Riding the tidal wave of demand for coconut water, a range of beverage companies have continued to innovative with the use of the liquid as a complementary ingredient. One such company is Steaz, which recently introduced a an organic green tea and coconut water drink. From our perspective, coconut water and green tea definitely seems like a winning combination and Steaz has done a great job of executing this product.
Joining the somewhat limited ranks of coconut water packaged in glass bottles is Coco Fresco, a Vietnam sourced coconut water. While there are probably some retailers and consumers who will grab a glass bottle over a carton or a can, Coco Fresco really doesn’t feel like a developed brand.
Maverick Brands has extended its line of Coco Libre drinks with Coco Libre Protein, a blend of coconut water and 20 grams of whey and milk protein isolate. In our review of three of the flavors in the line – Chocolate, Vanilla and Almond – we found the formulation of the drinks to be quite enjoyable, and while the packaging could use a few tweaks, the line is great extension for the brand.
Leaping into the growing fray of better-for-you energy drinks, NEO recently launched NEO Energy, an organic energy drink made with electrolytes.The product contains organic caffeine, ginseng, electrolytes, and B vitamins. While the branding doesn’t feel like something that was designed for the natural channel (a likely starting point for an organic energy drink), it’s a product that we think will appeal to a variety of consumers.
Known for its super premium line of organic coconut waters, Harmless Harvest recently launched an innovative line of tea products that are made with “raw” tea leaves. The three-SKU line, introduced at Expo West 2013…, breaks the mold of what tea products normally look and taste like, and impressed our review team with an array of fresh-tasting flavors and earthy, artisanal branding.
Continuing to expand with new and on-trend ingredients while remaining true to its core as a marketer of Amazonian “superfoods,” Sambazon launched Energy Mocha Java and Blended Breakfast smoothies at the recently concluded Expo West show. The unique formulation and packaging of each product impressed our review panel.
HiBall recently launched a pair of new products to its line of organic energy drinks and sparkling waters. From our perspective, Hiball Organic Pomegranate/Acai – a 120-calorie blend made with organic juice and organic sugar – and Hiball Peach Sparkling Energy Water – a zero-calorie product made with the company’s certified-organic energy blend are both well-crafted line extensions for the brand.
