Health-Ade, the makers of bubbly beverages with gut health benefits, has launched a new beverage brand called SunSip by Health-Ade, a prebiotic soda with benefits that will hit stores in the US. Known for their kombucha, this move positions the brand to become the next leader in the rapidly expanding functional beverage industry, which is estimated to reach USD 62 B in 2027*. While Health-Ade Kombucha has long been a top choice for consumers looking for a better-for-you soda alternative, SunSip by Health-Ade is designed with this exact usage occasion in mind, to better meet new consumers looking for soda alternatives.
SunSip delivers craveable, nostalgic soda flavours while staying true to Health-Ade’s mission to make gut health more delicious and accessible. The brand touts “Life’s Sweeter When You Sip Better,” inspiring consumers to ditch the sugary sodas for this better-for-you upgrade, jam-packed with the delicious flavours they love while also delivering prebiotics, vitamins, and minerals.
The launch of SunSip responds to overwhelming demand for better beverage options, as the traditional soda market has steadily declined, selling 1.7 billion fewer units over the past two years, and as existing better-for-you alternatives are under heat for the use of sweeteners like stevia and erythritol. SunSip by Health-Ade was strategically formulated to deliver on consumer demands for a full-flavoured, better-for-you soda with added benefits and no artificial sweeteners. Each flavour has 5 grams of sugar and uses fruit juice, monk fruit, and a touch of cane sugar to sweeten its bubbles without stevia and includes what other functional sodas do not: prebiotics from agave inulin fiber to nurture a happy gut, vitamins (it’s a good source of Vitamins C, B6, and B12) and minerals (10 % daily value of Zinc and Selenium) to support your everyday immunity and energy, as well as promote your inner and outer glow.
SunSip launches under the Health-Ade master brand, which retails in 65,000 stores in the US and is well known to be a leader in the gut health beverage industry. After its debut in the Los Angeles farmer’s markets in 2012, the kombucha giant rapidly gained a cult following with celebrities and consumers and continues to lead the industry as the #1 growth contributor. The launch of SunSip marks the first non-kombucha product offered by Health-Ade in the refrigerated premium digestive health category and is part of the brand’s mission to make delicious gut-healthy products for every consumer and drinking occasion.
SunSip by Health-Ade will feature a colourful, bold brand and package design, perfectly capturing the pure joy and refreshment of a summer day, so consumers can keep summer in their step, all year long. Brightly designed SunSip will launch in convenient, take-anywhere 11.5 oz aluminum cans, which in addition to cueing delight and refreshment, are 100 % recyclable and a further step in Health-Ade’s commitment to making a positive impact both on gut health and the planet.
The new soda with benefits will launch with four mouthwateringly tasty flavours: Raspberry Lemonade, Cherry Cola, Strawberry Vanilla and Root Beer — mirroring nostalgic soda flavours to transport you back to those sweet summer days — and will be available exclusively at Whole Foods in the US this month and expanding into multiple retailers from April 2024 and onwards.
*Source: US Functional Beverage Market Insights | Glanbia Nutritionals
Following the successful launch of Robinsons Benefit Drops last year, the UK’s number one squash brand1 is releasing a full benefits-led range of wellness-focused premium squash, named Robinsons with Benefits. The range features three flavours in a 750 ml format, with each containing a different functional benefit through added vitamins and no added sugar, while still retaining that great Robinsons taste. The range is rolling out in the grocery channel now, and available to the convenience channel in June. Almost two-thirds of shoppers say they are interested in beverages with a broad range of functional, better-for-you benefits2, and the new range will provide a convenient and tasty solution to meet shoppers’ needs for tastier, healthier drinks at home.
The new Robinsons with Benefits range consists of:
- Robinsons Vitality Peach, Mango & Passion Fruit, boosted with vitamins B3 and D which helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue.
- Robinsons Immunity Orange & Guava flavoured, boosted with vitamins C & D to support the immune system.
- Robinsons Boost Raspberry, Strawberry & Acai, boosted with vitamin B6 to help recharge consumers’ batteries.
Ben Parker, Retail Commercial Director at Britvic said: “At a time when over half of consumers have revealed that they want to see healthier soft drinks in retailers’ ranges3, it’s the perfect time for us to expand the Robinsons range further to tap into this growing demand. The latest addition to our popular portfolio will build on the success of last year’s launch of Robinsons Benefit Drops, and aims to make it even easier for young people to enjoy benefit-led squash wherever they may be, at home or on the go.
“This launch follows our recent rebrand of the entire Robinsons range, and aims to offer consumers another premium squash for different occasions, sitting alongside our premium Fruit Creations range. The expansion also aims to help consumers make tastier, healthier choices in line with our long-term Healthier People strategy.
