Waay is adding Wild Apple to its Sparkling Protein Drink range, offering a fruit-flavoured alternative to the chocolate and vanilla options often found in the protein-drink aisle. The new flavour keeps the brand’s carbonated format, with a crisp apple taste designed to make protein feel more like a refreshing drink than a traditional shake.
Each 12-ounce can contains 10g of protein from whey and collagen. The formula is also sugar-free, and the slim cans are priced at $3.99 each. Its lighter fruit profile gives shoppers another option for a quick protein boost without the texture of a conventional shake.
Wild Apple is available exclusively at Sprouts Farmers Market, giving the retailer a flavour it won’t find elsewhere in the range.
Image Credit: Protein RTD
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Fruit-forward Protein
- Fruit-led flavor profiles are shifting protein beverages away from dessert cues, creating room for refreshing formats that appeal to mainstream hydration and wellness consumers.
- Sparkling Functional Drinks
- Carbonation is helping functional beverages feel lighter and more occasion-based, opening space for protein products that compete with sodas, seltzers, and energy drinks.
- Retail-exclusive Flavors
- Exclusive flavor launches are becoming a differentiation tool for specialty grocers, giving brands and retailers a way to build urgency and shopper loyalty around limited availability.
Sectors Adopting This
- Functional Beverages
- The functional beverage category is expanding beyond energy and hydration as protein is reformulated into formats suited for casual, on-the-go consumption.
- Health Grocery Retail
- Specialty food retailers can strengthen category discovery through exclusive wellness products that blend better-for-you nutrition with familiar beverage experiences.
- Sports Nutrition
- Sports nutrition is moving toward lighter, lifestyle-oriented products as casual consumers seek convenient protein intake without the heaviness of traditional shakes.
