Guests get ‘Zesti’ with Grace at recent relaunch
Published:Thursday | June 19, 2025 | 12:10 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
It is said that nothing is cooler than a comeback, and Zesti embodied that with its recent relaunch at the GraceKennedy headquarters at Harbour Street in downtown Kingston. The relaunched Grace Zesti features four flavours: strawberry melon, pineapple kiwi, peach passion and lemon ginger. The first three were part of the original lineup, with lemon ginger being the newest addition.
“Each flavour represents a unique personality: strawberry melon is playful and sociable, pineapple kiwi is cool and confident, lemon ginger is bold and classy, and peach passion is charismatic and magnetic. The collection was created to reflect a broad spectrum of moods and moments,” Allawney Bromley, senior brand manager of Grace Foods Beverages portfolio, told Food.
According to Bromley, Grace Zesti delivers a perfectly sparkling fizz. It is not overpowering, not flat, just right. It is not overly sweet, and it avoids that artificial aftertaste. It is also fortified with essential nutrients: it is a source of antioxidants, like Vitamins C and E, and energy-supporting B vitamins and folic acid.
“This means you are not just enjoying a great-tasting drink, you are also getting functional benefits with every sip,” she added.
The product has made a comeback since being on the market more than a decade ago. Showing appreciation to lifestyle trends and the growing demand for flavourful, refreshing and sparkling beverages, the company thought it would be a good time to reintroduce the product to the market.
“Bringing back Zesti was driven by real consumer feedback and market insight. We received raving reviews from guests who thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Attendees on the relaunch night were particularly drawn to the strawberry melon and the pineapple kiwi flavours. But the peach passion and lemon ginger still remained popular throughout the night,” she explained.
But the featured flavours of the night didn’t end there. A major part of the immersive experiences included Grace Zesti’s flavour-inspired dishes, freshly prepared by Alex D-Great Experience and Catering Services.
Guests indulged in heartwarming bites like coconut-crusted fish with peach passion pickle on coconut bammy; Japanese barbecued lemon ginger pork belly with pecan sweet potato soufflé; Scotch bonnet crab, shrimp, and cream cheese spring rolls with pineapple kiwi dip; strawberry melon fried chicken wings with garlic balsamic challah bread; and a lemon ginger Asian sesame pak choi salad.
Chef Alex D-Great said pairing the drinks with familiar dishes was an easy choice, and the proof was in the eating.
“I just thought about some really nice food that people love and what would pair well with the flavour profiles of the drink. And, decided to create a bridge that connected the two worlds. For example, ginger normally goes well with pork. Ginger with the Asian salad speaks to that cultural influence. Pineapple really enhances seafood, hence the shrimp and the crab. I normally do melon barbecued chicken, so that was easy to choose,” the certified chef said.
Grace Zesti aims to become a staple refreshment for the local palate. “Whether you are enjoying a meal, out at a party, socialising with friends, relaxing at home with family, or simply vibing on your own, Grace Zesti is the perfect refreshment for any moment. We want it to be the go-to sparkling beverage for flavourful enjoyment,” the senior brand manager revealed.