BRAND NEWS: BOUTIQUE CSDs TeaZazz TeaZazz Sparkling Tea announced it has partnered with 5 Star Beverage Distribution Inc. and Underdog Distributors to bring TeaZazz Sparkling Tea beverages to San Diego County and Clark County. Launched in 2006 in Valencia, California by Tamara Saretsky and Delicia Soliman, TeaZazz Sparkling Tea offers the best of both worlds—a hybrid drink, that bridges the gap between the “fun” of soft drinks and the “good for you” elements of tea.
Cricket Cola Cricket Natural Beverages has added 3 new flavors to their green tea enhanced sparkling beverages lineup – Pomegranate Raspberry, Mandarin and White Peach. Complete with 2 cups of green tea in every bottle the entire Cricket line is high in antioxidants, delivers a mellow caffeine lift without the jitters, and has a refreshingly delicious taste with mainstream consumer appeal. Cricket now has national distribution in the natural and specialty food channels and a national broker network to support distribution. Cricket has secured placement in many high profile retail accounts including Whole Foods, HEB, The Fresh Market, Jewel Osco and Giant Eagle. Cricket’s refreshed packaging won Design USA best packaging award and gained Cricket recognition as a “fashion brand” in the beverage industry.
Carolina Beverage Corp. Cheerwine is popping up this year in new cities across the nation with a completely new look and feel. The iconic 91-year-old brand has unveiled new branding, packaging and an extensive marketing campaign to support its aggressive distribution plan. Recent launches in Atlanta and Modesto, Calif., will be followed soon with rollouts in additional mid-Atlantic and west coast markets before the end of the year. Cheerwine is one of the oldest family-owned soft drink companies in the country. Carolina Beverage Corporation – which manufactures Cheerwine – has also hired top marketing and design firms to create the new identity for the brand which will roll out on all packaging, point of sale, truck backs, and bought media starting in July.
Medicus Medicus is introducing Sparka, a line of all-natural zero-calorie sparkling beverages. Sparka contains no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, and no calories. Sparka Natural
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Drinks are flavored with the herb stevia, which makes it a healthy and satisfying drink for anyone concerned about the health implications of drinking the loads of sugar or artificial sweeteners most other beverages contain. Sparka is also enhanced with calcium and vitamin C. Sparka comes in several flavors, including Orange, Lemonade, Peach and Raspberry.
GuS Grown-up Soda completed its summer marketing blitz with its new 5.75 oz. samplesize cans of Dry Cranberry Lime. Cans were distributed in its Northeast and West Coast markets via street sampling, events and gift bags. The 2008 launch of new Dry Cola was a success as placements were gained among leading distributors and accounts. Containing real cola nut extract and cane sugar, with only 95 calories per 12 oz., GuS Dry Cola was selected among Good Morning America’s “Best 10 Products” from the 180,000 products offered at the Summer Fancy Food Show. New GuS distributors include DSD network Real Soda in Real Bottles of CA, Marz Beverage of NJ and UNFI/Rainbow Foods. Retail expansion continues with national placement in 240 SuperTarget stores and the Rocky Mountain Region of Whole Foods.
Steaz Steaz is going back to school with a big push this fall into colleges and universities across the US. The brand, which includes leading USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified Steaz Sparkling Green Teas, Steaz Energy, and new Steaz Organic Iced Teaz has gained distribution in over 40 major schools ranging from Princeton to Penn State, UCLA to Vanderbilt, filling the growing demand by the college community for healthy organic beverage options.
Fentimans Fentimans North America will begin producing UK-based Fentimans Botanically Brewed Beverages in an historic Pennsylvania brewery in November. It continues Fentimans’ time-honored (Est. 1905) recipes employing ginger root, herbs, juices and natural flavours, fermented and brewed over seven days to bring out natures goodness. Traditional sodas including Ginger Beer, Curiosity Cola, Victorian Lemonade, Mandarin & Seville Orange Jigger, Dandelion & Burdock and Shandy will now be offered in a new