*Snapple, one of the brightest jewels in Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages’ crown, has just unveiled a new line of superfruit juice drinks, based on all natural ingredients with added vitamins. * Packed in slender 17.5oz (52cl) bottles with an recommended retail price of $1.39, Snapple Super Premium Juice Drinks are available in four flavours: goji punch and peach mangosteen, plus low calorie noni berry and kiwi pear. “Our new Super Premium Juice Drinks will contribute to a healthy immune system and provide the metabolism boosting benefits consumers look for, complete with plenty of the great taste they expect from Snapple,” said Bryan Mazur, Vice President and General Manager of CSAB’s Snapple business unit.

*Using a can that glows under ultraviolet light and the slogan 'Mplode brings people together', the German company Mplode has worldwide partners ranging from those in sports and entertainment to skateboarders and stock brokers. * The Mplode experience merges marketing, global nightlife and active lifestyle. Containing taurine, schisandra, caffeine, niacin, glucuronolactone and vitamins B6 and B12. Shown this year at the Fancy Food Show in New York in July, at Anuga in October and IFE in New Delhi in December the owners are keen on promoting it through parties and sports contests. “The typical Mplode consumer looks after their health, is self confident, achievement oriented and active, being young and dynamic in their jobs as well as in their spare time. Containing 0.3g protein and 11.8g carbohydrates, it is sold in 25cl cans and has a shelf life of 24 months. “We did not invent the energy drink we have just completed it,” Mplode claims.

*Hib! launched in the UK and European market at Anuga is the first super flower drink, made from the calyx of the Hibiscus Sabdariffa bush. * Ruby red Hib! in hibiscus and peppermint, hibiscus and grape, a lightly sparkling variant and a cordial is the brainchild the brainchild of West African-born Marx Ayigbede and his partner Anita Doran. Growing up in Benin, Marx loved a home made drink his grandmother would make from an infusion of the dried calyx from the hibiscus flower bush. He says he thinks the UK and European market will love the drink because it tastes great, is very refreshing, has a clean aftertaste, and is natural and healthy. Hib! aims to be stocked in all sectors of the market. The company, which has enlisted Alan Ramsay Sales & Marketing, is already in talks with a national supermarket chain. Sales expectations are 1 million litres in the first year.

