REPORTERS Notebook

Supplier News — The Purple Beverage Co. is harnessing the power of the dark purple Amazon-ian açai berry, known for containing high levels of antioxidants and cholesterol-fighting fatty acids, into a new beverage, Purple.

The all-natural, no-sugar-added beverage combines the açai berry with six other antioxidant-rich juices, including black cherry, pomegranate, black currant, purple plum, cranberry and blueberry.

Purple is available in health food stores, restaurants, delis, drug stores, supermarkets and convenience stores in such cities as New York, Los Angeles and Miami, and will be available nationwide in fall 2007. Purple retails for $3.99. For more information about the purple drink, visit www.drinkpurple.com.

Nestlé U.S.A. introduced this summer its new Nestlé Crunch

Crisp bar. The chocolate bar features layers of light, crispy wafers and chocolate creme topped with airy crispies and chocolate.

Nestlé Crunch Crisp addresses consumers’ demand for unique texture combinations, and offers a lighter, less-filling solution to mid-afternoon cravings.

The Nestlé Crunch Crisp bar is available in a single-size bar, king-size bar, 8-bar packs and fun-size bags. The assortment retails from 69 cents to $2.99.

The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. recently released new tropical fruit flavors for three of its popular brands. Eclipse Fusion introduced Freshmint Tropical, Hubba Bubba Max unveiled Island Punch and Orbit White expanded its portfolio with Melon Breeze.

The Eclipse Fusion Freshmint Tropical is sold in a 9-pellet pack for $1.19 and in a multipack that includes three individual 10-pellet packs for $2.69. Hubba Bubba Max Island Punch is available in a five-pack for 59 cents and in a 10-pack for 99 cents. Orbit White Melon Breeze retails for $1.09 in the 12-pellet pack, a multipack that includes three individual 12-pellet packs retails for $2.29 and the new Big-E-Pak 60-pellet container sells for $2.99.