Blue Sky(R) Introduces Blue Sky Free(R) at Expo East

Recognizing the strong, growing consumer demand for "guilt-free" drinks that contain no artificial ingredients and zero calories, Blue Sky((R)) introduces at this week's Expo East the new Blue Sky Free((R)), a beverage sweetened with Truvia(TM) natural sweetener.* Blue Sky Free is a great-tasting, zero-calorie, zero-guilt product containing no artificial ingredients and no caffeine or preservatives. What Blue Sky Free does contain: extracts from the stevia plant, an increasingly renowned, all-natural sugar substitute made from the plant Stevia rebaudiana, or "sweet herb."

With no artificial anything, Blue Sky Free is available in five flavors: Creamy Root Beer, Cola, Jamaican Ginger Ale, Lemon Lime and Cherry Vanilla Creme.

"Consumers today are demanding more from what they drink, which is actually less in terms of additives and calories in their drinks," said Blair Owens, vice president of marketing for Blue Sky. "Blue Sky Free takes us all the way back to the days when products were more natural, 'free' of high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors, colors and preservatives."

As a product of the Blue Sky Beverage Company, which was founded in Sante Fe, New Mexico, in 1980, Blue Sky Free is an extension of the brand's longstanding commitment to natural, more wholesome products for consumers who have a mindset toward the guilt-free, better-for-you beverage. Like the original brand, Blue Sky Free will be made available through natural- and health-food chains and independent retailers. It will be priced similar to other natural, premium beverage products at around $4.99 per 6-pack.

About the stevia plant

Used for more than 200 years to sweeten foods and beverages, the stevia plant is native to parts of northeastern Paraguay. Truvia(TM) natural sweetener is produced by drying stevia leaves and steeping them like tea, which is further purified and dried into crystals of 97% pure rebiana, or Reb-A. More than 200 percent sweeter than sugar, stevia is used to replace sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, providing the sweetness desired but without the calorie count. The natural ingredient, which is considered safe for people with diabetes, was just recognized in December by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as safe for use in foods and beverages.

Established in 1980, today Blue Sky Beverage Company, a division of Hansen Beverage Company, provides a variety of all-natural beverages including Blue Sky Natural Sodas, "Real Sugar" Sodas, Organic Sodas, and Blue Energy energy drinks. Our beverages are all natural with no preservatives, no artificial colors and only natural flavors. Blue Sky beverages are available in natural food stores and in the natural foods section of many grocery stores nationwide.

For more than 70 years, Hansen Beverage Company has provided consumers with superior quality and delicious, healthy and natural beverages. Consumers can trust the quality of our ingredients as Hansen's((R)) branded products are free of preservatives; contain no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial colors or flavors. Based in Corona, California, Hansen Natural Corporation markets and distributes Hansen's((R)) Natural Sodas, fruit juice Smoothies, Energy drinks, multi-vitamin juice drinks in aseptic packaging, Junior Juice((R)) juice, iced teas, juice cocktails, apple juice and juice blends, Blue Sky((R)) brand beverages, Monster Energy((R)) brand energy drinks, Java Monster(TM) brand coffee energy drinks, Lost((R)) Energy(TM) brand energy drinks, and Rumba(TM) brand energy juice. For more information visit www.hansens.com.

* Truvia(TM), the No. 1 stevia-extract natural sweetener on the market, is a licensed trademark of Truvia Company LLC.

SOURCE Blue Sky Beverage Company

http://www.hansens.com

Related terms: beer, beverages, california, coffee, consumer, corn, diabetes, energy, fda, food, fruit, grocery, health, java, market, marketing, new mexico, packaging, paraguay, plant, president, products, soda, sugar