Diabolo

Product Type:Functional: Energy Drink: Regular; Container: 16 oz Can
BevNET Review: While we’re not big fans of using the word “Loco” (it feels like a cheap play on Four Loko), we do appreciate that it is obvious as to what this product is (which we can’t say about the other Diabolo flavors). Otherwise, this product is essentially the “Menthe” variety with he addition of caffeine and taurine -- two ingredients that are synonymous with energy drinks. On the outside, the black can feels more visually appealing than the other pastel colored cans, but it still leaves something to be desired (we can’t imagine this can luring in consumers over other more established energy brands). Overall, it’s better than the Menthe variety, but still in need of improvement. Finally, we question if an energy entry helps or hurts this brand -- it is a definite distraction from its core proposition of sophisticated sodas.Reviewed on: 1/5/2012

Product Type:Juice: Juice Drink; Container: 16 oz can
BevNET Review: Despite the bright pink color of the liquid, Diabolo’s Blueberry Lemonade actually has a fairly pleasant flavor -- assuming you compare it to other mid calorie CSDs. It utilizes a three-sweetener blend of cane sugar, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium, which gives the product a modest level of sweetness, minimal aftertaste, and only 7g of sugar and 25 calories per 8 oz. serving. However, there’s a bigger issue for this product -- its packaging and positioning. Specifically, the product looks and feels very much like an energy drink. While the word “Lemonade” is on the front panel, it’s not clear that this is a soda (or what it is at all, for that matter), especially with the plethora of lemonade energy drinks that have come to market in recent years. The name, Diabolo, sounds aggressive (think “Diablo”) rather than something that goes with a line of sparkling lemonades. Otherwise, the product has a generic visual feeling to it, relying on what appear to be stock images and a flat pastel blue background. Overall, we think that this product is in dire need of a visual overhaul.Reviewed on: 1/5/2012

Product Type:Juice: Juice Drink; Container: 16 oz. can
BevNET Review: Diabolo Menthe is, according to the manufacturer, a classic mixture of lemonade and mint. From a practical perspective, this product, which is sweetened with sugar, sucralose, and ace-k, is basically a mid-calorie lemon lime soda with mint. While the flavor and intended positioning as a “sophisticated soda” seem okay, the execution of the brand and choice of packaging leave something to be desired. For starters, the 16 oz. can looks exactly like an energy drink and the name, Diabolo, looked like “Diablo” (which definitely sounds like a generic energy drink) at first glance of the vertical text. There is no description of what the product is -- “soda” should be somewhere prominently on the design. And finally, we’re sorry to say that the appearance is generally lacking in the appeal department. There are no elements that stand out or catch the eye, which leaves the product feeling like a store or value brand. Overall, this product needs a lot of work to succeed.Reviewed on: 1/5/2012