Functional benefits are important to almost three quarters of consumers4, and 68 % of shoppers prefer to get their vitamins from their diet, rather than health supplements5. The rollout of Robinsons with Benefits aims to meet this demand, as well as ensuring that customers have a healthier squash option that still tastes great.
The full Robinsons with Benefits range is available in the grocery channel now, and will be rolling out across the convenience channel from June, and will be supported by in-store and online activations throughout the summer, as well as form part of Robinsons’ Get Thirsty marketing campaign.
1NielsenIQ RMS, Total Squash, Britvic Defined, Total Coverage, Robinsons, Value Sales, 52w.e 25.3.22
2The Hartman Group Functional Food & Beverage Supplement 2022.
3Mintel Carbonated Soft Drinks 2022
4FMCG Gurus: The Rising Cost of Living 2022
5Kantar Profiles/Mintel, Vitamins & Supplements August 2022
New research shows no adverse association between change in Body Mass Index (BMI) and consumption of 100 % orange juice among older children adding to a growing list of studies suggesting children and teens can benefit from regularly drinking 100 % orange juice without concerns about weight gain. The four-year longitudinal study published in Pediatric Obesity found that drinking 100 % orange juice was associated with smaller changes in BMI over time in girls, with no significant effect on BMI in boys.
The analysis by researchers at the University of Connecticut and Harvard’s School of Public Health and Medical School included children ages 9 to 16 who were followed from 2004 through 2008.1 The analysis showed there was a clear lack of a connection between orange juice and increased BMI in this age group. One hundred percent orange juice contributed, on average, between 40 to 50 calories to the daily diet while milk contributed almost four times that amount, from 150 to 180 calories. This amount of orange juice represents under 4 ounces per day on average, which falls well below the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which suggests limits for 100 % fruit juice consumption of 8 oz. daily for children over 7. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans counts 100 % fruit juice as a fruit serving and recommends that primary beverages either be calorie free – especially water – or contribute beneficial nutrients, such as fat-free and low-fat milk and 100 % fruit juice.2
“Children in this age group fail to consume adequate amounts of fruit and certain micronutrients such as vitamin C and potassium,” said Dr. Rosa Walsh, Director of Scientific Research at the Florida Department of Citrus. “Although the preferred choice is whole fruit, this research supports that moderate consumption of 100 % orange juice can be a beneficial addition to the diet to help meet fruit intake recommendations and is unlikely to contribute to childhood obesity.”
This longitudinal study, funded by an unrestricted grant by the Florida Department of Citrus, adds to the growing body of scientific research supporting the role of 100 % orange juice in adults’ and children’s diets.
- Another data analysis of nearly 14,000 Americans, ages 4 and older, concluded that people who drink 100% orange juice have lower BMI and healthier lifestyle behaviors than people who don’t drink orange juice.3
- A longitudinal analysis of more than 7,300 children and adolescents in the GUTSII cohort concluded that 100% fruit juice or OJ intake was not associated with negative effects on body weight, BMI or BMI percentile. In fact, higher OJ intake was associated with greater changes (positive) in height for girls.4
- A trend analysis for children reported that despite higher energy intakes, there was no significant difference in physical activity levels, percent overweight or obese, or BMI z-score when comparing kids who consume 100 % orange juice versus those who don’t.5
- A comprehensive review performed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for their Evidence Analysis Library examined the association between 100 % fruit juice intake and weight in children and concluded that the evidence does not support an association between 100 % fruit juice consumption and weight status or adiposity in children ages 2 to 18 years of age.6
Every glass of 100 % orange juice supports overall health and can help adults and children meet intake recommendations for key nutrients they may be lacking in their diets. An 8-oz. serving size contains vital vitamins and antioxidants, including vitamin C, potassium, folate, hesperidin and more, with no added sugar. From helping improve diet quality to providing key nutrients that can help support a healthy immune system, 100 % orange juice offers a number of health benefits and can also easily be incorporated into simple, great-tasting recipes.
About the Florida Department of Citrus
The Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs more than 37,000 people, provides an annual economic impact of $6.5 billion to the state, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida’s schools, roads and health care services.
1Sakaki JR et al. Pediatric Obesity. 2021;Mar 1:e12781.
2USDA and USDHHS. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov.
3Wang et al. Pub Health Nutr. 2012;15(12):2220-2227.
4Sakaki et al. Public Health Nutr. 2020 Oct 7;1-8.
5Nicklas et al. International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition. 2020;9(3):100-114.
6Evidence Analysis Library (EAL), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dietary and Metabolic Impact of Fruit Juice Consumption Evidence Analysis Project.
