Nestlé Waters North America, Stamford, Conn., expanded its Nestlé Pure Life bottled water brand with a new line of flavored sparkling waters. Nestlé Pure Life Exotics Sparkling Waters are unsweetened and calorie-free and feature all-natural, exotic fruit flavors. The lineup currently is available at Target stores nationwide in Strawberry Dragon Fruit, Mango Peach Pineapple and Tangerine varieties, with a fourth flavor — Key Lime — slated for a later release.

According to Paris-based Ipsos Marketing, more than one-third of U.S. specialty water consumers reported cutting back on soda consumption in the three months leading up to November 2013, and many are doing so in order to be healthier and decrease sugar and calorie intake. Furthermore, in 2013, there was a 9.5-million-gallon increase in sparkling water and seltzer consumption, making it the fastest-growing beverage category, according to New York-based Nielsen. Eighteen percent of that increase came from diet soda drinkers, while 16 percent came from people drinking regular soda, it reported.

“With such a significant shift in consumer preferences and buying habits, we’ve created a product that will appeal to people who are moving away from carbonated soft drinks and other sugary beverages toward water as healthy hydration,” said Gigi Leporati, Nestlé Pure Life brand manager, in a statement.  

The new Nestlé Pure Life Exotics Sparkling Water line offers carbonation levels similar to canned soda with the benefits of a zero-calorie drink and all-natural flavors, the company says.

Strawberry Dragon Fruit offers sweet and sour notes, creating a combination similar to that of kiwi and pear; Mango Peach Pineapple offers a mix of sweet and tangy flavors from the essences of the three different fruits; Tangerine offers a bold flavor with the natural aroma of tangerines; and Key Lime will offer a refreshing tart flavor, the company says.

An eight-pack carton of 12-ounce cans has a suggested retail price of $2.99.

For more information, visit www.nestle-purelife.us/products/exotics.