From cold-pressed juices to probiotic-rich shakes, today’s beverage options provide a plethora of better-for-you choices. Here’s a breakdown of new products impacting the retail beverage category.
Cold-pressed. Suja Juice, San Diego, Calif., debuted Suja Essentials, a new line of organic, non-GMO, cold-pressed juices and smoothies made using high-pressure processing (HPP). Suja Essentials provides functional refreshment and clean nourishment with vital nutrients, including amino acids, antioxidants, proteins and omegas, and contains about 20% less sugar than other juices. The Suja Essentials line comes in Berry Goodness, Berry Nana, Mango Magic, Sweet Beets, Green Delightand Mighty Greens.
Ultra-filtered. fairlife, LLC, a Chicago-based division of Coca-Cola Co., introduced fairlife ultra-filtered milk, a high-quality, cold-filtered milk that’s said to boast 50% more protein, 30% more calcium and half the sugar of ordinary milk. fairlife uses high-quality milk from Select Milk Producers, a dairy co-op based in Artesia, Minn.
Plant-based. WhiteWave Food Co., Broomfield, Colo., expanded its Silk lineup of plant-based offerings with Cashewmilk, a cashew-based beverage free of cholesterol, lactose, dairy, soy and gluten and available in Chocolate, Vanilla, Original and Unsweetened.
Iced coffee drinks and coffee creamers. Nestlé USA, Glendale, Calif., expanded its SkinnyCow brand to include new Creamy Iced Coffee Drinks, boasting a blend of rich roasted coffee whipped with creamy milk. They come in Mocha Latte, Vanilla Latte and Creamy Cappuccino, and can be found in the chilled drinks aisles of retail stores nationwide.
HP Hood, Lynnfield, Mass., released BAILEYS Coffee Creamers, available in a Macadamia Brittle variety, which boasts a smooth and creamy taste of macadamia nuts combined with a rich buttered caramel flavor, and a Bourbon Vanilla Pound Cake (Limited Edition) kind, which captures the essence of traditional vanilla pound cake infused with a sweet bourbon flavor.
Califia Farms, Bakersfield, Calif., announced a rollout of its new Almondmilk Coffee Creamers, available in Whole Food Markets nationwide. These plant-powered beverages come in Original, Pecan Caramel, Vanilla and Hazelnut varieties.
Kraft Foods, Northfield, Ill., launched Gevalia protein-packed iced coffee with almond milk, a ready-to-drink iced coffee beverage with the goodness of almond milk and 6 grams of protein per 8 fluid ounces. Made with a blend of Gevalia 100% Arabica coffee and creamy almond milk, Gevalia iced coffee with almond milk comes in Mocha, Vanilla and Caramel flavors and is packaged in recyclable Tetra-Pak packaging in single-serve 11.1-ounce packages or 33.8-ounce multi-serve packages.
Protein on the go.Shamrock Farms, Phoenix, Ariz., expanded its Rockin’ Refuel protein beverage brand to now include Salted Caramel, sold exclusively in 7-Eleven stores nationwide. Salted Caramel Muscle Builder is packed with 30 grams of protein, only 9 net grams of carbs and is formulated specifically to help build muscle and strength.
The Dannon Co., White Plains, N.Y., introduced Light & Fit Protein Shakes, an on-the-go option that boasts 12 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 0% fat per 10-fluid-ounce bottle. They come in Strawberry, Mixed Berry, Vanilla and Banana flavors.
Dean Foods, Dallas, Texas, just made it easier to keep consumers fueled throughout the day with new TruMoo Protein Plus milk. This nutritious, protein-rich drink, available in Chocolate and Vanilla flavors, provides 25 grams of protein in every single-serve, resealable 14-ounce bottle. TruMoo Protein Plus also packs in the additional benefit of calcium for any post-workout recovery drink option.
Superfood juices. Simply Orange Juice Co., Apopka, Fla., expanded its premium line of all-natural, not-from-concentrate juice drinks to include Fruit Punch, Tropical and Mixed Berry flavors. Simply Juice Drinks are available in PlantBottle packaging, what is said to be the first-ever 100% recyclable plastic bottle made from up to 30% plant-based material.
