High-fructose corn syrup linked to cancer growth
The beverage sweetener is under fire in a new study
Health & wellness
How to build a beverage brand: FHIRST on the potential of the gut health market
Consumers are getting more and more interested in gut health - and it’s just the beginning, says Steven Van Middelem, founder of FHIRST. How is he building a brand in this space?
Can beverages be made less sweet?
The easiest way to reduce sugar in beverages is simply to put less in. But how far can you go before consumers no longer accept the taste?
Revolutionizing soda: The emergence of a new Modern Soda category
Walmart has introduced its new ‘Modern Soda’ category: featuring innovative, better-for-you brands that are far from the traditional sugar-packed drinks loved by previous generations. So what is Modern Soda – and how big is its potential?
‘Mood food’ megatrend set to boom in 2025
As poor mental health continues to rise across the globe, consumers are growing increasingly reliant on ‘mood foods’.
How microplastics affect gut health
How, and why, do microplastics alter the microbiome?
BE WTR pushes global expansion, launches flavour-enhancing ‘activated water’
Premium water brand BE WTR aims to “revolutionise hydration” with its filtration and flavour-enhancing technologies, as it actively sets up bottling plants across the globe on the back of new funding.
Should dairy drinks and RTD coffee be included in soda taxes?
The UK government is considering extending its Soft Drinks Industry Levy to milk-based drinks and plant-based alternatives: putting milkshakes and RTD coffee in the firing line. Will this move go ahead - and could other governments consider doing the same?
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.
Singapore’s Re.juve touts customer loyalty, focus on meeting nutrient gap as key to survival amid cold press juice decline
Singaporean brand Re.juve’s ability to navigate cold pressed juices’ transition from being a trendy detox drink to a daily staple for meeting nutrient gaps, as well as support from loyal customers, have been crucial for its survival.
Millie's disrupts tea, broth category with convenient tea bag broth format
Millie’s tea bag broths, made with herbs, spices and dehydrated vegetables landed in 2,000 Walmart stores last month, marking a major milestone for the brand as it disrupts the tea and broth categories.
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.
Suja Organic makes ‘every sip count’ with rebrand focused on transparency, flavor, function
Suja Life rebranded its line of Suja Organic cold-pressed juices and wellness shots to simplify the product’s functionality and flavors as the company grows into more occasions and dayparts with its acquisition of soda brand Slice.
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?
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...
Top trends in beverage alcohol
What are the top trends driving the global beverage alcohol market forward - and how can we expect the industry to evolve?
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...
Pernod Ricard acquires minority stake in Lewis Hamilton’s non-alcoholic agave spirit
Pernod Ricard has acquired a minority stake in Almave: the non-alcoholic blue agave-based spirit brand co-founded by Formula One star Lewis Hamilton.
Huge tax hikes: Vietnam proposes phased 100% alcohol tax rise, 10% for sugar-sweetened drinks
The Vietnamese government has drafted new regulations proposing a phased increase on excise taxes for alcoholic beverages to 100% by 2030 as well as 10% for sugar-sweetened beverages, in attempts to curb overconsumption as well as boosting national income.
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.
The wine officially endorsed by WW
TRACES has become the only wine officially endorsed by the global weight management company, WW, in the UK and Ireland. But its potential could go far beyond the program: does lower-calorie wine hold the key to appealing to the next generation of drinkers?
Feeling the squeeze? How juice brands are dealing with an orange shortage
The world’s top orange production regions are struggling: putting pressure on the global supply of oranges for the juice industry. Beverage brands are finding innovative ways to deal with high costs and shortages.
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...
PepsiCo expands bubly brand with new flavor-forward bubly burst
On a trajectory to become one of PepsiCo’s next billion-dollar brands, bubly has been making a splash as a fun-loving sparkling water brand. New launch bubly burst is set to expand the brand’s appeal by tapping into a market of consumers looking for...
Fortified beverages in the Middle East: Germany’s Haus Rabenhorst identifies market opportunities for juice range
German firm Haus Rabenhorst is looking to capitalise on the functional beverages trend with its range of nutrient-enriched juices, amid growing interest among consumers in Asia and Middle East.
News
UK lifts tariff on California prune juice
The UK is to lift the current import tariff on California prune juice as it continues to navigate trade deals with its partners in the Indo-Pacific bloc.
Natural Products Expo West
Expo West trendspotting: Functional benefits, purity testing help justify premium pricing as consumers navigate economic challenges
Emphasizing the value of exisiting products appeared to trump breakthrough innovation this year at Natural Products Expo West where many companies either introduced smaller sizes of existing SKUs to lower the entry point or more prominently called out...
How to build alcohol-free brands: Spirits of Virtue shares its secrets to success
Creating a great alcohol-free product is one thing: growing and scaling that into a successful business is another thing entirely. In the last five years, Spirits of Virtue has perfected a range of products; expanded to 16 countries including the US (a...
My Drynuary: ‘Our customers are our main source of inspiration'
Canadian non-alcoholic beer Partake Brewing was launched in 2017: and now sells its brews across Canada and the US. Evan Cohen, President and Chief Commercial Officer, looks at the two markets in this series on innovators in the low/no alcohol industry.
What does the global low/no alcohol market look like in 2024?
It's January - meaning the spotlight is well and truly on the low and no alcohol category. The latest data from IWSR sets the scene and pinpoints where future growth is most likely to come from.
