Concordia Coffee Systems introduces the Concordia Self-Serve Espresso Bar, the first turnkey kiosk that provides a genuine caf experience right out of the box. The contemporary kiosk with cherry cabinetry features Concordia’s Acorto Model 2500i automatic espresso machine, which produces lattes and cappuccinos at the touch of a button. Users make their beverage selection [...]
Anheuser-Busch is kicking off the nationwide launch of Tilt, a new, innovative malt beverage featuring an assorted blend of caffeine, guarana and ginseng. This 5 p.m. after-work drink, which offers a bold berry-flavor, is part of the emerging, flavored caffeinated malt beverage category and an ideal choice for those seeking something new to help [...]
XL Energy Drink Corp. is introducing its international sellers XL Regular and Sugar Free energy drinks in the U.S. XL Energy Drinks have an excellent, lightly carbonated flavor and are carefully formulated for times when extended energy is needed for the best performance. The beverage will satisfy busy professionals, active students, athletes and anyone [...]
Point Blank Beverages introduces Torque, alcohol-fueled with caffeine, ginseng, taurine and guarana. Torque has a lemon-lime citrus flavor to it and comes in cases of 24 16-ounce cans. Torque, which has been on the market for more than a year now, is available from 45 wholesalers and is sold across the U.S. in 16 states. [...]
Introducing STOK, a new concept in the world of coffee enhancement. Each individual serving delivers a 40 milligram pop of pure, invigorating caffeine, equivalent to adding a shot of espresso. Designed for people who like to work hard and play harder, STOK fills the void by providing aquick and easy way to hyper-caffeinate coffee on-the-fly. [...]
Thirteen years after the energy drink market emerged in the U.S. with the introduction of Red Bull, the category remains popular with consumers, who are willing to pay higher prices in a difficult economy for an extra jolt. But while Mintel reported in July 2009 that the energy drink market had climbed to an estimated [...]
Packaged in a patent-protected, retro-style rocket bottle, ZUN, a new Energy-Plus beverage, is continuing its national rollout, entering stores in 11 Midwest states. “Stores are reporting that ZUN is selling fast and selling out within just days of placing,” said Brian Stearns, founder and CEO of ZUN. “The ZUN brand is quickly gaining favor with [...]
Ten years ago, “experts” warned the coffee industry was becoming saturated; then they said it again five years ago and once more two years ago. Turns out they were wrong every time. There’s not a convenience store operator in America who doesn’t work at building coffee sales and expanding dayparts thanks to the category’s excellent [...]
Full Throttle Energy Drink introduces a new full-flavored formula complete with reliable energy ingredients. Prominently displayed on the can’s back panel is Full Throttle’s new “No Choke Mixture” promise: “full flavor you don’t have to force down, and reliable energy ingredients that help you get the job done. No mystery ingredients. No bull.” The mixture [...]
Did You Know? By the year 2001, the U.S. energy drink market had grown to nearly $8 million per year in retail sales. Over the next 5 years, it grew an average of more than 50% per year, totaling over $3 billion in 2005. Diet energy drinks are growing at nearly twice that rate within [...]
Did You Know? Data released by the National Coffee Association shows the market penetration for coffee has surpassed that of soft drinks, reversing a 20-year pattern. Fifty-seven percent of American adults drink coffee daily versus 51% for soft drinks. Coffee drinking among 18-24 year-olds also jumped 6%, the fourth year in a row for such [...]
Convenience store operators need to focus on meeting consumer demand for a quality cup of coffee as McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks and Caribou all announced plans to step up their brew programs to reel in consumers during a tough economy. About 54% of the adult population in the U.S. classify themselves as coffee consumers, according [...]
Sultry Sales One new energy-shot sales trend WSCO’s general retail manager Darrell Looney sees is that some shots are being touted as aphrodisiacs. “The last NACS show was the first time I really noticed the presence of products that specifically spoke to potency and endurance,” Looney said, adding that it’s probably too soon to tell [...]
TOP PERFORMERS S&D Coffee Boyd Coffee Folgers (J.M. Smucker Co.) HONORABLE MENTIONS Sara Lee Foodservice Ronnoco Coffee Co. If you haven’t figured it out by now, most customers aren’t going to be happy with a one-pot coffee program bookended by a cup of sugar and a bowl of curdled creamer. They could get that at [...]
According to a recent study from the National Coffee Association, more coffee-drinkers than ever before say their favorite brew improves mental focus and provides health benefits. Not surprisingly, consumption of coffee now surpasses that of soft drinks—and while the gap is still narrow, daily consumption of coffee is pointing directionally higher. Young adults are the [...]