Imbibe will be closed on October 3, 4, 17, 18, 25, and 26. Please expect delays in responses during this time.

Packaging and sweeteners have most room for innovation, says Imbibe beverage expert

Of the many novel beverages that launched in the past year, La Colombe’s Draft Latte, a nitrous-oxide infused ready-to-drink coffee, stands out to Laura Dembitzer, marketing director of beverage innovation firm Imbibe.

la colombe draft latte

“The packaging is one of the things that’s really innovative—when you open it, it releases air into the can and it froths the milk, so you’re getting this frothy latte that you would’ve only experienced in a third-wave coffee shop,” she told FoodNavigator-USA.

The product has been well received by retailers and the public. “Sales are great, velocity increases week-over-week,” Jon Spear, senior brand manager for La Colombe’s RTD arm, told FoodNavigator-USA.

It launched earlier in 2016 in cafés, and then expanded to retail and grocery in the last three months, shipping out to big chains like Wegman’s, Target, Meijer, and different Whole Foods regions across the country. He added that despite being off season for cold beverages, growth for La Colombe’s Draft Latte product has been steadily going up. Spear also sees the ‘texturized beverage’ such as La Colombe’s product to pick up as a major trend. “It can be stretched into other categories, like tea for example,” he said.

Technical wow-factors aside, Dembitzer also mentioned Califia Farms’ eye-catching, curved bottles as an example of how potent package innovation can be to benefit beverage brands. “They came up with this really premium packaging, and it really differentiates their non-dairy plant milks in the retail stores—I mean, how many almond milks are there now in stores?” Dembitzer said.

Keep reading the full story at FoodNavigatorUSA

Keep Reading:

Flavor Drop: Americana – Rocket Pop & S’mores

Nostalgic flavors are driving innovation. Discover how Rocket Pop and S'mores are captivating consumers, sparking new product launches, and inspiring cross-category experimentation in food and beverages.
READ MORE

Energy Drinks in Esports: The Next Wave

Crafting energy drinks for the esports and gaming audience demands precision. Imbibe's Adam Johnson explains it's more than just caffeine; it's about designing with intention to meet gamers' unique needs.
READ MORE

SupplySide Global 2025: Imbibe’s Innovation in Focus

For brands navigating the complexities of flavor, function, and speed-to-market, Imbibe is the strategic partner leading the way. At SupplySide Global 2025, we’re not just showcasing products—we’re demonstrating how smarter collaboration can unlock breakthrough innovation and business impact.
READ MORE
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.