-By Jennifer Strailey

We've heard from both specialty food and housewares retailers who say that customers are shopping differently these days. With the economic downturn, many retailers have seen an increase in customers coming into their stores --recipes in hand --looking to purchase the food and equipment needed to recreate a restaurant dining experience at home. According to recent research from The Nielsen Company, it seems the trend in eating and entertaining is also impacting beverage sales.

In the report "'Recession-Resilient' Alcoholic Beverage Industry Shows Signs of Strain in Tough Economic Times," Nielsen notes that the party isn't over, it's just being held at home --though hosts may be serving less expensive beer, wine and spirits. Results of its recent U.S. consumer survey found that more than half (56 percent) of consumers eat dinner at home more often than before the downturn, and nearly the same percentage are eating dinner less often at restaurants.

"While alcohol beverages are sometimes thought to be 'recession-proof,' we're seeing significant evidence of changes in consumers' dining and buying habits," said Danny Brager, vice president, group client director, Beverage Alcohol, The Nielsen Company. "Consumers are clearly focused on value and, in many cases, altering their shopping behavior in order to get the most for their money. It remains to be seen if these changes are temporary or exactly how long the 'economic hangover' will last once we come out of recession."

The research also indicates that many of today's general shopping trends --greater tendency to buy larger package sizes; buying more U.S.A. and locally made products; and sticking with tried and true brands --also translate to consumers' alcoholic beverage purchases.

Nielsen Predicts "Restrained Recovery"
According to Nielsen's research, it seems that even when the recession is over, people won't be celebrating by popping bubbly, mixing cocktails and downing brews. "Spending on alcoholic beverages is expected to be more restrained," notes the Nielsen report. When economic conditions do improve, approximately 24 percent of consumers say they would increase spending on wine; 21 percent say they would increase spending on spirits; and 18 percent say that they would increase spending on beer.

What does this mean for retailers? "The biggest opportunity for alcohol beverage suppliers and retailers today is around 'the home,' and based on what consumers are telling us, the home will remain the strongest venue when the economy recovers," said Brager.

*Results from Nielsen's "Living through the Economic Hangover; What Lies Ahead" report are based on an April 2009 Nielsen Homescan survey with responses from approximately 5,000 U.S. alcoholic beverage consumers of legal drinking age.

Main Squeeze

New Mango Smoothies From Jet
Jet, the maker of fresh fruit and green tea smoothies, presents its newest flavor: Mango Mania. As its name suggests, the exotically sweet Mango Mania delivers a flavorful, tropical tang while capturing the delicate floral essence of the appealing mango fruit. Like all Jet smoothies, Mango Mania is an all-in-one liquid mix made from real fruit puree, an antioxidant-rich green tea base and vitamin C. The product features a creamy texture, despite containing no dairy, and is fat-free and preservative-free. To make, simply pour 4 ounces of Jet over 4 ounces of ice, blend, and serve. Packaged in a shelf-stable, resealable carton, Jet Mango Mania allows foodservice operators to offer fresh fruit smoothies with ease. For more information, visit www.jetsmoothies.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 430

H2O

Summit Spring Unveils New Packaging
Summit Spring bottled water has introduced new, modernized packaging. Borrowing elements of work from the 1800s and 1930s, the new look maintains the spring's historic ties, while promoting Summit Spring as a refreshingly pure water source. Early town records describe the spring as "that fountain of life, the drinking from which will renew the youth of the old, if any such a place was ever created … " Paying homage to its storied heritage, Summit Spring is also releasing a limited-edition retro glass packaging that features a label dating back to the company's roots. For more information, visit www.summitspring.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 432

What's on Tap

Estrella Damm Launches Beer Perfect for Food Pairing
Beer lovers, Barcelona-o-philes, foodies --come one, come all, Estrella Damm is launching a new Estrella Damm INEDIT, a beer specifically created to accompany food. The creation of INEDIT was a collaborative effort by world-renowned elBulli Executive Chef Ferran Adrià, Juli Soler, elBulli sommeliers --David Seijas and Ferran Centelles --and Estrella Damm, the leading brewer of Barcelona.

"INEDIT was developed from the belief that there was a need for a beer that could complement a dining experience," said Ferran Adrià, elBulli executive chef. "INEDIT is the fruit of more than a year-and-a-half and 400 trial iterations between the master brewers of Estrella Damm and the team of sommeliers at elBulli."

