In a world shaped by filters, pressure, and constant comparisons1, Mike’s Hard Lemonade is championing what’s real.
The brand unveils “Made with Real Character,” a new platform celebrating individuality, imperfection, and the power of showing up as you are. Leading the launch are Sonny, Cal, and Tina: three unique lemons, one unmatched taste – representing the character of Mike’s itself. They’re bold, zesty, and a little rough around the edges but unapologetically themselves. And while they may be fantastical, their attitudes are dead-on refreshing. Not polished. Not pretending. Just real.
The campaign connects with a generation that values authenticity but navigates spaces that often reward performance2. Gen Z is increasingly drawn to what feels genuine, unfiltered, and true to self – making character, not perfection, the new standard.
At the center of the launch is Mike’s Dirty Lemonade (4.5% alc/vol), the boldest innovation yet from the original hard lemonade that created the category 27 years ago, on April 1. Inspired by the viral dirty soda trend, Mike’s Dirty Lemonade is a smooth, non-carbonated take on hard lemonade that blends unexpected flavours with a do-it-your-own-way attitude.
Available in the US, Mike’s Dirty Lemonade comes in four standout varieties:
Dirty Lemon Secret: Bright citrus with a tart snap, balanced by just the right touch of sweetness and hot honey flavour.
Dark Cherry Brew: Lush cherry and citrus layered with warm cherry spice flavours and a cola-like finish for added depth.
Very Berry Grape: Juicy grape and bright lemon, blended together with a medley of tangy berry flavours.
Pineapple Haze: Ripe pineapple and lemon rounded out with creamy coconut notes.
Each flavour delivers more personality, more originality — and zero interest in the same old tastes.
“We’re ushering in a new era for Mike’s that reflects how people want to show up today,” said Kevin Brady, VP of Marketing, Mike’s Hard Lemonade. “This is about embracing individuality and creating something that feels real – in every sense of the word.”
“Made with Real Character” will roll out across digital, social, and streaming, supported by a long-term campaign spanning culture, content, and real-world activations across the U.S. Developed in partnership with VCCP, the platform introduces a more playful, culturally connected world for the brand – one where character always comes first.
Sonny, Cal, and Tina will lead the campaign across channels, bringing the platform to life and reminding people that the best version of you isn’t the most polished – it’s the most real.
New research reveals that 100 % orange juice provides a slower, more controlled rise in blood sugars than sugar sweetened drinks, challenging assumptions that all sugary drinks lead to similar blood sugar “spikes”.
The randomised controlled cross-over trial, published in the peer-reviewed journal Food & Function, involved 25 healthy young men who consumed four different drinks on separate days: 100 % orange juice, a 50 % orange juice drink with added sugars, a sugar-sweetened water drink and a pure glucose drink.
Researchers observed that, while pure orange juice and sugar-sweetened drinks can have the same overall sugar content, the body processes natural and added sugars differently thanks to the food structure.
100 % orange juice produced a slower rise – and lower “spike” – in blood sugars compared with the sugar-sweetened drinks – which were matched exactly to the balance of sugars in natural orange juice. While the rise and fall in blood sugars eventually evened out over two hours, the natural sugars from orange juice entered the bloodstream more gradually. This steadier absorption may help explain why some people experience a gradual feeling of energy after drinking 100 % orange juice, compared with the sharper “spike and dip” sometimes associated with sugar sweetened drinks.
Scientists think the difference comes down to structure. While soft drinks generally deliver sugar in isolation, 100 % orange juice contains what is known as a “fruit matrix” — the natural mix of tiny fibre fragments, plant bioactives, vitamins and minerals found in oranges and other whole fruit. This structure appears to moderate how quickly sugar enters the bloodstream.
Lead researcher, Professor Francisco A. Tomás-Barberán, of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), explained: “People often assume that because fruit juice contains natural sugars from the fruit, it must act in the same way as a sugary soft drink. Our findings clearly show this is not the case. “When sugars are consumed within the natural fruit matrix of 100 % orange juice, absorption is slower and the early blood glucose peak is lower. Food structure matters. “Although public health guidance often groups all “free sugars” together, our study demonstrates that sugars naturally present in fruit juice do not produce the same metabolic response as exactly the same sugars added to drinks.”
The concept of blood sugar spikes has become a hot topic, with influencers and some health commentators urging people to avoid rapid glucose rises.
