A wave of lower-sugar and functional drink launches are bubbling up for spring, as major brands debut new beverages aimed at consumers seeking hydration or energy and flavor without the sugar hit.
Gatorade, Dunkin' and Beyond Immerse are leading the way this season with a shift toward health-minded innovations positioned for all-day sipping from post-workout to workday afternoon pick-me-ups.
The three new launches arrive against the backdrop of a nationwide push from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reduce Americans' exposure to added sugars and artificial food dyes.
This week, Gatorade announced a new sports drink lineup with no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or colors, and with 75% less sugar than the brand's Thirst Quencher electrolyte drinks.
"Gatorade Lower Sugar represents the Gatorade Sports Science Institute's latest innovation in hydration," Dr. Matt Pahnke, the institute's senior principal scientist, said in a press release. "It delivers science-backed hydration aligned with what today's active consumers are asking for."
The company said the product lineup "answers growing consumer demand for hydration options that deliver on the taste and electrolyte performance Gatorade is known for, now with no artificial colors."
"Gatorade Lower Sugar boldly expands our hydration portfolio, designed to hydrate everyday movers who want science-backed hydration to fuel their day," Anuj Bhasin, Gatorade's SVP of marketing, said in the same release.
The Massachusetts-based coffee and donut chain has entered the energy drink category with a newly announced lineup of zero-sugar fruit-forward sips.
Dunkin' Zero is the brand's first-ever lightly carbonated energy drink with just 20 calories. It comes in three core fruit flavors (Blackberry Tangerine, Tropical Mango, Juicy Peach) and three blended varieties -- Glamberry (Blackberry Tangerine and Juicy Peach), Sunzest (Tropical Mango and Juicy Peach), and Blushpop (Blackberry Tangerine and Tropical Mango).
"Dunkin' has always been part of how people start their day, and with Dunkin' Zero, we're expanding how we fuel it," Jill Nelson, chief marketing officer at Dunkin', said in a press release. "It's zero-sugar energy that delivers bold flavor without compromise and fits seamlessly into the rhythm of everyday life."
Dunkin' has also declared Banana the "flavor of the season" at Dunkin', offering drinks made with Banana Syrup and velvety smooth Banana Cold Foam.
The main Banana-flavored lineup includes a Banana Puddin' Cloud Latte, Banana Daydream Refresher, Bananarama Matcha and more.
Beyond Immerse, from the plant-based meat-alternative company Beyond, expanded its first-ever hydration portfolio with new flavors of sparkling protein drinks that combine up to 20 grams of plant protein, 7 grams of fiber, antioxidants, and electrolytes.
The hydration-focused flavors were designed to align with the rise of functional, better-for-you drinks, according to the company.
"Beyond Immerse represents a meaningful next chapter for our brand as we expand beyond center-of-the-plate protein," Beyond founder and CEO Ethan Brown said in a statement. "We challenged ourselves to redefine the protein drink, designing a beverage that immerses the body not only in protein but more broadly in the remarkable power of plants."
The plant-based ingredients include protein from peas and fiber from tapioca.
After an initial drop earlier this year, Beyond Immerse announced four new flavors: Cherry Berry, Strawberry Lemonade, Piña Colada, and Cucumber Grapefruit, which also come in variety packs and are available online for a limited-time.
Each flavor will come in two protein options: 10 grams of protein with 60 calories and 20 grams of protein with 100 calories.
