Blender Bites is going after shoppers looking for caffeine fix with a new “1-Step Frappé,” a coffee-based frozen beverage product the brand says is first-to-market.

The Vancouver-based company, which produces organic and plant-based pre-portioned frozen functional foods, is rolling out three flavour SKUs: vanilla bean bio, caramel collagen and mindful mocha, each with 90 mg of caffeine per serving.

“We’ve developed ‘1-Step Frappé’ as a nutritious replacement to in-store options that offer little to no health benefits,” said Chelsie Hodge, Blender Bites’ founder and CEO.

The Frappé, she says, has half the sugar and a approximately one third fewer calories than a conventional blended iced coffee drink. They are made using a combination of functional ingredients, like collagen and Lion’s Mane, which Hodge claims offer a “refreshing and healthy improvement without sacrificing taste.”

Blender Bites recently got a full rebrand and packaging update that included dropping the confusing “puck” descriptors from its language.

“We embarked on a full packaging rebrand of the smoothies and frappes simultaneously,” Hodge explains. “It was ideal timing to look at the overall lineup and to design with both product
lines in mind.”

She tells strategy the goal was to simplify the packaging overall. The bite-sized pieces are prominent, as is the “just add liquid” on pack callout. It is also very much in line with messaging around the brand’s “1-Step Smoothie.” “We wanted the overall aesthetic to be simple, with clear and concise messaging.”

The two lines are differentiated in that the smoothie line, which is made of organic fruits and greens, utilizes bold juicy colours, whilst the Frappé line has rich brown tones to denote the coffee, cocoa, vanilla and caramel flavours.

As a new category, Blender Bites is investing heavily in awareness plays. “To get the word out, we’ll largely be focusing on influencer marketing showcasing in-store purchases and how-to-use, as well as sampling efforts and performance marketing.”

There is a large audience crossover from existing Blender Bites fans, Hodge says, and the brand  will continue to market to women aged 25 to 45 who prioritize their health. While the
Frappés are an adult-oriented product and the smoothies more family-friendly, there is a refinement in the usage across the household.

Each bag of Blender Bites’ “1-Step Frappé” contains four servings, and will be available at Walmart, Sobeys and Loblaw banners this June, followed by wider availability later this summer.

Packaging was done both in-house, and using freelancers.