A distinctive coupage of barley malt and wheat with spices, INEDIT aims to complement food once thought to be a challenge in terms of culinary pairings, like salads, vinegar-based sauces, citrus and more. With its delicate carbonation and creamy fresh texture, INEDIT adapts to acidic, sweet and sour flavors. Bottled in 750-milliliter black wine bottles, INEDIT is intended for sharing. For more information, visit www.estrelladamm.es/inedit/en.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 434

Beans & Leaves

Bigelow Tea and Arizona Beverage Present New Organic Green Tea
Bigelow Tea® and AriZona Beverage® are bringing a delicious new line of organic green teas to the ready-to-drink marketplace. The line includes: Organic Green Tea Acai White Cranberry, Organic Green Tea Original Green, Organic Green Tea Lemon Ginger and Organic Green Tea Mango Lychee.

The new line responds to growing demand, say the two tea companies, who point to the specialty green hot tea category, which according to their data has grown 36 percent over the past five years. Bigelow is the top-selling green tea brand in the country.

These all-natural, organic green tea products are rich in antioxidants and loaded with vitamins (C, B3, B5, B6 and B12). The teas are also refreshingly light. Sweetened with a touch of organic sugar cane, they contain just 50 calories per 8-ounce serving. The teas come in 20-ounce bottles and are USDA-certified organic. For more information, visit www.bigelowtea.com or www.drinkarizona.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 436


Narien Teas Brings Hawaii-Grown Tea to Mainland
In June, Narien Teas became the first U.S. mainland tea retailer to offer Hawaii-grown tea. Florida-based Narien Teas introduces Kilinoe ("misty rain") Green Tea from one of Hawaii's pioneer tea producers, Big Island Tea. Hawaii's fertile volcanic soil, wafting mists and unique island weather patterns make it an ideal spot for tea farming. Big Island Tea is a small estate that grows teas organically with a system called eco-farming. They irrigate tea plants with a 100,000-gallon pond filled with Asian catfish and koi. The tea plants are grown under a canopy of endemic plant species at 3,000 feet. Tea leaves are hand-harvested, then hand-rolled and hand-fired (pan-roasted) in a traditional Chinese fashion for a nuanced, complex flavor profile. Narien Teas will offer a limited quantity of spring-harvest Kilinoe Tea through its Web site at www.narien.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 431

More New Products

Discover Fruit Innovations by DaVinci Gourmet®
DaVinci Gourmet Fruit Innovations™ Syrups are made with premium natural ingredients. The nine gourmet flavors deliver the taste of fresh-squeezed fruit to cold beverages easily. Give lemonades, iced teas and handcrafted sodas a unique flavor twist by adding a splash. Fruit Innovations provide foodservice operators a convenient and delicious way to deliver the fresh fruit flavors consumers demand. For more information, visit www.davincigourmet.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 433


Guayaki Presents the Organic Energy Shot in Lime Tangerine
Guayaki, a yerba mate beverage company, announces its Organic Energy Shot in a new flavor: Lime Tangerine. Fueled by yerba mate's naturally uplifting and nourishing properties, the new Lime Tangerine Organic Energy Shot provides a convenient and long-lasting boost of energy. An all-natural alternative, this organic energy shot is powered with whole plant extracts, including yerba mate, acerola cherry and goji berry. The energy shot is also available in Chocolate-Raspberry and Lemon. Lime Tangerine Organic Energy Shots have an SRP of $3.99 per bottle. For more information, visit www.guayaki.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 435


Alternative Beverage From Fever and Polar Beverages
Fever and Polar Beverages have teamed up to launch three new flavors and new packaging in the alternative beverage category. The new flavors include: Kiwi + Strawberry, Pineapple + Coconut and Mango + Banana. These flavor combinations blend the benefits of each fruit ingredient to create a sweet and healthy mix of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. "Fever is not an energy drink," says Delmond Newton, president and CEO of Fever Beverage USA. "It is an all-natural, proprietary formula that stimulates the body and provides a sense of euphoria, while also providing a natural source of energy through green tea." With the introduction of the new flavors, and extended distribution through Polar Beverages, Fever will pioneer a new growth segment in the functional beverage category. Available in 14-ounce aluminum canisters, Fever beverages can be enjoyed alone or as a mixer with spirits. For more information, visit www.FeverUSA.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 437