The ready to drink (RTD) coffee category is set to become the next major battleground for The Coca-Cola Company and its perennial rival PepsiCo, after Coke announced a global partnership with Italian coffee specialist illycaffé in October. The move came just a couple of weeks after Pepsi revealed that its partnership with US coffee company Starbucks is soon to expand into select international markets. Coke and illy have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a global joint venture focused on premium RTD coffee. Although details of the deal have not yet been finalised, the two companies said their aim will be to “leverage illy’s world class expertise in the art of the espresso to capture opportunities in this high growth, profitable beverage category with new brands and products.” The RTD coffee market has been developing strongly around the world in recent years and is currently valued at almost $10 billion. Excluding Japan, world sales have grown at an average annual rate of more than 10% since 2002. Coca-Cola has been trying to establish a strong position in the RTD coffee category for some years – particularly since noting the success of the Pepsi/Starbucks partnership, under which Pepsi has been distributing Starbucks branded bottled Frappuccino across North America for the last decade. Although Coke owns the bestselling Georgia canned coffee brand in Japan and has experimented in North America and Europe with various coffee-flavoured drinks such as the 'fusion beverage' Coca-Cola Blak, results have been inconclusive. In 2001, major bottler Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) bought PJ Bean Co of Long Island, New York, producer of a small line of RTD coffees under the Planet Java brand. But the acquisition was not a success and Planet Java was quietly dropped two years later. In September last year, Coca-Cola launched a surprising new attempt to cash in on coffee – focusing on the fresh brewed rather than RTD beverage. The company unveiled Far Coast, a range of premium ground coffees in capsules, to be used in conjunction with specially designed coffee making machines. The Far Coast system (right) is not intended for domestic use, however, but for upmarket hotels, restaurants and bars. A similar system was simultaneously launched under the CHAQWA brand, to produce fresh brewed coffee and tea in less exclusive catering locations such as snack bars and convenience stores. The new systems were introduced at a chic 'concept store' in Toronto. Other Far Coast stores have subsequently opened in Oslo and Singapore as well as in the recently revamped World of Coca-Cola museum in Coke’s home town, Atlanta. A further significant but less widely reported development came at the beginning of this year, when Coke and Nestlé of Switzerland announced they had revised their international joint venture Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW), which produces and distributes Nestea iced black tea. Crucially, the revised joint venture agreement left both companies free to market their own RTD coffees and non-black tea products. This August, Coca-Cola North America (CCNA) teamed up with Caribou Coffee – second biggest US coffee house chain after Starbucks – to launch of a new line of premium RTD iced coffees under the Caribou brand (see below, centre). Packaged in a unique 12oz (35cl) resealable Alumi-Tek aluminium bottle from Ball Corp, the Caribou drinks are initially being distributed in three flavours (regular, espresso, vanilla) in major US cities in the Midwest and Southeast. Since Coke has not yet revealed its long term plans, it is not clear whether the company would consider launching any illy RTD coffee line in markets such as Japan and the US, where it is already represented in the category. But there are still many other markets to conquer – and Coke evidently hopes it has finally found a winning formula for coffee. “illy is a proven leader with an uncompromising commitment to high quality espresso coffee and a strong history of innovation, with whom we are proud to partner,” said Coca-Cola President and Chief Operating officer Muhtar Kent. “We will be able to bring our brand building and distribution expertise together with illy’s premium brand reputation.” Said Andrea Illy (above), Chairman and CEO of illycaffé: “We are proud to partner with the top brand name in sparkling beverages to offer the illy taste to a new range of consumers, as well as those who love our traditional espresso tastes, to meet new consumption moments. Our R&D and product know-how will join The Coca-Cola Company’s industrial and distribution infrastructure to develop a high quality ready to drink coffee.” It is expected that the final joint venture agreements between Coke and illy will be signed by the end of this year.

*Antistress Brennessel from Austria’s Sonnenalm Getrankevertrieb GmbH is a new soft drink made from stinging nettles that has an anti-stress effect. * Non-carbonated and even suitable for diabetics, it contains fructose with added magnesium, vitamins and a mixture of plant extracts including aloe vera, gingko and ginseng.

*The Beneo stand at Food ingredients Europe in London in October was showing Drive - from German mineral water producer Rosbacher - designed to increase reaction and concentration. * The beverage, which contains natural caffeine (2:1 calcium/magnesium) and no artificial sweeteners, colours or flavours (its grape/pomegranate flavour is derived from real fruit juice) is based on a unique carbohydrate formula containing Palatinose. The formula was developed in conjunction with the Institute for Sports Nutrition in Bad Nauheim, Germany and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. From 30 October Orafti, Palatinit and Remy together form the new Functional Food Group, Beneo, and will be known individually as Beneo-Orafti, Beneo-Remy and Beneo-Palatinit. 'Connecting nutrition and health' is the group’s united mission with the plan for Beneo to be known as one of the industry’s preferred innovation partners.

*No1 US tennis champion Andy Roddick has been signed by AriZona Beverage Company to represent the group’s new Hypotonic Performance Sports Drink – currently available in New York, Florida and Illinois. * Aimed towards the athletic demographic and focusing on enhanced performance, the 20oz beverage has a lemon lime flavour and includes calcium, magnesium, potassium, amino acids, vitamins A and E. Launching a new <1> to coincide with its fresh new look, AriZona claims this hypotonic drink increases the ability of cells to absorb fluids – resulting in less tiredness and improved response times. “It’s exciting to be associated with a groundbreaking product such as Hypotonic Performance Sports Drink,” Roddick said. “The AriZona Beverage Company has created a product that not only replenishes fluids lost during competition, but their technology has also created a product that works better than any other energy beverage on the market.” <1>: http://www.drinkarizona.com

