GLP‑1 drinks take off as brands race for $3.5bn functional growth
From protein shakes to collagen coolers, brands are reinventing beverages for the GLP‑1 era and the race for dominance in this fast‑growing $3.5bn category is just beginning
Functional beverages
Natural Products Expo West 2026
New beverage launches to watch at Expo West 2026
Pura Soda, Beyond Meat, Nixie, Malk, Tractor Beverage and more unveil their latest innovations in natural and organic drinks
Poppi launches in the UK
The US gut health soda launches its first international market with its UK debut on March 5
Why Arla wins through protein and trend-driven drink formats
Arla Foods’ record-breaking 2025 was forged by carefully-executed long-term strategy. Here’s how the dairy co-op has gone from strength to strength
Inside the $330bn functional food frenzy fuelled by PepsiCo, Coke & Nestlé
From PepsiCo to Nestlé, global giants are racing to cash in on the booming functional food craze, but with trends shifting fast, the stakes have never been higher
What is yerba mate and why is this natural energiser going global?
Yerba mate is breaking out from its South American roots, fuelled by soaring exports, innovation and booming global demand for natural energy beverages
Functional drinks hold mass market appeal – but there’s work to do
Functional beverages are popular with wellness enthusiasts: but how wide is their appeal?
Inside FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ protein strategy - amid a whey shortage
When ingredient trends boom, suppliers need a strategy to ensure they meet demand
Clean label vs. functional foods: Can the two trends coexist?
Functional foods are often ultra-processed – but can they be clean label?
Reinventing decaf coffee: Nolo creates functional RTD brew to elevate taste and texture
The new launch uses prebiotic fiber to help create a creamier, more luxurious brew: an innovative new take on the decaffeinated coffee category
Meet the futuristic functional ingredients reshaping human health
From the mental health crisis to keeping an ageing population active, state-of-the art ingredients promise to help humanity bio-hack its way to peak performance. Here’s how
Functional coffee trends: Nootropics, gut health, collagen and more
Coffee is nature’s original ‘energy drink’: thanks to the caffeine burst that gives energy every morning. But the coffee of tomorrow is going far beyond that...
Will the EU ban energy drink sales to children?
There’s growing pressure to ban energy drink sales to children: but is it that simple?
Brand on fire: How Trip has pioneered the calming beverages category
With tens of millions of views on TikTok, Trip has found fame with Gen Z and pioneered the calming beverages category. What are the brand’s secrets to success?
Target leans on functional beverages to steady slipping sales
Prebiotic sodas, better-for-you energy drinks and Halloween candy give embattled retailer Q3 lift
The future of functional food is female: Startup The Cycle taps into huge whitespace with PMS and period relief beverages
Targeting the growing demand for functional products designed by and for women, the startup blends clinical science, tradition and taste to normalize self-care during menstruation
The evolution of the energy drink category: Odyssey Functional Energy heralds drive towards added functionality
Clean energy has already swept across the energy drink category. Now, Odyssey Functional Energy heralds the next era of added functionality: becoming a favorite in offices of SpaceX, Uber, Google, Meta, Amazon and more
DrinkAid’s co-founder ventures into performance nutrition with creatine gummies
Ryan Foo, co-founder of Singapore-based hangover prevention firm DrinkAid, is venturing into the sports nutrition space with the upcoming launch of creatine gummies through his new business FOULPLAY.
5 functional beauty drinks driving innovation
The trend for functional beauty drinks doesn’t seem to be waning anytime soon. Take a look at five of the latest innovations in this space.
New beverage launches: Innovation in functional beverages
From energy to relaxation, we take a look at some of the latest beverages in the functional beverage aisle and the ingredients they’re using
How Sprouts scouts out the next big thing in beverage innovation
Sprouts Farmers Market’s approach to NPD keeps it on a constant search for the hottest beverage innovations
Pocono Maple Water taps into natural hydration opportunity
Pocono Maple Water is looking at the traditional drink through a modern lens: highlighting the hydrating power, authenticity and taste of the beverage
Sweeteners in focus
Liquid I.V., IQMIX and G Fuel lead zero-sugar drink mix shift
The $38.7 billion category’s momentum reflects consumer appetite for natural sweeteners, energy and focus
Twins triumph: Gut health guinea pigs turned burgeoning business leaders
The Gut Stuff, a multi-faceted business devoted to improving the general public’s awareness of gut health, has been recognized in the UK Fast Growth 50 index this year.