Sambazon, San Clemente, Calif., launched new Sambazon 100 Juices, what is said to be the first 100% juice line with 100 calories or less per bottle and 70% less sugar than other premium juices. Each bottle is packed with 100 açaí berries and comes in Açaí Berry, Strawberry + Lemon + Açaí Berry and Pineapple + Coconut + Açaí Berry.
KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Drink, Ventura County, Calif., launched three new flavors to its growing family of functional beverages—Blueberry Cherry, Tangerine and Hibiscus Berry Daily Cleanse, which is a modern interpretation of an ancient, medicinal Chinese formula designed to gently cleanse and beautify the body from the inside out. This new, light refreshing blend with only 5 calories per serving combines hibiscus, raspberry, rose hips, goji and schizandra. The Tangerine kind is a sweet citrus and creamy vanilla blend rich in vitamin C. With only 5 calories per bottle, it’s packed with organic green coffee bean extract, an ingredient thought to gently promote weight loss by boosting metabolism. And, the Blueberry Cherry flavor is a powerful antioxidant-rich blend that provides the healthy benefits of superfruits, including blueberry, cherry, elderberry, ashwaganda and other super berries.
Drinkable yogurt and smoothies. Borden Dairy Co., Dallas, Texas, debuted new LALA Greek smoothies, available in Strawberry, Peach and Mango blends. LALA’s Greek smoothies are rich in phosphorus, riboflavin and vitamin B12, and each serving contains one third of an average adult’s daily recommended calcium.
Borden Dairy also launched its new line of Frusion Go Wild! smoothies, available in Savage Strawberry, Go Bananas & Berry and Tropical Twist flavors. Ounce per ounce, Frusion Go Wild! is said to contain less sugar than the leading kids smoothie, with twice the amount of calcium and 25% more smoothie per container. Frusion Go Wild! also comes in BPA-free packaging, complete with an easy-to-use resealable cap to prevent spills on-the-go.
Meanwhile, Karoun Dairies, San Fernando, Calif., launched Blue Isle Mediterranean yogurt drinks, which are smooth, all-natural yogurt drinks containing 10 live and active cultures, loaded with protein and low in fat. They come in Original, Strawberry, Blueberry and Pomegranate flavors.
Agro Innova, Weston, Fla., introduced cacao pulp-based refrigerated smoothies under the Suavva brand. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, these functional smoothies provide natural energy and reduce the effects of free-radicals on the body. They come in Amazing Cacao, Chocolatey Cheer, Merry Mango and Blissful Berry varieties.
Inventure Foods, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., introduced Rader Farms Fresh Start Fusions, a line of strategically paired frozen fruits and vegetables pre-mixed for at-home smoothies and frozen beverages. Available in Sunrise Refresh Fusion (a blend of blueberry, strawberry, red raspberry, kale and spinach), Morning Vitality Fusion (combines mango, nectarine, sweet potato and carrot) and Daily Power Fusion (a nutritious blend of green apples, pineapples, kale and broccoli) varieties, Fresh Start Fusions feature a simple ingredient panel and come in bags donning a clear “see-thru” window on the front, so consumers know exactly what is going into their smoothies.
Seasonal favorites. Dallas-based Promised Land Dairy debuted new Salted Caramel Latte flavored milk. Salted Caramel Latte, the first of three new limited-time flavors to launch in 2015, features the flavors of rich caramel swirled into a cafe-style latte, topped with a pinch of gourmet salt and blended with Promised Land's rich, wholesome Jersey milk.
Old Orchard Brands, Sparta, Mich., introduced a new line of limited-edition fruit juice cocktails, including Apple Pie, Caramel Apple and Apple Cherry Cobbler flavors. The limited-edition juices replicate classic fall treats, pairing seasonally-appropriate spices and flavors with the refreshment of Old Orchard’s apple juice cocktails.
‘tude Juice Co., Prosser, Wash., launched a limited-edition Honey Crisp flavor of its cold-pressed, never-heated juice, made from GMO-free Honey Crisp apples.
Dean Foods also put some fright into the refrigerated dairy aisle with new limited-edition TruMoo Orange Scream milk. Inspired by an orange frozen pop with vanilla ice cream, this creamy orange milk is made with wholesome low-fat white milk.
Prairie Farms, Carlinville, Ill., presented limited-edition PEEPS-flavored milk in Marshmallow, Chocolate Marshmallow and Easter Egg Nog varieties.
