Energy drinks for breakfast and pilot Lay's potato chip flavors up for votes appeared in the news this week, with some big brands trying out new tricks. For anyone who ever had a problem drinking Mountain Dew for breakfast, PepsiCo is attempting to offer an alternative, and Crystal Light is bottling its drink mix in a new way, as you'll see below.
These are the flashiest new food and beverage products that we saw over the past week. Which of them do you think will have staying power?
1. ORANGE CITRUS AND FRUIT PUNCH MOUNTAIN DEW KICKSTART
Company: PepsiCo
PepsiCo will try to give its Mountain Dew brand an entry point into breakfast beverage market. Kickstart looks like an energy drink, but touts the real juice that comes with its caffeine in Orange Citrus and Fruit Punch flavors, which are due to arrive in stores on Feb. 25.
(Image credit: PepsiCo)
2. ELDERFLOWER HARD CIDER
Company: Angry Orchard
Angry Orchard is known for its apples, but the company is introducing a new twist with its Elderflower variation, which it says harkens back to the "European tradition of elderflower cordials." The new cider will partner its apples with a floral essence and tropical fruitiness, according to the announcement.
(Image credit: PR Newswire)
3. CHICKEN AND WAFFLES, CHEESY GARLIC BREAD AND SRIRACHA CHIPS
Company: Lay's
All three of these flavors will hit retail in the coming days, but Lay's is asking chip-eaters to choose only one to keep around. As finalists in the the new flavor campaign, voters will be able to choose among Chicken and Waffles, Cheesy Garlic Bread and Sriracha via Facebook, SMS or Twitter until May, though if the second- and third-place flavors prove popular enough, they may have a chance at sticking around as well.
4. STRAWBANA AND VERY BERRY YOKIDS SMOOTHIES
Company: Stonyfield
Stonyfield is pushing nutrition in its two new Strawbana and Very Berry varieties of kid-targeted smoothies. The certified organic bottles are hitting stores nationwide in 3.1-ounce-bottle six-packs.
(Image credit: Marketwire)
5. CRYSTAL LIGHT LIQUID DRINK MIXES
Company: Kraft
Crystal Light's new non-powder drink mix options include Strawberry Lemonade, Blueberry Raspberry, Iced Tea, Mango Passionfruit, Peach Bellini and Pomtini. The zero-calorie, 24-serving bottles are geared to deliver taste while remaining caffeine free, gluten free and sugar free.
(Image credit: Crystal Light)
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