering two new canned wines in four-packs: Myx Light Chardonnay and Myx Light Rose. The drinks are available on June 21. Each has 125 calories per 250-milliliter can, 13 grams of carbs, 5% ABV and are gluten-free.

"We knew if we entered the on-fire ‘light’ category, we needed a product that didn't compromise taste or quality, and at 75 calories per serving, Myx Light delivers exactly what consumers are looking for – great-tasting, 'sessionable,' refreshing, easy-to-drink, lower-calorie wines,” said Peter Reaske, Myx Beverage LLC CEO.

The drinks are imported for Italy. A four-pack has a suggested retail price of $12.