'Healthiness-to-go' appears to be the order of the day on Europe's supermarket shelves as Mintel's Global New Product Database reveals a number of new functional drinks launched in the last month.
Continuing in popularity are yoghurt drinks as companies with already existing brands cash in on the latest trend, releasing new varieties and range extensions. The Clesa brand has been busy diversifying in Spain with two new launches. First came Bio Vital Active, a vitamin A-, D- and E-enriched, strawberry and raspberry flavoured yoghurt drink with bifidus active and no added sugar or fat.
This was soon followed by Clesa's Vital Active Orange and Mandarin yoghurt drink, which, in addition to the properties of the previous one, is fortified with dietary fibre.
Remaining in southern Europe, Parmalat's KYR Principia Agrumi e Ginseng milk drink, flavoured with citrus juice, was launched last month in Italy. The drink is made with skimmed milk and enriched with vitamins B1, B2, B6 and PP (nicotinic acid), ginseng and fibre. Other qualities include five lactic ferments and only 0.1 per cent fat.
Drinkable probiotic products are in abundance this month with six new launches, including the new ProViva Shot from Sweden's Skäne Mejerier. A concentrated form of the ProViva culture dairy drink, it is claimed to have a documented effect on creating balance in the stomach and intestine. It is available in blueberry and lemon and tropical flavours.
In the UK, Farm Produce Marketing is offering a virtually fat-free 'Light' version of its Probiotic Yoghurt drink. Available in a mango and passionfruit flavour, the calorie content has been reduced from 62 to 39 calories. Triballat is also active in this market with the launch, under the Sojasun' brand, of Actisun, a soy-based probiotic 'daily dose' drink said to contain 10 billion l.acidophilus bacteria per bottle. Other claims for the product include 0 per cent fat content, GM ingredient-, lactose- and cholesterol-free.
Not surprisingly, Danone has been extending its Actimel brand in new countries, continuing in its quest for European market domination. Actimel Multifrücht was released in Germany while Strawberry varieties of the Actimel Probiotic Functional Drink and Probiotic Fermented Milk were introduced in Portugal and Ireland respectively.
Mintel's Global New Products Database looks at new product development, and features records of food, drink and non-food product launches. For more information, visit www.gnpd.com or call +44 20 7606 45533.