Award-winning dietitian Dr. Carrie Ruxton commented: “People are now so worried about ‘sugar spikes’ that some are using wearable technologies, like glucose monitors, to test their reaction to different foods and drinks. While I don’t think this is helpful unless recommended by a doctor, it’s reassuring to know that 100 % orange juice is better for blood glucose control than other types of sweet drinks. “Even with the same overall sugars, the natural fruit matrix of 100 % orange juice slows down absorption creating a more gradual rise in blood glucose levels. That could mean more sustained energy levels after your morning glass juice. The fruit matrix in 100 % juices also delivers vitamin C for immune function and skin, potassium for blood pressure and a range of fruit bioactives for mental function and cardiovascular health”.
The open-access study is available to view in full.
Spindrift Beverage Co., Inc., a beverage brand made with real squeezed fruit, launched Spindrift® Tea, a line of non-carbonated iced teas made with real brewed tea and real squeezed fruit. The launch extends Spindrift’s commitment to beverages made without ultra-processed shortcuts, and as the only beverage brand with the full portfolio verified under the Non-Ultraprocessed Food (Non-UPF) Standard.
While tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, much of the ready-to-drink aisle remains driven by sugars and non-sugar sweeteners, while products with real squeezed fruit account for less than 1 % of the category. By pairing real brewed tea and fruit, Spindrift sets a new standard for ready-to-drink tea delivering brighter flavour and a naturally balanced, easy-to-enjoy alternative to traditional sweet tea.
Spindrift Tea, the first release from the brand’s Ventures Lab, is the result of three years of development and brings together custom-brewed black and green tea blends with fruit sourced from trusted growing regions and long-standing farm partners:
Lemon Black Tea – brewed black tea with California lemon juice and crisp apple
Blood Orange Black Tea – black tea layered with vibrant blood orange and citrus notes
Raspberry Black Tea – black tea blended with Pacific Northwest raspberries
Peach Green Tea – green tea with sun-ripened Pacific Northwest peaches
To achieve the right balance between the tea and fruit, Spindrift partnered with one of North America’s largest leaf tea importers to develop custom black and green tea blends sourced from 16 global origins, including China, India, Indonesia, and Argentina. The proprietary blends were designed specifically to complement real fruit ensuring both ingredients shine in every sip. Select flavours include a small amount of organic agave for a naturally ‘slightly sweet’ taste.
Spindrift Tea is now available on Amazon and Drinkspindrift.com and launches in select retailers in the US beginning March 2026, with expanded distribution throughout the year. The line will be available in 12oz cans in 6-packs and variety packs.
About Spindrift Beverage Co. Spindrift Beverage Co., Inc. is challenging people’s expectations of how good a beverage can be. Founded in 2010 on the belief that the best tastes come directly from nature, Spindrift is the only sparkling water in America made with real squeezed fruit. Real fruit tastes better®, that is the Spindrift difference. Every Spindrift product is crafted to celebrate the aroma, texture, and taste of real squeezed fruit — never from concentrate — in every sip. Spindrift® Sparkling Water is available in the US, and Spindrift® Soda and Spindrift® Tea are available in select retailers and online. The company donates to environmental not-for-profits through membership in 1 % For the Planet. Spindrift is headquartered in Newton, Mass (USA).
A first-of-its-kind, French Kiss blends the signature grand bubbles of Maison Perrier® with real fruit juice and prebiotics
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, get ready for your tastebuds to fall in love with Maison Perrier® French Kiss, the brand’s first-ever sweetened sparkling water innovation – with benefits!
Adding a kiss of sweetness to the signature grand bubbles of Maison Perrier, French Kiss is more than a sip of sparkling water – it’s a flirtation with your senses. Artfully blending the flavours of real fruit with prebiotics, the first-of-its-kind sweetened sparkling water features at least 10 % real fruit juice, natural flavours, 6 grams of fiber and less than 1 gram of sugar to create a love match in every can.
Inspired by Paris–the city of love–and bottled in the south of France, each can of Maison Perrier French Kiss comes in four delectable flavours that pairs two fruit flavours for a perfect combination:
Blackberry & Lemon – a zesty duo with the berry best vibes.
Peach & Cherry – As juicy as a summer fling.
Mango & Coconut – Flirting with tropical beach bliss in every sip.
Raspberry & Lime – A tart and sweet power couple you’ll want to toast with every day.
Maison Perrier French Kiss is the latest innovation joining the Maison Perrier portfolio and the first to offer prebiotic benefits, providing even more to love with every sip.
Available now, Maison Perrier French Kiss can be found on Amazon and Harris Teeter in the US for a suggested MSRP of $ 8.49 for a 6-can pack.
