Wai Koko’s Coconut Water is a not from concentrate coconut water that is packaged in a 17.5 oz can. Inside the can, you’ll find flavor that’s extremely similar to other products that come in this package, and while it’s definitely as delicious and thirst-quenching as the competition, it’s ultimately a formulation that seems pretty interchangeable.
Zola’s Coconut Water with Pulp is a line extension to their coconut water, which was launched in 2012. We’ve definitely had coconut water products with more pulp and bigger pieces, but Zola – which uses smallish chunks of pulp throughout the beverage – seems like it has taken a good mainstream-oriented approach.
Having set the bar absurdly high with their glass packaged flagship product, Cocoa Metro has recently added a plastic (HDPE) single serve bottle to their lineup. From the visual end of things, a wrapped plastic bottle is not as visually stunning as its glass format. However, compared with the competition in plastic bottles, we think that they’ve done a very nice job of creating something that looks super premium.
Invo is a new brand of high not-from-concentrate coconut water drinks that are high pressure processed (HPP) as opposed to pasteurized. Much like other HPP beverages, the products have a very fresh flavor profile. While we found the drinks enjoyable and like the fact that they are packaged in 12 oz. bottles, we think that Invo needs to be more assertive in how the brand is communicated to the consumers.
Big Island Organics produces a line of organic drinks that includes two lemonade varieties as well as two ginger-infused beverages. In our review of two SKUs in the line-up, we found the formulation of the drinks quite enjoyable, and although their labels could use a bit of a makeover, we think the brand is off to a great start.
El Rey Energia is a low-calorie, value-priced energy drink that targets Spanish speaking consumers. From a formulation perspective, the product is fine, but mostly similar to other energy drinks on the market. On the branding front, we feel that El Rey needs more work in developing a personality that stands out within the value energy space.
ROAR is a line of sports drinks made with coconut water and B vitamins. We applaud the brand for developing a well-formulated line of beverages and its use of an on-trend ingredient in coconut water. On the branding front, however, ROAR could use a bit of work in how it names and labels its three varieties. Overall, it’s a solid start for the company.
