Sweet indulgence: 7 hot chocolate trends
Hot chocolate is all about beautiful presentations and luxury serves: but there's more to this indulgent treat than meets the eye...
Functional beverages
Lifeway Foods rejects Danone’s ‘opportunistic proposal’, adopts ‘poison pill’ plan
The kefir maker’s board of directors has adopted a shareholder rights plan in a bid to avoid a hostile takeover.
2025 Beverage trends to watch: Circana expects growth in water enhancers, functional drinks
Hydration-boosting, functional and non-alcoholic (non-alc) beverages will continue their growth in 2025, but generations are seeking out different drinks to meet their health and nutrition needs, according to a recent Circana webinar.
Molson Coors takes majority stake in ZOA Energy
Molson Coors Beverage Company is taking a majority ownership stake in ZOA, the better-for-you energy brand co-founded by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
Kenetik offers a ketone drink without the ‘nail polish’ taste
Ketone-based drink company Kenetik is capturing a market of athletes and health enthusiasts who want the benefits of ketones—without a bad taste.
Apothékary debuts in 400+ Sprouts stores, focuses on tincture business
Wellness brand Apothékary’s retail partnership with Sprouts Farmers Markets highlights its product expansion of herbal powders for beverages to include tinctures that align with the retailers’ growing supplement department in the non-alcoholic space.
Researchers uncover the ancient origins of kefir
Analyzing DNA remnants of Bronze-Age kefir cheese, Chinese researchers discovered how kefir strains have evolved and the likely route of kefir into Europe.
Recoup launches gut-friendly beverage at Sprouts, raises awareness on benefits of regen ag
Recoup’s prebiotic sparkling beverages hit the shelves at 420 Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide, as the company leans into gut health and regenerative agriculture claims to deliver consumer demands for functional and environmental benefits.
2024 beverage trends in South East Asia: Hydration leads non-alcoholic innovation
Beverage brands in Southeast Asia are finding growth opportunities in enhanced hydration drinks, catering to consumers across a variety of lifestyle needs, according to market intelligence firm Mintel.
Prioritising prevention: Four health conditions helping to drive functional products growth in Asia
Asia consumers’ holistic approach to healthy living is increasingly driving demand for functional products, with sleep, immunity, hydration and gut health trending.
Functional beverage spotlight: The latest in gut health NPD
From probiotic and prebiotic sodas to kefir and kombucha, what are the latest innovations in gut health beverage NPD?
The future of sports drinks in Europe: What do companies need to know?
Following the European elections in June, the next five years will bring changes for many industries – including sports drinks. As the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) gears up to publish its manifesto, ESSNA chair Luca Bucchini...
Rising wellness trends: Zero-proof is ‘the next wave of beverages,’ foods for anxiety relief see ‘varied results’
Zero-proof beverages are gaining market traction as health-conscious consumers moderate their alcohol consumption while many shoppers also seek out functional foods to combat stress and anxiety, market research company Circana shared in a recent webinar...
How to build a beverage brand: Gut health superstar OLIPOP on creating the next wave of soda
When Ben Goodwin founded OLIPOP in 2018, his mission was to reshape the US’ soda addiction with a healthier alternative. This year, the brand is featured in Time100’s Most Influential Companies 2024. How has Goodwin built both a beverage brand – and a...
Broader horizons: China’s EastRoc on shift from energy drink specialisation to multi-beverage portfolio
China energy drink heavyweight EastRoc is moving to a multi-beverage portfolio, hoping to establish itself as a leader in the wider beverage industry and not just the energy category.
Startup Spotlight
Functional beverage startup Yesly’s viral social media posts underscore big ad budgets are not necessary for big impact
Big advertising budgets are not a requirement for big sales or an indicator of how successful a marketing campaign will be as illustrated by a viral video on social media by functional beverage newcomer Yesly, which generated more than 16 million views...
Protein Rebel launches seawater magnesium for runners
Endurance-sport nutrition brand, Protein Rebel, has launched an on-trend seawater-sourced magnesium citrate powder for runners' recovery.
