The Double Cola Co., Chattanooga, Tenn., introduced its first line of ready-to-drink teas. Zili teas come in five flavors, including citrus ginger green tea, plum acai black tea and sweet tea.
Austin, Texas-based Big Red Inc., released its rebranded Hydrive Energy Water. The functional water is available in seven flavors, including lemon lime, triple berry and citrus.
Chameleon Cold-Brew, Austin, Texas, added three flavors to its line of cold-brewed coffee, which is made from certified organic and fair trade Arabica coffee beans.
While lemonade and apple juice sales go sour, cranberry cocktail, vegetable juices and smoothies rise above the rest. Unit sales of that old standby, orange juice, are squeezed.
Coco Café, a registered trademark of All Market Inc., New York, introduced two new flavors — mocha and vanilla — to its espresso and coconut water beverage line.
Unilever-owned Lipton, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., introduced two new products — Diet Green Tea Honey Ginseng and Half & Half Tea (a combination of tea and lemonade).
Flavor enhancers let consumers customize their beverages. Juice makers combine flavors (especially superfruits), and tea brands go with lower-calorie sweeteners.
There are many contenders in the world of nondairy beverages and new ones keep pouring in. Manufacturers of waters, juices, coffees and teas have to continually find ways to set their offerings apart from the competition.