Ringing in the New Year is a time for reflection and re-evaluation of life choices. Many consumers start by setting goals for self-improvement to make the coming year better than the last. After a tremulous 2020, improving overall health and wellness is at the top of the list…

In 2020, the world as we knew it was turned upside down. Coronavirus changed the way consumers shop, socialize, entertain and more which is why it will be the biggest driver of food and beverage trends in 2021.

The spotlight will be on products that promote health and wellness, escapism and value. Health and wellness will be focused on maintaining a healthy body and mind. In addition to staying physically fit, eating a better diet and taking measures to improve emotional health, feeling safe will be a top priority for consumers.

Few beverage categories can match the versatility of coffee and tea. A variety of brew methods, flavors, sweeteners, ingredient combinations and whitener sources are available, which gives consumers plenty of options for choosing their perfect cup…

Despite the legal grey area surrounding CBD, a plethora of products are on the market ranging from cold-brew coffee to hot sauce…

Consumer palates are becoming more adventurous and sophisticated. The holistic health and wellness movement has been a key driver in evolving flavor preferences because consumers are more willing to try ingredients with inherently functional benefits. To create a health halo around products, brands are incorporating fresh fruit flavors, botanicals and superfoods into beverages…

Finding the sweet spot for taste, texture and nutritional profile is a challenge for beverage brands because consumer sentiments about desired product attributes are changing faster than ever.

Brands have to make quick decisions about what types of products to develop and what tactics they want to use to maintain the sweetness levels that consumers expect. There are many ways brands can achieve sweetness and market their approach to consumers…

Within the last 20 years, research has been presented suggesting too much sugar consumption is dangerous. Not only is sugar suggested to increase risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes, it may also be linked to a slew of other health issues, including liver disease and cognitive decline. To make matters even more complicated, research has suggested artificial sweeteners may be linked to the same diseases and also may cause digestive disorders…

The adage, “let thy food be thy medicine,” may be more than 2,000 years old, but the concept has been gradually impacting the beverage industry during the last decade.

Health and wellness continues to be a catalyst for innovation, but what that term means for consumers is a moving target and is impacted by a multitude of factors such as individual need states, age, and socioeconomic status. The ambiguity of the concept creates a lot of opportunity for brands (as well as some confusion) when it comes to creating new products that will resonate with consumers and have market staying power.

Industry experts agree that plant-based innovation will continue to be a top trend in 2020. For the beverage industry, plant-based is typically associated with dairy alternative milks and protein beverages. While many of these products use similar ingredients such as oat, almond, pea, brown rice, etc., their taste and texture can be drastically different. A product has the best chance of surviving in the competitive marketplace if it is smooth, creamy, and, most importantly, tastes great…

What does it mean to be human? Is it about having emotions? Do the relationships we form make us special? Or is humanity just a program that can be emulated?

Even before AI existed, we’ve been dreaming about it in books and film. What can these representations tell us about the potential opportunities and pitfalls of this technology?

When discussing innovation, beverage experts frequently use the “F” word (by this, of course, I mean “function”). Everything from energy drinks to cardiovascular health beverages are available and launches of these buzzworthy beverages aren’t expected to stop any time soon. ResearchandMarkets reports the market is expected to reach US$136.5 billion globally this year and grow to $208 billion by 2024…

Individuals are challenged daily to balance work, home and recreation, which is why it’s normal to feel distracted, unmotivated or too tired to concentrate at times. Many consumers wish to improve focus and mental clarity to better manage everyday tasks but staying sharp and maintaining brain function throughout our lifetimes is also a significant concern because of increased awareness about diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s…

They say, “You are what you eat.” Of course, that also could be applied to what you drink. That’s because when dining out, consumers are looking to beverages to provide certain experiences—whether that’s a better-for-you boost or pure entertainment. Both trends are influencing new beverage innovation…

Some of the most popular beverage types deliver nutrients that address daily dietary needs like protein, vitamins and fiber. Protein has exploded over the last several years and the global ready-to-drink (RTD) protein beverage market is expected to reach US$4.1 billion by 2025 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9 percent over six years, according to Grand View Research. Brands are differentiating their products by adding more protein, formulating with plant-based proteins, and incorporating protein into new product categories like water, juice and coffee.

Health and wellness are important to consumers, but it can be challenging to say no to indulgences that offer a positive experience even if they don’t support lifestyle goals. Mintel found that 50% of consumers who snack do so to treat themselves, and yet 35% of consumers are replacing treat-worthy indulgent snacks with healthy ones.

Beverages such as protein shakes and waters, electrolyte replenishers, performance boosters and weight-loss elixirs once limited to health-focused stores can be purchased at local supermarkets. Beyond accessibility to sports nutrition products, consumers are given a plethora of options for products that align with their wellness goals and diet. The ubiquity of these products has led to a great deal of innovation in the category. Sports nutrition brands are still trying to find the next “it” ingredient or ingredient combination that appeals to hardcore athletes and bodybuilders, but they are also looking to differentiate themselves by offering hyper-personalized products that appeal to a multitude of active consumers…

Active consumers want hyper-personalized products that will improve energy and performance and help them achieve their ideal body composition. A growing number of sports beverage products include ingredients for energy, muscle gain, focus and recovery to support the individual needs of active consumers. Some of the ingredients in these products may only appeal to a select group of active consumers such as bodybuilders or long-distance runners, while others appeal to a larger audience…

Health and wellness is a constantly evolving global megatrend. For the food and beverage industry, it has meant removing ingredients perceived as harmful to your body—such as trans fatty acids, GMOs, and added sugars—while incorporating better-for-you ingredients with functional properties like protein and probiotics…