How to build a beverage brand: Tenzing on carving out the natural energy category
As one of the earlier brands to explore the idea of ‘clean energy’, Tenzing now holds a powerful position in the UK energy drink market
Healthy snacking trends
Släcka aims to redefine healthy snacking with ‘snack in a can’
Within the saturated functional beverage market, Släcka is betting on cravings instead of energy to stand out
Sparkling brain drinks: Ārepa targets fatigue and mental performance
New Zealand-based Ārepa has launched sparkling beverages designed to tackle fatigue and support mental performance
How to build a beverage brand: Bulletproof on shifting from biohacking to the big time
A decade ago, Bulletproof was a biohacking sensation. Today, it’s moving into the mainstream as it sees functional coffee gather momentum. How do you stay true to your brand while adapting to consumer trends?
What makes a GLP-1-friendly yogurt drink? Danone tells all
By formulating a dairy drink that specifically caters for weight loss medication users, Danone has set a new standard with Oikos Fusion
Water kefir: A new gut-health growth opportunity?
Kefir’s dairy-free twin has enormous growth potential
Beating the mid-afternoon munchies: Släcka brings new take to the GLP-1 world
With consumers’ focus now on appetite control, new brand Släcka believes it’s perfectly positioned to carve out a new beverage category
Otsuka Pharma grows electrolyte drink business across Asia
Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceutical is trying to grow its POCARI SWEAT electrolyte drink business through market expansion, including recent entry into India and across the Philippines.
Cold pressed hemp drinks creator aims to disrupt CBD category
The founder of a UK-based cold-pressed hemp drinks brand says the moment is ripe to enter the thriving functional drinks market, armed with Novel Foods exempt drinks that comply with the legal CBD limit.
Good & Proper’s barista-ready matcha taps into booming matcha latte trend
Matcha is having a moment: nowhere more so than in trendy, Instagram-friendly matcha lattes. But that’s opened up the market up to cheaper, lower quality alternatives. Good & Proper’s latest launch heralds a return to ‘matcha, as it should be’
Matcha might: Could the trendy tea challenge coffee?
Matcha is moving from a niche category to a mainstream affair. Can it take on coffee?
Goodrays grows fast and gains £5m amid tightening CBD rules
Premium CBD brand Goodrays just completed a £5 million Series A funding round to meet surging demand. NutraIngredients spoke with CEO and co-founder Eoin Keenan about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
How to build a beverage brand: C4 on carving out the performance energy category
Energy is buzzing: and there’s plenty of space for brands to find opportunities in segments of the category...
How energy drinks are bucking health trends with rapid growth across Asia
Energy drinks are posting strong growth across Asia, defying expectations in a region increasingly shaped by health and wellness trends
Is Pepsi Prebiotic Cola a ‘game-changer’ or just late to the game?
The beverage giant’s new cola adds fiber and leans on the cache of cane sugar — but faces stiff competition from a wave of early movers with cult-like followings
New beverage launches: Suntory, Celsius and more
From vodka seltzer to energy drinks, we take a look at some of the new beverages launching around the globe
ASA calls out sparkling drinks brand Trip for mental health claims
The UK-based beverage brand Trip, known for its CBD content, has been flagged by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for claiming that its magnesium drink could help reduce cognitive stress. But was ruling this avoidable?
IFT First: New tech and innovations to look out for at the food science expo
Ready for the new world of GLP-1 food and drink? Want to keep up to speed with the latest in functional and plant-based ingredients, alternative proteins, sugar reduction tech and much more? Here are some of the innovations set to star at the global food...
UK pledges to ban sales of energy drinks to children
The newly-published 10 Year Health Plan for England commits to banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16
Tapping into the productivity market: How two influencers built a $20m nootropic brand
In November 2023, British influencers James Smith and Chris Williamson founded Neutonic, a nootropic supplement company which set out to create the world’s first productivity drink. Just 18 months later, the company has been valued at $20 million. So,...
Trendspotting in better-for-you energy
Entrepreneurial brands are challenging the status quo and transforming the energy drink category
How to build a beverage brand: Zoa Energy on the value of ‘intrapreneurship’
Zoa Energy, the better-for-you energy drink co-founded by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and snapped up by Molson Coors last year, reveals its growth strategy
Study: Liquid I.V.’s Hydration Multiplier outperforms water in key hydration markers
Participants using Liquid I.V. exhibited extended hydration duration by retaining fluids for up to four hours, longer than those who drank water alone, says a new study.
Dairy Innovation
Ultra-filtered milk is redefining dairy: Inside the strategies of Quest, Nurri and Pioneer Pastures
As consumers demand more protein, less sugar, and better nutrition from their beverages, three disruptive brands are using ultra-filtration to reinvent milk – and reshape the dairy aisle
Missions made possible with all-natural energy drinks
Founder of caffeine-free energy drinks brand Mission Tea describes how a personal passion developed into a thriving brand backed by first-class athletes and industry giants.
Theabrownin: 3 must-knows about new ‘Nobel Prize-worthy’ ingredient
Theabrownin has been touted by Chinese food scientists as a ‘direct route to the Nobel Prize’ – here are three key reasons for their excitement