P&J launches Smoothies ‘thick’ drink

London-based soft drinks company Pete & Johnny is launching a “liquid fruit snack” drink called Smoothies, this week.

Tesco and Waitrose have trialled the drink and are expanding distribution. Sainsbury’s is in talks to stock the product.

The drink is imported from the Hansen Juices Company in California and according to P&J director Harry Cragoe, it is made by a pulping process.

Smoothies is thicker than rival juice brands, and will be positioned as a healthy drink. P&J claims its vitamin content is higher than that of other juices.

Although new to the UK, textured drinks are popular in the US, and according to Cragoe, Smoothies is the first in a series of drinks which P&J will launch in the UK.

“A lot of ‘new age’ drinks are just water, sugar and flavouring,” he claims. “We want to make an honest premium product.”