Functional beverages

Carbonated soft drinks, water, coffee, energy drinks and sports drinks are the top beverages in c-stores. Pic: Getty/Sarah Casillas

Convenience store beverage purchases rise in the US

By Beth Newhart

Convenience store and gas station shopping habits for US consumers are analysed in GasBuddy’s 2019 C-Store Beverage Study, showing more impulse buys and higher demand for bottled water.

All the ingredients used in Coffee Booster are vitamin or herb based, without any flavor for easy incorporation.

Coffee gets a boost at-home and on-the-go

By Beth Newhart

Premium ‘boosters’ and functional add-ons have found a place in smoothie chains, and now they’re headed for coffee. Canada-based Coffee Booster wants flavorless function to be a new step in morning coffee routines.

“People wanting to be healthier is not confined to a certain age group.”

Ethan’s shots dip into organic energy

By Beth Newhart

A beverage brand that specializes in functional shots, Ethan’s is breaking into the energy drink category for the first time with a line of Organic Energy Shots formulated with green tea, lion’s mane and guayusa.

Coca-Cola Energy: Brazil and Mexico will join markets such as Great Britain, Spain, Japan & Australia.

Coca-Cola Energy rolls out to new markets

By Rachel Arthur

Coca-Cola Energy will roll out to a total of 20 markets by the end of this year, following ‘early signs of success’ in its launch markets.

Moringa dominates kale and matcha across nutrient categories like antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Moringa stands out among superfoods at Fancy Food

By Beth Newhart

Known in ancient cultures as the 'tree of life,' moringa has grown into the western food and beverage industries, following the pattern of others like matcha. More competitors are now entering the market, and infiltrating the mainstream tea...

Are avocados the future of tea?

By Beth Newhart

A couple of ‘accidental avocado farmers’ from California found a better use for the leaves of avocado trees than grinding and trashing them--hot tea. Now they are bagging and flavoring the tea to be sold worldwide, launching this summer.

Rwanda's climate conditions, good soil and high elevation make it an optimal tea-growing location.

3 Mountains sees the potential for premium, on draft tea

By Beth Newhart

Independent craft tea brand 3 Mountains is betting on consumers’ interest in premium beverages and social change with its new Silverback Draft Tea, available in kegs and cans. It showcased the concept at last week’s Summer Fancy Food Show in New York...

What’s new in beverage at the Fancy Food Show?

What’s new in beverage at the Fancy Food Show?

By Beth Newhart

The Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) Summer Fancy Food Show took place in New York City last week. Some top specialty beverage categories in the US are tea, coffee, hot cocoa and plant-based milks, with overall specialty sales making up 16.1% of the...

There’s been an upswing in the craft mocktail market, spurring the drive to skip the booze. Pic: Getty/Erik Wieder

Will ‘canna-curious’ adults ever ditch alcohol?

By Beth Newhart

US adults are drinking less and picking up low ABV drinks or alcohol alternatives. Cannabis is potentially the biggest market looking to snap up that audience, but can alcohol be replaced?

Beverage producers are working with international spices more because of their health benefits and function, rather than taste. Pic: Getty/oleksajewicz

Global flavor fusion dominates drink trends at IFT

By Beth Newhart

More consumers are prioritizing authentic, local food and drink when they travel, and are keen to experience global flavors at home as well. At IFT 2019, international fusion was on display with unique ingredient innovations.

Bartek displays brand relaunch at IFT

By Beth Newhart

On its 50th anniversary in business, Bartek Ingredients debuted a brand relaunch at the 2019 Institute of Food Technologists show (IFT) in New Orleans. The Canada-based company manufactures malic and fumaric acid for use in beverages and confectionery.

Bottled water is the most recycled product in curbside recycling systems, topping soda bottles. Pic: Getty/SergeyKlopotov

Bottled water sales continue to rise in the US

By Beth Newhart

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) has revealed that Americans still favor bottled water over all other packaged drinks, after consuming 13.8 billion gallons of it in 2018.

Coca-Cola's bubbler dispensers put an emphasis on 'craft, elevated' beverages with low sugar options. Pic: BeverageDaily

Coca-Cola cuts back on sugar with bubbler beverages

By Beth Newhart

Shifting consumer taste is causing major beverage companies to adapt, make ‘healthy’ drinks taste better and be more accessible. Coca-Cola is using its Freestyle machines and new bubbler dispensers to highlight its ‘craft, elevated’ drinks in the market.

Consumers don’t want to be ‘couch-locked’ all day because of an edible, so the effects of Phyx only last about an hour.

New THC water offers alcohol alternative ‘Phyx’

By Beth Newhart

Joining the market of cannabis-infused products is Phyx, a THC flavored sparkling water, which hopes its low-dose and fast-acting formula will better perform as an alcohol replacement.

Most of the kombucha available in Malaysia now is imported, particularly from Australia and America. Pic: Getty/boyarkinamarina

Reviving Malaysia’s kombucha tradition

By Richard Whitehead

It’s not often that people think of a small country in Southeast Asia as a trendsetter, but when it comes to kombucha, Malaysia saw the now-fashionable fermented tea rise to wild levels of popularity—and then wither away—years before the first hipster...

Tea is taking on bigger roles out-of-home and outside cafes with food pairings and tea-infused foods. Pic: Getty/ThitareeSarmkasat

How can tea stay competitive?

By Beth Newhart

Alternate brewing methods, teas on tap, hard kombucha and more. The tea world is experimenting with “unique and more unusual, innovative ingredients” to keep consumers interested.

What’s next for brand Coke? Coffee, energy and beyond

What’s next for brand Coke?

By Rachel Arthur

Coca-Cola Coffee and Coca-Cola Energy could spearhead the evolution of brand Coca-Cola, as beverage categories continue to blur and Coca-Cola looks to maintain momentum for its flagship brand.

The new beer has an ABV of 5% and will be available through the summer at select locations.

Dunkin’ releases second beer innovation with Harpoon Brewery

By Beth Newhart

Last fall Dunkin’ announced a limited edition partnership with Harpoon Brewery for its first-ever beer, the Harpoon Dunkin’ Coffee Porter. The two have teamed up again for a warm weather brew, the Harpoon Dunkin' Summer Coffee Pale Ale. Dunkin’ also...

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