koalimo is the latest energy drink innovation, combining the naturally energising qualities of guarana and the sustainable sweetness of cocoa fruit juice.

koawach, specialists in organic, fair trade, and climate-neutral cocoa and guarana products, have created a one-of-a-kind beverage. The result is koalimo – the first caffeinated soft drink made with cocoa fruit juice, available in three refreshing flavours that redefine the energy drink experience:

• Sun Burst – a tangy and refreshing taste of grapefruit
• Citrus Wave – a zestful lime infusion for a rejuvenating kick
• Tropic Ocean – exotic passionfruit notes offering a perfect tropical escape

‘At koawach, we’re thrilled to launch koalimo as a sustainable and refreshing alternative to traditional energy drinks, harnessing the unique potential of the cocoa fruit,’ says Daniel Duarte, Founder of koawach. ‘This is a drink that brings together bold flavor, natural energy, and real impact for both people and the planet.’

Each flavour is lightly sweetened with cocoa fruit juice, an upcycled product that benefits both people and the planet. By using the often-overlooked cocoa fruit pulp, koalimo helps provide an extra income stream for small-scale farmers in Ghana and promotes upcycling – making a sustainable impact in the cocoa industry.

The refreshing essence of cocoa fruit is complemented by the energising kick of guarana, delivering 75 mg of natural caffeine per can – comparable to leading energy drinks but with a much simpler, cleaner ingredient list. Moreover, koalimo contains significantly less sugar than typical energy drinks (up to 3g per 100ml), making it a more natural and healthier choice.
koawach has teamed up with Koa, a Swiss-Ghanaian startup that upcycles cocoa fruit pulp, to create the innovative beverage—an effort born from two distinct but aligned brands.

‘We’re incredibly excited for this new koa-llaboration between koawach and Koa—a true match made in heaven!’ says Anian Schreiber, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Koa. ‘With koalimo, koawach has created a drink that brings together exquisite flavour, energising functionality, and a positive, sustainable impact on people and the planet.’

Koalimo will be available in over 1,100 dm stores across Germany and online at koawach.de starting in late November 2024.

The team behind Schilling Cider, a leading cider producer in the Pacific Northwest in the US, announced the launch of Vida Maté, a new line of low-calorie, non-alcoholic yerba maté beverages that seek to transform the caffeine experience. Crafted to elevate the traditional South American “super beverage” with the craft quality of the Pacific Northwest, Vida Maté is made with real fruit juice and a proprietary blend of adaptogens. The result is a refreshing, delicious alternative to sugary coffee drinks and artificially flavoured caffeine-in-a-can. With operations based in Seattle and Portland, the Schilling team is excited to debut this new plant-powered pick-me-up, made exclusively with naturally occurring caffeine.

Vida Maté fits the gluten-free and vegan-friendly lifestyle, offering a boost in vitality and focus through a functional blend of adaptogens: Vitamin B12 for a power boost, L-Theanine for focus, and GABA for stress relief combine to ensure a clean, jitter-free delivery of caffeine with no unpleasant crashes.

Launching with three flavours – Lemon Mint, Mango Lime, and Blackberry Lemonade – Vida Maté is available in 16 oz. cans at thousands of grocery, convenience, and natural food stores across the Pacific Northwest, since March 1, 2022.

“Innovating in healthful, refreshing beverages is our calling,” says Colin Schilling, CEO and co-Founder of Schilling Cider. “This starts with the same quality and techniques we bring to crafting our fresh-pressed apple cider. It’s exciting to push those boundaries into the yerba maté segment. Consumers are demanding delicious, healthier options made right here in their backyard, and we can’t wait to share Vida Maté with our community.”

While other canned yerba maté drinks depend on a formula that involves non-yerba maté derived and synthetically produced caffeine, Vida Maté’s caffeine occurs naturally and comes 100 % from yerba maté. And because Vida Maté is made from real fruit juice, it’s not overly sweet and it’s lower in calories and sugar.

The team at Schilling has long enjoyed traditional yerba maté drinks, before launching their own. Yerba maté is a plant indigenous to South America. The leaves and twigs are dried, dried over a fire, and then steeped in hot water for an invigorating tea.

Ocean Spray Wave^™ was developed in close collaboration with Walmart to address the rising demand for great tasting, lightly caffeinated sparkling beverages that keep people moving through their day

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer families, introduced Ocean Spray Wave^™, a refreshing, naturally caffeinated sparkling water with a splash of real fruit juice. A healthier option for consumers looking to bypass sugary caffeine drinks without giving up on flavourful taste, Ocean Spray Wave^™ was incubated, developed and shipped in less than a year launching exclusively with Walmart in the US and is a result of the cooperative’s agile approach to product development and innovating to offer healthier options for everyone.

The collaboration with Walmart led to the creation of a lightly caffeinated beverage as consumers look for healthier options to sustain themselves throughout the day. With a new generation of consumers primed to try Ocean Spray beverages following its 90th harvest and the social media sensation around the Dreams Challenge and popularity of the Cran-Raspberry juice, the brand is glad to introduce Ocean Spray Wave^™ in the midst of the company’s current explosion to connect with younger consumers and what they seek in their day-to-day.

Ocean Spray Wave^™ contains real fruit juice and 50 mg of naturally sourced caffeine from black tea. The drink also has zero grams of added sugars, no artificial flavors or preservatives and no artificial sweeteners. It is available in four crisp and refreshing flavours: Strawberry & Lemon, Mango & Passionfruit, Mandarin & Blackberry, and Cranberry & Pineapple.

Ocean Spray Wave^™ is currently available online and in store at Walmart.com. To learn more, visit OceanSpray.com. The suggested retail price is $4.98 for an 8 pack.