Everyday Weekend seeks bigger share in RTD alcoholic beverages market through rapid expansion in SEA
New Zealand-founded hard seltzer brand Everyday Weekend is aiming to seize growth opportunities in the ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages category across Asia through affordable pricing and community marketing strategies.
What’s stirring this Dry January? Canned mocktails, extra hoppy beverages, functional drinks
Non-alcoholic beverages continue to gain a foothold, cutting into the overall alcohol market, as brands like Longbottom, HOP WTR, and hiyo tap into consumer demands for quality, functionality, and health.
What are consumer attitudes to fortification? Consumers often care about taste over health, study reveals
Fortification has the potential to provide abundant health benefits, endowing products with a higher level of important nutrients than they otherwise would have possessed. However, taste and texture can be affected by it, which can in turn affect...
Hangover-free wine? Scientists identify pigment that may be responsible for headaches
Scientists have discovered a plant pigment in red wine that may be responsible for headaches: with the hope this knowledge could ultimately help winemakers create gentler drinks.
How brands can rethink the single use plastic water bottle
The challenges for plastic water bottles are clear: their environmental impact is leading to a consumer backlash and even potential regulatory restrictions. But the future isn’t about a few brands moving into alternative packaging formats: it’s about...
Hydration heroes: How the next generation of sports drink brands are setting themselves apart
Against a backdrop of big-name sports drinks brands, how is the next generation of sports drinks finding a sweet spot in the booming market?
Global sports drink market set to reach $36bn by 2028
The global sports drink market is predicted to reach $36.35bn in 2028, demonstrating a CAGR of 4.2% thanks to interest from a wide range of consumers.
Natural Products Expo East
Non-alcoholic industry shakes off stereotypes, embraces new merchandizing strategies to drive 30% yoy growth
Once relegated to the bottom shelf in the back corner of a store or hidden among the sparkling water or cocktail mixers, non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits are breaking free from the stereotypes of who drinks them and when, and in doing so are setting...
"Dagger-blow to the whole of the UK industry" as FSA slashes CBD daily limit
CBD brands are coming out in force to refute new advice from the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), recommending adults should limit CBD consumption to 10mg per day, rather than 70mg.
National Association for Convenience Stores
Perfect Hydration aligns with fitness industry, features brand refresh at NACS
To standout in a saturated category, Perfect Hydration highlights its functionality and recycling initiative as part of a brand refresh unveiled during the National Association for Convenience Stores in Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 3-6.
Hydration and hemp: Kommunity Brew sees innovation potential in Australia’s healthy beverage space
Australia’s Kommunity Brew believes that hemp has the potential to feature more widely in its NPD and innovation strategies, amidst the addition of more local acquisitions to its healthier beverage portfolio.
Labatt Breweries of Canada to distribute two more non-alcoholic brands
Labatt Breweries of Canada (AB InBev) becomes the distributor across Quebec of Duvernois Creative Spirits’ non-alcoholic portfolio, which features the Romeo's Gin non-alcoholic and Bockale brands.
Scotland looks to increase the minimum unit price of alcohol
The Scottish government wants to increase the Minimum Unit Price (MUP) of alcohol by 15 pence per unit to 65 pence: launching a consultation into the proposals this week.
‘We’re not trying to mimic milk’: Rude Health backs nutrition-forward strategy amid plant-based ‘shakedown’
The breakfast brand’s commitment to clean label – or as clean label as functionality allows – will see it through the current plant-based ‘shakedown’, co-founder and brand director Camilla Barnard tells FoodNavigator.
Sugar Reduction
FDA seeks strategies for reducing added sugar consumption at upcoming meetings
FDA opened registration this week for a virtual public meeting and listening session it will hold Nov. 6-8 on strategies to reduce added sugar consumption, following a commitment it made last fall during the White House’s Conference on Hunger, Nutrition...
Gatorade Water set to launch in 2024: promising to ‘bring the credibility and trust of the iconic Gatorade bolt to the water aisle’
With entrances into new categories including water and energy - alongside a string of recent low and no sugar products and even functional gummies - Gatorade says its portfolio is the ‘most complete offering on the market today across energy, hydration,...
Juni sparkling tea blends cultures, benefits for body & mind from adaptogens, nootropics
For many Americans living a fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyle, the meditative benefits of slowly sipping a hot mug of tea may be out of reach, but the health benefits and feeling of refreshment that come from a beverage brewed with adaptogenic, nootropic...
Machu Picchu wants to clean up energy drinks from ingredients to marketing for broader appeal
Energy drink newcomer Machu Pichu’s dual marketing message of finding balance and connecting to nature and community sets it apart in a category that heavily promotes extremes and individual gains, as does its organic flavor technology and natural...
‘Treasure to be discovered’: English Tea Shop eyes APAC as next major target on the back of rising gifting and premiumisation trends
Premium organic tea brand English Tea Shop has designated the Asia Pacific region as its next major target market after a decade of growth in Europe, citing growing consumer demands for premiumisation and products designed for gifting as strong drivers.
Odyssey Elixir partners with 7-Eleven and Wegmans to bring functional mushrooms “out of niche spaces”
As adaptogens and mushrooms continue piquing the interest of health conscious and sober-curious consumers, the sparkling, functional mushroom beverage brand expanded its convenience and grocery retail presence so “more people are able to experience the...