Inspired by a time-honored Sicilian tradition, Sanpellegrino CIAO! features a unique blend of real fruit juices and a pinch of Sicilian salt
Sanpellegrino®, the iconic premium Italian sparkling beverage brand, is introducing its latest creation, Sanpellegrino CIAO! – a new line of flavoured sparkling waters with real fruit juices inspired by Italy’s zest for life.
Inspired by Sicily’s time-honored tradition of blending sparkling water with citrus juice and a touch of salt to enhance flavour, the new beverage line features four delicious flavours: Peach, Blood Orange, Lime, and Cherry. Each 11.15 fl. oz. can is expertly crafted with real fruit juices, a pinch of Sicilian salt, contains 10 calories or less, and has 0g added sugars.
CIAO! is the newest sparkling offering in the Sanpellegrino flavoured beverages portfolio, joining the renowned Sanpellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks and Sanpellegrino Zero Grams Added Sugar Italian Sparkling Drinks portfolio. With the addition of CIAO!, Sanpellegrino builds on its legacy of crafting some of the world’s finest sparkling beverages.
Sanpellegrino CIAO! is now available at select retailers and will be popping up at retailers in the US beginning April 2025, with a suggested retail price of USD 5.99 for a 6-can pack.
BrauBeviale has put together a complete package for its new edition which will take place from 26 to 28 November 2024 in Nuremberg. In addition to an exhibitor portfolio with brewery, beverage, as well as wine sector technology, the conference programme will once again provide a wealth of inspiration.
The forums in Halls 1 and 9 will become the stages for experts from research and industry. The topics of raw materials & marketing, as well as technology & packaging, will be highlighted there. Visitors can also take in the special areas on Start-ups & Young Talents, Logistics and Wine & Spirits. A special place at the show is the dedicated Craft Drinks Area, which is the destination par excellence for all craft brewers. The well-known address in Hall 6 is also back on the programme for home and hobby brewers. The latest status of the programme, with all confirmed topics and speakers, will be available from the end of August at www.braubeviale.com.
Hall 1 offers everything related to raw materials & marketing
In keeping with the exhibitor portfolio in Hall 1 it has become a tradition that the forum located there should answer important questions on raw material topics. For example, new climate-resilient barley varieties or the challenges facing malt production in the light of climate change.
Up-dated information on new hop varieties, which are proving to be very promising in this context, points in a similar direction. Of course, hop cultivation will also be discussed in the broader scenario of environmental protection and economic efficiency, as will future scenarios for yeast cultivation by fermentation specialists. These raw material topics will be offered on 26 and 28 November 2024.
How much marketing and how much technology does it take for a beer to become a success in the market? The programme of presentations does not take a specific position on this considering all the fine adjustments needed in order to ultimately secure a place for beer, with or without alcohol, in consumers’ shopping baskets and guarantee the profitability of breweries. Some examples from the marketing focus of the conference programme, e.g: “New, different, successful: about innovative thinking. Revitalising beer!” or “Key points to learn: What makes beverage innovation successful.” In addition, best practice examples from cult brands and newcomers will provide new ideas for one’s own positioning. All these marketing impulses and more will be presented on 27 November 2024 in the Forum in Hall 1.
Hall 9 with a comprehensive programme based on technology and packaging
Under the auspices of the Verband Private Brauereien Bayern e.V., the conceptual sponsor of the exhibition, this year’s BrauBeviale will offer a programme tailored to current brewery topics as part of the technology programme in Hall 9. On Tuesday, 26 November 2024, the focus will be on “Energy efficiency for SMEs”. Topics that will be rolled out here include sustainability in new building projects, energy management systems and the use of heat pumps. There will also be an overview of integrated energy concepts for SMEs. On Thursday, 28 November 2024, the association is planning a broad information programme on the topic of “Non-alcoholic beers”. Firstly, the role of yeast in the production of non-alcoholic beers and the product development of a non-alcoholic beer in practice will be highlighted. By looking at examples of best practice, from European Beer Star winners, brewers will be given a broad overview and the opportunity to discuss the processes employed in this beer segment with experts.
Beverage manufacturers interested in current packaging issues will be well served on Wednesday, 27 November 2024, also in Hall 9. One example of “Glass – metal – composites? The packaging preferences of young consumers’.
The programme will of course also address the implementation of the PPWR in individual markets at this point: “The EU has decided – what now? The PPWR for beverages in Europe.” The main aim here will be to provide an assessment of the implications and solutions in various markets. Marketing specialists should therefore plan their visit to BrauBeviale on Wednesday in particular, as this is when they will also be able to take in the key areas of marketing and packaging in the lecture programme.