$40bn personalised nutrition market tapped for growth with Xampla and Lehmann tie-up
Plastic replacement technology firm Xampla’s partnership with Lehmann Ingredients will seek to build on global consumers’ growing demand for personalised nutrition.
AVVIKA’s RTD caffeine alternative aims to educate consumers about its functional ingredients, benefits
Soon-to-launch AVVIKA breaks away from traditional energy drinks as a caffeine alternative that calls out its suppliers’ functional ingredients on the label for transparent communication with consumers, brand founders Doug Resh and Holden Rouse told...
M&A activity reveals dominance of sports nutrition
Sports nutrition is proving profitable as it dominates the current mergers and acquisitions market. But what’s next for this major food and beverage trend?
Huel and Zoe in hot water with advertising watchdog over testimonials
The UK’s advertising watchdog took issue with exactly who provided the testimonials for the fast-growing brands' Facebook ads: Steven Bartlett, a TV personality who has a commercial interest in each company.
Coca-Cola boosts Powerade production in Australia
Powerade grew an impressive 12% in Australia over the last year. As a result, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is ramping up production capabilities for the sports drink with its largest ever investment in Australian manufacturing.
Energy education: En-Theories highlights APAC consumer aversion towards ‘energy drinks’ as major challenge for sector
Thai-based natural energy drink brand En-Theories has highlighted the paradox between a rising demand for better-for-you beverage options and consumer aversion towards the term ‘energy drinks’ as a major challenge for healthier, more natural alternatives...
Bubbling potential: Prebiotic sodas on course to take off in SEA on the back of rising demand and product boom
Prebiotic sodas are said to possess strong growth potential in South East Asia (SEA), largely owing to rising consumer interest in gut health, and an increasing number of companies making strides in product development and launches.
How to build a beverage brand: Liquid I.V.'s strategy to become a billion dollar brand
Liquid I.V.'s mission is all about enhanced hydration: and it's quadrupled in size since 2020 to become the #1 powdered hydration brand in the US. Mike Keech, CEO, tells us how it's got there - and how billion dollar brand status is in sight.
Yili explores microencapsulation for new range of fortified shelf-stable products
The Chinese dairy major will leverage microencapsulation in order to fortify products such as heat-treated dairy beverages, providing additional health benefits to consumers.
Seven summer beverage trends for 2024
What's hot this summer? We take a look at the top beverage trends.
Fermented foods and beverages find favour with consumers
The rise of fermented foods and beverages is an unlikely success story. But their popularity keeps on growing!
COMMON eyes up potential of mushroom drinks in UK functional drinks market
UK functional drinks brand COMMON is celebrating a six-figure seed investment round from a host of pioneers in the F&B industry: with investors including James Watt (BrewDog co-founder). That level of interest shows that the mushroom drink category is...
Brain booster: Singapore’s Flojo eyes opportunities in cognition and concentration with sparkling functional beverages
Singapore start-up Flojo has debuted its sparkling drinks formulated with botanical ingredients aimed at supporting cognitive function, strengthening immune system, and improving mood and mental clarity.
Fast&Up banks on RTD drinks, powder sachets for a bigger slice in hydration market
Fast&Up is adding new variations of its electrolytes products, including ready-to-drink and powder stick packs, as it seeks to capture greater market share in the hydration sector.
UK could ban sales of energy drinks to under 16s
The Labour Party says it will ban the sale of energy drinks to under 16s if it wins the UK’s General Election next month.
Poppi faces class action lawsuit over health claims around prebiotic labeling
A class action lawsuit accusing better-for-you soda maker Poppi of misleading consumers about the prebiotic benefits of its beverages could force the industry to standardize marketing for these ingredients, according to one industry player.
Trend spotting: Holistic hydration a hit across demographics
'Holistic hydration' and 'hydration+' appeared as popular concepts across the Vitafoods tradeshow in Geneva earlier this month, with Arla Foods Ingredients and PharmaLinea offering dynamic options.
