New Zealand’s Only NA Canned Cocktail Touches Down Stateside
Canned mocktail company Free AF is bringing New Zealand’s first non-alcoholic spirits brand to the U.S. with the launch of four RTDs in Sprouts Farmers Market stores. AF’s Apero Spritz, Paloma, Vodka Spritz and Cuba Libre will be available in over 398 Sprouts retailers starting in April. The exclusive partnership with Sprouts will offer the flavors in single 8.4 oz. cans or 4-packs for $13.99.
AF is also available on the company’s website in 12-can packs for $39 as well as through Amazon and in Pop Up Grocer starting in February.
In New Zealand, AF offers 11 SKUs and will eventually bring more varieties to the States. AF developed the Paloma recipe in anticipation for the U.S. rollout, said founder Lisa King.
“When we visited last year, everyone, particularly on the West Coast, said ‘you need tequila,’” she said. AF proceeded to bring the Paloma back home to New Zealand where it has already sold out twice.
AF’s NA cocktails use a proprietary, natural botanical extract made in New Zealand called Afterglow that has a similar mouthfeel to a traditional cocktail and makes it “a more complex drink” than other non-alc beverages, King said. The ingredient is being imported to the company’s West Coast co-manufacturer for final production.
“It gives that kick when you drink it and then that warming sensation people are familiar with, but then they’re safe to drive afterwards.”
King founded AF in late 2020 after giving up alcoholic beverages but being disappointed with the non-alc drinks available to her.
“I didn’t like the idea that I was missing out on social occasions or tasty cocktails simply because I was choosing not to drink,” King said. “The non-alcoholic options were really boring especially if you’re not a beer drinker! I wanted to give people more exciting options when it came to the decision not to drink – whether temporarily or permanently – and so AF was born.”
The brand is part of King’s goal to normalize the alcohol-free lifestyle by creating a social community for sober curious people. In November, AF opened Curious AF, the first ever zero-proof bottle shop in Auckland, New Zealand and is currently the first alcohol-free spirits brand served by Air New Zealand.
Tip Top Espresso Martini Is Taking Flight On Delta
Tip Top Proper Cocktails’ partnership with Counter Culture Coffee is taking to the sky on Delta Airlines flights starting in March. The RTD specialists have been Delta’s onboard cocktail partner since 2021, but starting this year, Tip Top will have a rotational program of its drinks on select Delta domestic and international flights.
Starting with the Espresso Martini, the rotation will eventually include Tip Top’s Old Fashioned, Bee’s Knees and Negroni among others. All Tip Top cocktails come in 100 ml cans and retail online for $39.99 for a 8-pack.
BobaBam Goes Variety Pack In Costco
Instant boba tea maker BobaBam unveiled a new variety pack featuring its Milk Tea and Taro varieties at over 200 Costco retailers in the Northeast and West Coast. The club store variety pack of frozen boba retails for $12.99 in 14-packs (seven packs of each flavor).
BobaBam launched in 2020 when the company’s Taiwanese-born founder and chairman Bob Yau had trouble getting boba for his family during quarantine. The brand reports over 40 million drinks sold to date and currently sells its whole line of products in Giant, Schnucks and Market Basket stores as well as online.
Last summer, the brand beefed up its executive team with seasoned CPG veterans John Koury as VP of Sales and Apu Mody as executive advisor. In October, BobaBam added former Sonoma Brands Capital marketing leader Chelsea Bialla as its new CMO and veteran CPG executive George Orosz as VP of channel sales.
Sunwink Expands Offerings In Target
Anticipating 200% powder growth this year, herbal tonic maker Sunwink has expanded its footprint in Target with the release of two new flavors in select stores. The female-led wellness brand also announced that it had increased its Albertsons and Safeway store count for Superfood Powder Mixes across the country.
The Citrus Lime Prebiotic and Detox Greens flavors join Sunwink’s existing powder products in Target – Berry Healthy Skin, Cacao Clarity and Digestion Lemonade – retailing for $23.99 per 4.2 oz. container.
“We have seen incredible success on our Digestion Powder line and we are excited to bring this to Target and Albertsons nationwide,” said Sunwink co-founder Jordan Schenck in a press release statement. “It is clear that consumers are looking for healthier and cleaner options when it comes to supporting their digestion. We are here to lead this in the powders space.”
The company launched in 2019 with plant-based, botanical RTDs. Yet as customers were already mixing the drink into smoothies, cocktails and other beverages, Schneck told BevNET in 2021. Sunwink realized there was an opportunity in making a mixable version of the product to meet those use occasions for the digestive health product.
Vitalitea RTDs In Hawaiian Chain ABC Stores
Maui, Hawaii-based beverage maker Vitalitea has added 70 ABC Stores across the Aloha State offering its craft kombucha and canned nitro cold brew coffee. The company, launched in 2018, maintains a deep connection to the islands’ roots sourcing produce and some of its coffee from local farmers.
In June, the company announced it had secured statewide distribution of its canned beverages in Safeway stores. Vitalitea uses Hawaii Foodservice Alliance to manage its logistics in cold-chain distribution and food safety across the island chain.
Mākā Goes Nationwide With Sprouts
MāKā’s organic wheatgrass beverages will be rolling out in 393 Sprouts stores in late March, completing the brand’s move towards national distribution.
“MāKā’s mission is Wheatgrass For All and the chainwide launch in Sprouts brings the brand one step closer to realizing the mission,” founder and CEO Brian Hill announced in a statement. “Thanks to Sprouts’ distribution reach, MāKā’s beverages will continue to reduce the common barriers – whether its taste, smell, accessibility, or price – to regular consumption of wheatgrass.”
Once officially on Sprouts shelves, the yerba mate and guayusa tea, wheatgrass beverages will be available in nearly 1,000 natural and organic grocers nationwide.
Newly-appointed SVP of sales Jeff Maher told BevNET this week that “the consumer is going to tell us how big this brand can be. And the early indications are that it can be a very big and successful brand.”
Maher said he would be targeting other national grocery chains in the natural channel this year to open more doors for the superfood beverage.
Mingle Continues Nationwide Dry January Push
Mocktail brand Mingle is broadening its reach even further with a launch in all 45 locations of Illinois-based beverage retailer Binny’s Beverage Depot. Mingle founder Laura Taylor announced the news on LinkedIn capitalizing on the “Dry January” drinking trend.
The non-alc, canned cocktail maker inked a deal with Total Wine and More retailers in November as well as announced it was now available nationwide in Whole Foods.
Mingle’s sparkling, fruit forward mocktails launched in 2015. Currently, the brand offers drinks in 750 ml bottles or 12 oz cans in six flavors — Cranberry Cosmo, Key Lime Margarita, Blackberry Hibiscus Bellini, Cucumber Melon Mojito, Moscow Mule and Blood Orange Elderflower Mimosa.
Swoon Expands Distribution In New York
New York-based Big Geyser has signed on to distribute Swoon’s complete line of zero-sugar lemonades and iced teas in its home market.
“Teaming up with Swoon is incredibly exciting as it’s a brand we really believe in,” said Big Geyser president and COO Jerry Reda. “Big Geyser is a New York-based, family-run brand, so Swoon is aligned with us tightly on our mission and point of view. Their success so far in the beverage space is impressive, and we can’t wait to take things to the next level.”
Currently, the monk fruit-sweetened lemonades and teas are sold online in 12-pack cases for $29.99 or $26.99 with a subscription as well as in select Target, Whole Foods, and Publix retailers. The brand also recently partnered with Chamberlain Coffee in May on a Matcha Lemonade RTD.