Spotlight on category innovations

Energy drinks

Launched in Spain, Innocent’s Berries Juice is a blend of fruit and vegetable juices that is infused with guarana and enriched with vitamins . The pasteurised product is made with raspberry, cherry, and goji berries and claims it helps maintain normal energetic metabolism, as well as reduce tiredness and fatigue .

In Poland, WK launched a mango-flavoured, sugar-free energy drink. The zerocalorie fizzy drink contains 0.4% taurine, 0.4% caffeine, 0.015% L-carnitine, and guarana. Sweetened with artificial sweeteners – acesulfame K and sucralose – it is fortified with vitamin B6, vitamin B12, panthotenic acid, and niacin – which, it claims, contribute to energy metabolism .

With a more natural positioning and using a lesserknown botanical for its energy drink, Italian brand Wami Wanderfuse adds guayusa – a super leaf from Ecuador that it says is perfect for energising at any time of day – to its RTD energy drink, along with mint and lemon juice from Italy. The non-carbonated soft drink is made with organic ingredients, fruits, herbs, and spices .

Soft drinks and iced teas

US brand United Sodas of America launched a strawberry basil soda. With a natural and premium positioning, the drink is sweetened with erythritol and organic stevia and flavoured with natural flavours, while the colour comes from concentrated purple carrot juice .

In Germany, Danone Waters launched a Pear & Jasmine Flavoured Matcha Drink under its Volvic brand. Made with natural mineral water, concentrated green tea infusion, matcha powder, organic sugar, natural flavours, and organic lemon juice, it contains 30% less sugar than other tea-based drinks, according to the brand.

In Croatia, Stanic Beverages launched a Orange & Mango Drink with a high fruit content of 19.5%, including orange, mango, and apple, under its Juicy Kids brand. With 30% less sugar than similar drinks, the pasteurised drink is made from concentrated juices and concentrated purees, and is a source of calcium and vitamin C .

NOLO and hard seltzers

In the UK, Vacay Drinks launched an RTD cocktail, Tom Collins. The company says it is made with a serving of copper-distilled craft London dry gin, soda water, natural cane sugar, and Sicilian lemon juice . It contains 6 .1% alcohol by volume (ABV).

In Germany, Bitburger Braugruppe launched alcohol-free herb dry pilsner beer . The product is sugar-free and has reduced calories, containing 22kcal in 100ml. According to the company, it has a refreshing tangy flavour.

In the hard seltzer sub-category, Finnish brand Crowmoor launched a grapefruit vodka spritz. The brand describes the 4.1% ABV drink as a 99-calorie spritz made with vodka, sparkling water, and a dash of citrus juice, adding that the sugar content comes only from the fruit .

Source: All product images & information from Mintel GNPD