Anheuser-Busch adds hard soda to its portfolio

3 Jan 2022

Bud Light’s parent company Anheuser-Busch is launching four flavors of hard soda into its permanent portfolio: Classic Cola, Cherry Cola, Orange Soda and Citrus Soda. These four flavors will be available in 12-ounce cans beginning on January 3, and will have 100 calories and 5% ABV.

In addition to these permanent additions to the portfolio, Bud Light will also launch a limited-time sour seltzer line that will also have four flavors. With Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, Lemon and Green Apple, these offerings came onto shelves in late December and will expand the company’s portfolio further into the hard seltzer category.

Anheuser-Busch adds hard soda to its portfolio
Courtesy of Bud Light

Bud Light was a late entrant into the hard seltzer space when it debuted its Bud Light Seltzer in 2020. However, over the past two years, the brand has rapidly grabbed market share, and now accounts for 10% of U.S. hard seltzer sales, CNBC reported. Not only was its original hard seltzer a hit, but its 2021 seasonal summer release accounted for 3.5% of the category market share by itself.

With such success in creating spinoff lines from its portfolio, the beer brand has taken yet another step further into the seltzer space where it is further blurring the lines that have traditionally separated alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage purveyors.

Obfuscating the clear distinction between nonalcoholic and alcoholic has helped brands gain recognition with consumers that are searching for RTD beverages that contain lighter alcohol contents and fun flavors. Hard seltzer and hard sodas hit that sweet spot. Consumption of hard seltzer surged 130% in 2020, according to IWSR.

While there is a market to cater to, straddling the line and dipping its toes into soda puts Anheuser-Busch in competition with other beverage giants like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Not only are these companies that traditionally sell soda going to have a larger market share in that category than newer entrants like Bud Light, but the likes of Coca-Cola are also taking steps to move into the alcohol category. In 2020, Coca-Cola and Molson Coors partnered to create topo Chico Hard Seltzer, which has been extremely popular and will roll out across the U.S. in 2022.

Related news

Swedish food agency: One in 10 coffee brands contain excess acrylamide

Swedish food agency: One in 10 coffee brands contain excess acrylamide

7 Dec 2022

New findings from the Swedish Food Agency have revealed three of 29 coffee products sampled contained acrylamide above limits, reinforcing the link between levels and degree of roasting.

Read more 
Editor’s choice: Our roundup of the latest women’s health products around the world

Editor’s choice: Our roundup of the latest women’s health products around the world

2 Dec 2022

From botanicals to combat menopause symptoms to a hydration powder for mothers-to-be, here is our roundup of the most innovative new product launches within women’s health.

Read more 
The prize no brand wants to win: 2022’s most misleading products

The prize no brand wants to win: 2022’s most misleading products

28 Nov 2022

Food industry watchdog Foodwatch is asking consumers to vote for 2022’s most misleading product. A high-sugar vitamin water and “artisan” salad made with artificial additives are among the nominees.

Read more 
enduracarb®: A science-backed trehalose ingredient for athletic endurance

enduracarb®: A science-backed trehalose ingredient for athletic endurance

24 Nov 2022

enduracarb® is a science-backed, slow-acting carbohydrate that can power athletes’ performance. Produced using a high-purity production process, it is suitable for a wide variety of applications.

Read more 
China bans celebrity endorsement of health and formula foods

China bans celebrity endorsement of health and formula foods

22 Nov 2022

China is to ban celebrity endorsement or advertising of certain products, completely banning high profile figures with “lapsed morals” as the country attempts to drive society towards “core socialist values”.

Read more 
MicroThermics’ Formulators Guide to Process Selection for Plant-Based Beverages

MicroThermics’ Formulators Guide to Process Selection for Plant-Based Beverages

15 Nov 2022

Plant-based beverages & products are mainstream! Come to FIE booth 4D122 & read our whitepaper to see how processing in the lab at commercial HTST & UHT conditions gets you to market faster for less!

Read more 
PlantGuard™: Natural preservation solutions for clean-label products

PlantGuard™: Natural preservation solutions for clean-label products

11 Nov 2022

To respond to consumer demand for naturality and clean labels, Prinova has developed PlantGuard™, a 100% plant-based range which preserves the flavour, colour, and freshness of foods and beverages.

Read more 
Give your fermented protein drinks a clear head start

Give your fermented protein drinks a clear head start

10 Nov 2022

Fermented protein beverages are rising in popularity as more consumers make efforts to strengthen their health and wellbeing. Made for the ready-to-drink segment, products such as kombucha and drinking yoghurt are gaining traction as healthier alternat...

Read more 
Enjoy it all: DSM talks taste, texture and health in the run up to FiE 2022

Enjoy it all: DSM talks taste, texture and health in the run up to FiE 2022

10 Nov 2022

Enhancing plant-based applications in taste, texture and health, addressing trending health priorities and introducing efficiency improving technologies – don’t miss the chance to meet DSM at FiE.

Read more 
Zero-waste water purification system looks to unsettle bottled water industry

Zero-waste water purification system looks to unsettle bottled water industry

7 Nov 2022

The bottled water industry is facing stiff competition from a raft of startups looking to reduce water and plastic waste as demanded by today’s sustainable-conscious consumer.

Read more