Firefighter Brand’s EMS Hydro/Energy is engineered to enhance performance during intense physical activity in the most demanding conditions. Its formula hydrates the body, and provides added energy with D-ribose, taurine, caffeine and other enhancements. Available in four flavors – FruitPunch, Orange, Lemon-Lime and WildBerry – the sports drink is packaged in a 20-ounce “hydrant-shaped” PET bottle, and retails for $1.39. Firefighter Brand EMS Strong energy drink features a proprietary “TC4” System powered by coenzyme Q10, creatine, chromate, carnitine and taurine that create a formula of energy components blended to enhance cardiac, muscle and mental functions. The energy drinks come in Orange, Citrus, Berry and Grape flavors in a 12-ounce can that retails for $1.99.

Velocity International will be distributing Sïku Glacier Ice Vodka throughout the United States. Sïku, meaning “ice” in Greenlandic, derives its base from Greenland’s Qalerallit Sermia Glacier and is blended in small batches by a master distiller in the Netherlands. Using a proprietary blending process, Sïku is created at around -25°C. The average retail price is about $34.99 per bottle.

El Paso Chile Co. launched Cocktail Chemistry, a line that places the cocktail mix in a custom PET bottle that looks and functions like a martini shaker. The mix comes complete with a built-in pour spout, strainer and jigger as well as rimming sugars sealed into the overcap, which was designed by Berlin Packaging. Just add vodka and ice, shake and pour. Cocktail Chemistry comes in Appletini, Cosmo and Lemon Drop varieties, and retails between $4.99 and $5.99.

Remy Cointreau launched a new brand of three new whiskies under the Jon, Mark and Robbo’s Easy Drinking Whisky Co. Tired of whisky’s intimidation factor, these three best friends Jon Geary, Mark Beary and David “Robbo” Robertson, former master distiller of The Macallan, created three varieties that focus on flavor, fun and friends. The Rich Spicy One, The Smokey Peaty One and The Smooth Sweeter One will be available at wine and spirits retailers nationwide. With the straightforward nature of the product, quality and price point of $29.99 for a 750-ml. wax-sealed bottle, the company hopes to attract new whisky consumers.

Turning Leaf Vineyards introduced Sonoma Reserve portfolio of four wines in celebration of its 10th anniversary. The reds in the Sonoma Reserve family include a 2003 Pinot Noir, 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2003 Merlot. Sonoma Reserve also features a tropical 2003 Chardonnay. Turning Leaf Sonoma Reserve replaces the current Coastal Reserve portfolio, and retails for around $12 per 750-ml. bottle.

Elite FX released Celsius, a carbonated drink formulated to help consumers burn more calories. Celsius is powered by a combination of natural bontanicals, micronutrients, amino acids and caffeine to boost metabolism and energy. Celsius is available in three flavors – Cola, Lemon-Lime and Ginger Ale – in 12-ounce bottles for $1.99.

New Product Introductions by Category
CATEGORY	SKUS YTD 8/1/05	SKUS YTD 8/1/04	PERCENT CHANGE
Alcohol Beverages	791	556	42.6%
Coffee & Tea	728	698	4.3%
Dairy Drinks & Alternatives, Health Drinks	175	213	-17.8%
Fruit & Vegetable Drinks	611	420	45.5%
Other Drinks	233	222	4.7%
Soft Drinks, Sports Drinks & Bottled Waters	450	394	14.2%
Total Beverages:	2988	2503	19.4%
Source: Productscan Online (www.productscan.com)

ANSI now offers X-treme Shock, an energy drink the company says offers energy, increases stamina and accelerates fat loss within 15 minutes of consumption. Available in Fruit Punch and Grape, X-treme Shock retails in 12-ounce PET bottles for $3.

Bravo! Foods added Slammers Milky Way reduced-fat fortified chocolate milk and Slammers 3 Musketeers low-fat chocolate milk to its line of licensed brands from Masterfoods USA. Slammers Milky Way offers the taste of a Milky Way Bar plus the addition of essential vitamins. Slammers 3 Musketeers uses low-fat milk, and no added sugar. While they taste best cold, the products are packaged in 14-ounce shelf-stable bottles, and retail between $1.49 and $1.69.

Excuse Me LLC, producer and distributor of Rudy Begonia apparel, has relaunched its Belcher Soda line. Geared toward the youth market, Belcher now offers healthier versions of its four flavors: Rudy Berry, Loogie Lime, Obnoxious Orange and Very Cherry. Belcher Sodas include five essential vitamins, 10 percent natural fruit juice and no high fructose corn syrup. Package graphics feature the animated face of Rudy Begonia in a slim 12-ounce can, complete with a Belch-O-Meter where kids can rate their belches from “Awesome to Nuclear.”

United States Beverage LLC introduced a new flavor to the Seagram's Smooth brand – Green Machine. The bright green color and crisp green apple blend is designed to draw attention on the shelf and in the cooler. Available in both 12-ounce six-packs and 24-ounce single-serve bottles, the Seagram's Smooth family of flavors now includes Green Machine, Pink Dragon, Island Bliss, Liquid Haze, Citrus and Red.