‘Building consumption’: Unilever India banks on milk deflation, accessibility investments to boost nutrition brands reach
Hindustan Unilever India (HUL) hopes that recent deflation in milk prices as well as investments to make its nutrition brands such as Horlicks and Boost more accessible will aid its financial performance.
Clean power: Nightwatch energy drink highlights all-natural ingredients for ‘new generation’ of plant-based consumers
Dutch brand Nightwatch is aiming to ride the plant-based wave in Asia by launching an all-natural, and caffeine-free energy drink for ethically-minded consumers.
How brands communicate gut health benefits, creatively
In Europe, food and drink makers tapping into the gut health trend find themselves hamstrung by health claims regulations. How can they communicate benefits, without breaking the law?
Indian regulator clamps down on e-commerce sites selling “health drinks”
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is clamping down on e-commerce websites selling “health drinks”, as there are currently no regulations set in place for such products.
Liquid I.V.’s brand refresh captures hydration through new packaging, summer ad campaign
Hydration brand Liquid I.V.’s new packaging and summer ad campaign help “optimize and modernize” the brand “without disrupting shopability at shelf,” Brittany Shaw, the company’s senior brand director told FoodNavigator-USA.
mio’s brand refresh highlights simplicity in the energy drink category
Mio liquid water enhancers’ brand refresh blends flavor and function to provide a simple solution for consumers with multiple beverage needs, as well as bright packaging that communicates wellness, Samantha Mills, director of brand communications for mio...
Could tea help to prevent COVID?
Tea has been recognised for its health benefits for centuries. It boasts links to everything from aiding cardiovascular health to boosting the immune system, but could tea also help to prevent COVID-19?
KEY unlocks potential of ketones in energy-drink category with help of $4m investment
KEY is providing consumers an alternative to sugar-laden energy drinks through ketones, as it seeks to deploy $4m in funding to grow its brand.
MyMuse launches its influencer-focused functional soda with singer Dixie D’Amelio
Beverage brand MyMuse worked closely with social media personality and singer Dixie D'Amelio to develop a new caffeine-free, passionfruit-flavored functional soda and enhance the company's symbiotic influencer marketing strategy as “a brand to inspire...
Coffee fix? UDA targets China growth for relaunched longevity brew designed to help reverse ageing
A longevity coffee product is set to be relaunched with a tweaked formulation in an effort to crack the lucrative China market after its first iteration achieved sales success in more than 40 countries.
‘The right moment’: Unilever’s Liquid I.V. capitalising on China’s thriving electrolyte drinks sector
Unilever says the launch of its hydration brand Liquid I.V. into China earlier this year came at “the right moment”, citing recent rapid growth in the country’s electrolyte beverage sector as a key factor.
DyDo DRINCO seeks to meet shifting consumer needs and fill nutrient gaps in Japanese diet with new functional beverages
Japanese firm DyDo DRINCO recently released functional beverages targeted at skin-conscious female consumers, as well as beverages fortified with magnesium and vitamin D, nutrients that the firm says is lacking in the Japanese diet.
Carving out the white spaces in functional beverages
Brands that want to lead the next generation of functional beverages need to stop thinking about following the big trends: and instead set their sights on niche – but highly loyal – consumers. How do you identify these areas - and successfully build a...
CEO interview: The rise and rise of energy drink Celsius
Energy drink Celsius has seen sales rocket over the last few years - and it's on a trajectory for further growth. From gaining loyal consumers to international expansion plans, CEO John Fieldly reveals the brand’s secrets to success.
Natural Products Expo West
Pickle Juice offers muscle cramping relief without actual pickles
Pickle Juice’s research-backed proprietary blend of acetic acid and natural ingredients was developed to relieve muscle cramping quickly, while tasting like pickles without having anything “to do with pickles,” Fillip Keuppens, the company’s EVP,...
Taste, appeal, health claims: Getting functional foods to consumers
Functional food brands face a range of challenges, from taste to health claims, in order to get their products to appeal to consumers, and educate them about product potential.