Special areas – which have now become standard
Wine@BrauBeviale are important keywords that are relevant to all wine producers: In Hall 4A, BrauBeviale has integrated a platform for winegrowers. A varied programme will be offered here on all three days of the show with a focus on cellar technology/sustainability/quality assurance as well as wine marketing/distribution/operations management and digital developments.
To this end, the organisation team relies on the expert support from important and relevant players in the wine sector, such as the German Winegrowers’ Association, the LWG, the Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences and the HBLA Klosterneuburg, Austria. In addition, the programme is also dedicated to the next generation: An innovations-forge for young winemakers: with this approach, concepts for the next generation will be urgently debated, since they are already waiting in the wings.
Following the successful launch in 2023, there will once again be a LOGISTICS LOUNGE at BrauBeviale this year. YONTEX as organiser, along with pool operator LOGIPACK as the organiser and host of the special themed area, are thus taking account the increasing importance of logistics in the entire beverage industry.
On an area twice as large as last year’s, the new motto is “The efficiency of reusable logistics”. The location of the lounge has been moved further into the centre of the show and an additional area has been added, where a wide range of digital solutions, particularly for the digitalisation of logistics processes, will be presented directly adjacent to the LOGISTIK LOUNGE. The concept includes the participation of as many different and complementary partners from the logistics and digitalisation sector as possible.
The package offered by the special areas will once again be rounded off with the Craft Drinks Area, where visitors can experience new concepts in professional tastings, exchange ideas and discuss with like-minded people. Of course, the presentation of the winning beer from the Maisel & Friends hobby brewing competition will again take place there. The winner has already been chosen – his beer will be brewed soon!
While home and hobby brewers tend to follow events in the brewing industry from the sidelines, for many manufacturers and machine producers, the issue of young talent is a pressing one. The recruitment of young people, whether in the beverage production scene or among machine manufacturers, remains highly topical. This is why BrauBeviale has again integrated a Start-up Area as well as a Young Talents Camp into the 2024 edition. This year, these two special areas will be located adjacent to each other and share a forum in Hall 6, once again linking the efforts and offers for young talent and creating a clear address as part of the overall exhibition programme.
VOG Products recently added a very special product to its assortment: “apple compote with pieces”, in which the creamy texture of the apple mousse meets apple chunks, resulting in an unforgettable flavour. High-quality steamed apple chunks are combined with apple mousse to create a “ready-to-use” product.
Organic quality or integrated quality, sweetened or unsweetened, produced with a single variety or mix: the new apple compote mixes with apple chunks from VOG Products are an excellent example of products which can be customised to your preference. The cans with apple compote mixes with tender apple chunks are products entirely designed to meet customer needs.
Versatility and the fact that it can be used in a wide range of applications. (Photo: VOG Products)
The main features of this new product are its versatility and the fact that it can be used in a wide range of applications. Apple mousse with apple chunks is therefore a “wild card” in the world of food products: it is not only used as a base mixture for other recipes, but also as a ingredient for further processing by customers in the food and beverage industry. The many possible uses range from “ready-to-use” apple compote for hotels or canteens to fillings for bakery and confectionary. The mix, which is exclusively composed of fruit, also opens up interesting opportunities for the dairy industry.
Solutions tailored to customers
“We have always aspired to develop customer-specific solutions,” comments Christoph Tappeiner, CEO of VOG Products. “The apple compote with pieces are the result of in-house development. We focused on product customisation to enable numerous applications for our customers.”
“For the production of the apple mousse with pieces, we only use top-quality ingredients from controlled or integrated organic farming. This is all backed by our unique supply chain,” explains Tappeiner.
A unique supply chain
The producer organisation has an extraordinary supply chain that guarantees continuous availability, traceability, and guaranteed supply throughout the year. The “FROM: Italian Alps” seal also certifies that the raw materials come from VOG Products member growers. These members comprise around 6,000 family farms that supply the fruit-growing cooperatives with products made with great expertise and experience.
VOG Products The VOG Products producer organisation, based in Laives, is owned by two South Tyrolean producer organisations and 17 fruit-growing cooperatives. The company processes 300,000 to 400,000 tonnes of fruit from integrated and organic cultivation into apple juice (concentrate and NFC juice), purees and finished products. VOG Products exports 90% of its products to almost 50 countries worldwide. www.vog-products.it/en/
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