Abbott’s Ross Products Division added ZonePerfect Nutrition Shakes to its ZonePerfect line. The new all-natural shakes come in three flavors: Creamy Vanilla, Chocolate Royale and Mixed Berry. ZonePerfect products are based on a ratio of 40/30/30 carbohydrate, protein and fat. Each shake contains 250 calories and provides 24 vitamins and minerals and 19 grams of protein. The shakes are sold in four-packs of 8-ounce reclosable bottles for a retail price of $5.99.

Canada’s Original Iceberg Water released Iceberg Water and Iceberg Vodka made with water from North Atlantic icebergs. Bottled in Newfoundland, Iceberg Water will be available nationally at finer grocery stores and retail outlets in sculpted 300-ml., 500-ml. and 1-liter PET bottles. Iceberg Vodka will launch in select wine and spirit retailers in 13 markets across the United States, and is available in an ice-shaped glass bottle in a variety of sizes from 80 ml. to 1.75 liters.

FulLife Natural Options created an all-natural, caffeine-free tea that helps stabilize the blood sugar levels of diabetics. Charantea Ampalaya Tea contains the ampalaya herb, which has been shown to assist diabetics and has been used as a home remedy for various illnesses such as anemia, hypertension, constipation, nerve and viral diseases, the company says. Available in a box of 30 tea bags, Charantea Ampalaya Tea retails for $12.95. Recommended usage is one cup after each meal for a total of three cups daily.

Castle Brands released Brady’s Irish Cream made with Irish single-malt whiskey and Irish spirits. The natural flavors of dark chocolate and vanilla combine to give Brady’s a distinct, full taste. Available in 50-ml., 750-ml., 1-liter and 1.75-liter bottles, the 750-ml. size retails for $9.99.

Revolution Tea, Phoenix, added five new flavors to its Infuser Tea Bag line: Organic Green, Citrus Spice, White Pear, Black Citron and Organic Green Earl Grey. The entire range is available in a 16-count retail box and in 30-count and 5-pack sampler T-Box Revolution packs…

New Leaf, Orangeburg, N.Y., increased its line of green and white teas with White Tea with Strawberry and White Tea with Tangerine...

4C Foods, Brooklyn, N.Y., released 4C Totally Light Tea2Go tea mixes. The Totally Light product lineup includes Natural Lemon flavored, Naturally Decaffeinated, Green Tea Antioxidant and Natural Raspberry flavored varieties. All are sugar-free, with no calories and 100 percent of the recommended intake of vitamin C…

Organic India, Boulder, Colo., launched a new line of organic Tulsi Tea that includes six blends grown and processed in India: Original Tulsi, Tulsi Ginger, Tulsi Gotu Kola, Tulsi Chai, Tulsi Green Tea and Tulsi Darjeeling...

Santa Cruz Organic, Chico, Calif., created Tangerine soda packaged in a 12-ounce can or 750-ml. glass bottle. The organic soda offers the taste of sparkling water with tangerine and lemon juice...

Old Orchard Brands, Sparta, Mich., added Pink Lemonade and Fruit Punch to its line of 10-ounce single-serve bottles. Both flavors had previously only been offered in 64-ounce containers...

Noble Organics, Winter Haven, Fla., launched a line of Organic Fruit Juices: Orange, Orange Tangerine, Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade…

Progressive Beverages Inc., Culver City, Calif., launched Han, which it says is the first Asian Vodka in the U.S. market. Made with spring water and quadruple-distilled barley vodka, Han is infused with a polished rice spirit and filtered through a micro-carbon freeze filtration process…

Paterno Wines International’s Terlato Wine Group, Lake Bluff, Ill., released a new luxury wine brand called Terlato Vineyards, with three new handcrafted California wines to be launched during 2005 and 2006. From three distinct regions, the new wines are: Terlato Vineyards 2004 Pinot Grigio Russian River Valley, Terlato Vineyards 2003 Syrah Dry Creek Valley and Terlato Vineyards 2003 Angels’ Peak Napa Valley Bordeaux blend…

Remy Cointreau USA Inc., New York, now offers a new range of blended malts from The Famous Grouse. The Famous Grouse 12 and 18 Years Old Malt Whiskies will be available in September…

Pernod Ricard USA released a new Russell’s Reserve, a 10-year-old, small-batch bourbon created by Master Distiller Jimmy Russell. Released in a 750-ml. bottle, it will be available nationally in September...

A.V. Imports, Columbia, Md., added Spain’s González Byass winery and its leading brand of fino sherry, Tio Pepe, to its portfolio. The dry, pale gold sherry is 15 percent alcohol by volume, and retails for $14.99…

Pommery’s Curvée Louise 1995 is a luxury champagne made from grapes from 100 percent grand cru-rated vineyards and aged in the bottle for eight years. The champagne is imported by W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd., White Plains, N.Y., and retails for $160 per bottle.  

Caffe D’Amore, Monrovia, Calif., introduced a new addition to its Frappe Freeze product line, the Skinny Frappe. Available in four flavors – Vanilla (coffee-free), Chocolate (coffee-free), Mocha and Coffee – Skinny Frappes are low in calories, fat and sugar…

Guayaki, San Luis Obispo, Calif., created three flavor varieties of Guayaki Yerba Mate Organic Energy Drink: Traditional Mate, Empower Mint and Raspberry Revolution. The drinks are made with 100 percent organic cane juice, organic yerba mate, and do not contain artificial colors and flavors…