With rising consumer demand for drinks made with natural ingredients, experts note that beverage-makers are turning to fruit and vegetable ingredients to deliver functional drinks that meet consumers’ growing need states.

Experts suggest that beverage brands can further innovate their portfolios by offering plant-based protein-fortified alternatives within various beverage categories. 

Classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry allow beverage-makers to appeal to consumer nostalgia.

Coffee trends are prompting beverage-makers to adapt to new consumer demands for the staple American beverage. However, as consumers seek out organic, functional attributes in coffee solutions, experts see more opportunities beyond the traditional coffee category.

As beverage-makers increasingly turn to plant proteins to meet consumer trends, experts highlight some key considerations to take into account when formulating with these ingredients.

As consumers cope with stress and anxiety, they are turning to beverages to induce relaxation and support healthy sleep cycles.

Although hydrocolloids do not provide specific health benefits, experts note that their functional attributes make many of the trendy, health-forward drinks possible.

As functional beverages remain in demand, experts highlight how masking ingredients are essential in formulations by enhancing a beverage’s overall drinking experience.

Experts share insights on which fruit blends are currently popular among consumers and why.

As consumers continue to demand more than hydration from their beverages, manufacturers are turning to new ways to deliver on functionality and clean label preferences.

The natural energy solutions market is growing as consumers turn to healthy and clean label alternatives for energy.

With many people following different diets such as gluten-free or dairy-free, NCSolutions conducted a survey to know how consumers are embracing new lifestyle-friendly dishes this holiday season.

Paulaner USA, White Plains, N.Y., announced that Steve Hauser, president and CEO, will be stepping down at the end of the year. Hauser has helped grow the importer from a two-brand, on-premise focused portfolio to a multi-brand, multi-channel business, the company says.

Food and Beverage Marketing Experts at THP took a gaze into their culinary crystal ball to forecast the ingredients, flavors, and culinary techniques chefs, brands, and industry leaders from around the globe will be leveraging in the year to come!

Shedding light on beverage alcohol sponsorships, SponsorUnited, a sports and entertainment platform, released its inaugural “Alcohol Beverages Marketing Partnerships 2023” report, which analyzes sponsorship trends and spend across various alcohol brands.

Experts suspect that the future is bright for both the energy drink and sparkling water market, Phocus is looking to be the go-to solution for consumers seeking both.

As younger adults consume less wine, baby boomers dominant wine consumption, in part because they’re still the largest generation by population.

As many consider tequila to be more of a vibe than just a drink, retail company Fashion Nova recently dove into finding out consumers’ tequila habits and preferences, surveying more than 3,000 Americans across all 50 states.

When it comes to recycling, studies show that consumers express concerns about recycling success in the United States, but companies are looking to change that through education, awareness and improved access.

With all baby boomers at least 65 or older by 2030, beverage-makers should consider what this demographic needs as their shopping habits evolve.

Looking forward, Drizly highlights which drinks trends are poised to have the biggest impact on the beverage alcohol industry, surveying 1,000 adults about the drinks they plan to purchase most in 2024.

Salsify’s “2024 Consumer Research” report shows how budgeting efforts are shifting consumer shopping habits and pinpoints ways that brands can engage with shoppers.

As demand for energy drinks continues to rise across the globe, Mintel highlights how evolving consumer trends are impacting the global market.

As more Gen Zers reach the legal drinking age, experts highlight how this younger generation is driving variety and innovation in the beverage alcohol market.

Recent IWSR analysis highlights some key reasons millennials are the age cohort boosting the non-alcohol segment in the United States, noting that the generation is consuming non-alcohol products with greater frequency than other age cohorts.

Driven by opportunity and a belief that strong community, family and friends are paramount to leading a purposeful life, Golden Eagle Vodka’s Co-Founder and CEO Dakota Blaze Rader shares how the brand aims to reinvigorate the premium vodka segment by blending American heritage with modern luxury.

Consumers have the chance to win an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experience to watch the Green Bay Packers play the Chicago Bears on Nov. 17 with Simone Biles, whose husband plays for the Chicago Bears and formerly played for the Packers.

As consumer package companies are increasingly designing more products with sustainability in mind, experts note that within the label industry, more companies are recognizing the need for labeling equipment that also supports a circular economy.

With consumers demanding more from their beverages, brand owners are employing a myriad of concepts to help the next generation of new products succeed. 

When it comes to beverage manufacturing and packaging practices, OEMs are creating the machinery necessary to help beverage-makers conserve and reduce their energy output. For plastic bottle manufacturing, it’s not just the increasing adoption of rPET plastic bottles, but also reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that it takes to power these machines, experts note.

When it comes to beverage packaging operations, today’s diverse beverage marketplace necessitate can filling and seaming equipment that supports flexible, safe operations.

The latest addition to EndFlex’s lineup of case and tray packing machines is the PKR modular pick and place cell with delta robot. 

Beverage operations are juggling SKU proliferation, varying pack sizes and a changing workforce. Packing machinery is helping these manufacturers minimize disruptions to those operations.

As beverage-maker’s need to do more with today’s filling equipment, original equipment manufacturers are prioritizing changeover speeds, safety and efficacy in their solutions.

Beverage packaging and manufacturing operations have married speed and accuracy to inspect and protect today’s beverages through a variety of applications and environments.

Sustainability and on-the-go consumption are among the key packaging influencing coding technology as these solutions look to support high line speeds and varying pack sizes.

Although safety is a top priority when it comes to labeling, trends in beverage labeling materials — mainly sustainability — also are greatly impacting labeling equipment. 

As the beverage industry works toward tackling environmental degradation, experts highlight how sustainable packaging efforts are having an impact on plastic bottle manufacturing.

With market trends, SKU proliferation and more, experts highlight how flexible can filling and seaming equipment works to fill a variety of container sizes, while ensuring product safety.

As the retail market continues to drive demand for flexible case packing and wrapping equipment, experts highlight how these packaging systems work to meet beverage market trends.

Experts weigh in on the various forms of packaging inspection equipment used in the beverage industry.

As sustainability is a driving force for change in labeling materials for beverage packaging, experts highlight how labeling equipment is evolving to support these trends.

More and more shoppers today are exploring the eCommerce channel for beverage purchases as awareness and accessibility are making it easier to navigate.

As inflationary trends continue to impact the grocery channel, experts highlight how supermarkets are employing various strategies to increase market share.

New York-based ReserveBar, an eCommerce platform for premium and luxury beverage alcohol, entered into a strategic technology partnership with delivery.com, a pioneer in the restaurant delivery segment. 

Inflation has accelerated the trend of higher-income consumers shopping at dollar stores, experts report.

Experts note how the direct-to-consumer channel is impacting beverage categories and sales.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), FMI - The Food Industry Association and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) issued a joint commitment related to the responsible marketing and merchandising of crossover alcohol products.

The restaurant industry is poised to hit a milestone this year as sales are project to exceed $1.1 trillion, according to the National Restaurant Association’s “2024 State of the Restaurant Industry Report.”

The Slurpee drink is “an exciting spin on the fan-favorite Coca-Cola Slurpee, combining the classic taste of a crisp and fizzy Coca-Cola with flavorful, OREO sandwich cookie-inspired hints,” the company notes.