Companies release new beverages for summer

With the mercury rising comes the need for some serious thirst-quenchers. And nothing says summertime like iced tea and lemonade. No wonder beverage companies have launched so many new products lately.

In February, PepsiCo. launched Brisk Raspberry iced tea, which targets 18- to 24-year-old guys. According to the company, iced tea was among the faster- growing refreshment beverages in 2012, and raspberry tea has the third-highest purchase intent among iced teas.

PepsiCo.’s Tropicana Pure Premium Lemonade, in 1.75-litre cartons hit stores last month, albeit only for 16 weeks. Also new is Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Creations Orange and Mango, with no added water, sugar, flavour or colour.

“South Asian and Chinese consumers have an affinity with mango,” says Meghan Toll, senior marketing manager at Tropicana. “Due to Canada’s growing ethnic population, Tropicana recognized the need to launch that pro- vided the authentic taste of real mango.” Another PepsiCo product for summer is Trop 50.

In mid-March, Coca-Cola launched Minute Maid Smoothies in two flavours: strawberry banana and tropical. The product, a frozen concentrated real fruit blend of Minute Maid juices and fruit purees, can be customized by adding milk, yogurt, ice cream and protein powder.

Smoothies are typically a breakfast item, but this product is “fast, convenient and great for entertaining,” says Philip Cox, group director of channel strategy and marketing at Coca-Cola.

For consumers looking for a low-calorie fruit beverage, SunRype has launched a line called SunRype Slim, available in tropical mango, cranberry twist and blueberry burst in 1.36-litre bottles. “They offer a delicious, refreshing, low-calorie alternative to higher-calorie summer beverages,” says Barb Grant, group marketing manager of beverages at SunRype.

There are also new drinks for kids. Canada Dry Mott’s brought two new Hawaiian Punch flavours to Canada in February: Green Berry Rush and Lemon Berry Squeeze, as well as the original fruit juice flavour.

At 80 calories per serving and with 100 per cent daily value of vitamin C, the drink is something “moms can feel good about serving,” says Jonathan Yeh, brand marketing manager at Canada Dry Mott’s.