Dr Hans-Peter Wild, Chairman and owner of Germany’s Wild group, has revealed that he plans to launch the company on the stock market in two years’ time. He is now beginning to restructure Wild and its European subsidiaries to prepare them for flotation. Dr Wild, 66, wants to set the business on a clear course for the years ahead. After reviewing all options, he has decided that going public is the best way to ensure Wild’s continued growth and prosperity. “My main concern is to secure the future of the company, which my parents founded in 1931 and that I have further developed into a successful international enterprise,” he explained. Dr Wild’s father, Rudolf Wild, initially focused on producing ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages exclusively from natural raw materials. But the company expanded over the years to include the creation of its own non-alcoholic brands and then the manufacture of food and beverage production equipment. Dr Wild joined the business in 1974. Today, Wild is one of the most widely known and respected names in the global beverage industry, operating in three fields. As well as being the world’s biggest privately owned producer of natural ingredients, the company also markets its own select portfolio of beverages, led by the bestselling children’s juice drink Capri-Sun. At the same time, Wild’s process technology division supplies sophisticated equipment for beverage makers, including specialised filling lines for Capri-Sun’s signature flexible pouches. * Long term prospects* Dr Wild is confident about the group’s long term prospects. “We operate in a good business environment,” he said. “The company has a solid base, excellent employees, and creates value for its customers.” However, he has called in management consultancy McKinsey to advise on ways that Wild should be streamlined and fine-tuned to prepare it for life as a listed company. Two key changes will be the introduction of an Oracle IT system throughout Europe and the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Wild’s accounts. “We will actively change and shape the enterprise ourselves, while using the experience of McKinsey to assist in the process,” Dr Wild continued. “Our decision is a clear sign to our employees that we will work together for solid growth.” He gave no indication of the possible scope of an initial public offering (IPO) of shares in Wild.

* Where once a health drink implied something that didn’t taste too good, but did you good, today’s offerings have it all - looks, taste and provenance.* Xan Wellness from Wiesbaden is rich in vitamin C and B9 with extract of hops and intrinsic antioxidant properties. Sold in gold labelled crown cork and seal bottles it resembles a premium beer but is sold with women in mind and a totally healthy mindset.

*Smartfish known for its Omega-3 EPA/DHA juice has launched Smartweek, which won an award in the Taste innovation section at Anuga. * Offering the daily requirement of Omega-3 in just one serving, according to owner Henrik Mathiesen of Pharmalogica, the drink combines fruit juice and oil from Norwegian salmon with rosemary extract and jackfruit flavouring.

Wanting to appear invisible, Japanese ninja assassins used to don black cloaks at night, enabling them to disappear into the background. That was the inspiration behind a Japanese fashion designer’s latest creation, which was recently unveiled in Tokyo. Although perhaps Aya Tsukioka’s vending machine skirt is slightly less subtle. The idea behind the brightly coloured garment is to allow its wearer to transform into a Coca-Cola vending machine, thereby putting a would be street attacker completely off their scent. The cunning disguise comprises a bright red skirt with flaps, which can be lifted up and over the head, fully concealing a woman beneath. Featuring Coca-Cola’s iconic red and white logo, as well as a coin slot, product dispensing area and a seemingly large selection of carbonated beverages, the camouflage has four sides, leaving the potential assailant in no doubt whatsoever that it resembles a fully operational vending machine. Well, apart from its hand-sewn cloth construction, the wearer’s feet poking out from underneath and the creator’s own admission that a woman walking the streets who was being followed might have shaky hands, which could impede her vending machine transformation capabilities. Despite these minor caveats, Tsukioka has sold 20 of the skirts at a price tag of £400 each and is hopeful that her design will appeal to fashionistas all over the world and help to ease fears about crime. It certainly is a way of skirting the issue.

Cooler Innovation's Medina Bailey talks to leading POU manufacturers and suppliers about their latest offerings and the sector that's on the up.