From functional beverages to natural energy, our experts share their insights on which beverage categories are popular with consumers today - and what categories we can expect to see sky-rocket in the future.
By Hannah Crum, president, Kombucha Brewers International
The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts on the US economy, but one industry that has continued to see growth-- and even increased demand, with the renewed interest in health brought on by the crisis-- is kombucha.
As industry stalwarts step down from top roles, new faces are ready to make their mark. We take a look at some of the people taking on new jobs in the beverage industry this month.
By Michelle Norman, director of external affairs and sustainability at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I
The soft drinks industry has a big part to play in ensuring it both reduces water usage and increases the efficiency of water intensive processes. Michelle Norman, director of external affairs and sustainability at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I,...
By Gerald Lewis, Head of Strategy, Innovation and Enterprise Architecture, Coca-Cola HBC
Tech innovation and digital transformation are critical in a fast-changing marketplace, but how do large businesses make this happen so they can adapt and grow? In this guest article, Gerald Lewis, Head of Strategy, Innovation and Enterprise Architecture...
This week, the UK’s advertising watchdog has pulled up four hard seltzers for making - or simply implying - health or nutritional claims on their products. So how should such brands navigate this territory?
By Callum Saunders, head of planning at ZEAL Creative
Today's brands are expected to have a purpose. So how should marketers approach this as they look to build brands? Callum Saunders at ZEAL Creative takes a look in this guest article.
'Clean label' is not a new idea - but 2021 research shows consumers have become even more attentive to product formulation, writes Will Cowling of FMCG Gurus in this guest article.
From e-commerce to lower alcohol products, Jamie Williams, managing partner at London advertising agency isobel, explores five post-COVID trends to watch in the wine industry.
Consumer buying habits are changing. In the past, it was about buying into a lifestyle that a snack or drink’s brand offered, rather than the actual product itself. Now, consumers are much more focused on health and functionality, writes Richard Horwell...
By Dr Adam Carey, chairman, European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA)
Over the past decades, the sports beverage industry has witnessed significant growth. Yet misinformation also surrounds these products. Dr Adam Carey, chairman of the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA), looks at some of these myths...
By Émilie Steckenborn, founder and host of the Bottled in China podcast
A significant proportion of wine's carbon footprint comes from packaging. Could paper bottles reduce its impact? In this guest article, Émilie Steckenborn asks whether a transition to paper could happen in the near future.
Are virtual experiences a second best or a new premium? What's next for D2C after a pandemic boom? Jon Reay, founder and CEO of Rewrite Digital, shares four key insights in this guest article.
Often called “industry killers” by the mainstream media, Millennials and Gen Zers of legal age are drinking less alcohol than any generation before them. Jin Kim, CEO of Creative Digital Agency, explores how to reach these cohorts in this guest article....
By Adrian Lugg, founder and Managing Director of Hop Hut Marketing
It might sound counterintuitive, but working together with your competitors is the best way to grow your brand, says Adrian Lugg, founder and MD of Hop Hut Marketing, in this guest article.
Vintage Wine Estates is going to merge with Bespoke Capital Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). So what is a SPAC - and why is it important?
By Dan Hooper, co-founder, YesMore alcohol marketing agency
As the UK prepares to ease restrictions, brands and venues face the challenge of finding a celebratory yet responsible and realistic tone in their marketing and communications. Dan Hooper, co-founder of YesMore marketing agency, gives his five top tips...
No and low alcohol drinks are ready to revolutionise the RTD market. But while brands may focus on reduced ABV and calorie content, at the end of the day it's the taste which will determine whether they win or lose in the marketplace, writes Highball...
What can the beverage industry learn from 2020 - and apply to 2021? George Squire, an R&D lead at F&B innovation and commercialization group JPG Resources, looks at how companies can strengthen their supply chain.
Many people have an idea for a new range of drinks. However, starting a beverage company isn’t easy. Richard Horwell from marketing and branding company Brand Relations looks at six areas entrepreneurs need to consider.
By Ed Brown, community manager & content creator, YesMore.
This year, marketing options for Dry January were a lot more limited than in previous years. But that didn't stop brands being creative. Ed Brown of YesMore drinks marketing agency takes a look at some of the campaigns.
By Ron Ducharme, Vice President of Business Development, Covectra
With the increase in ecommerce, opportunities for counterfeit products are widening. In this guest article, Ron Ducharme, Vice President of Business Development at Covectra - a company working in track and trace since 2008 - looks at how 'next-generation...
By Callum Saunders, Head of Planning at ZEAL Creative Limited
As more brands recognise the importance of sustainability, it becomes harder to stand out. Callum Saunders, head of planning at ZEAL Creative, looks at how brands should direct their messaging around sustainability in 2021.
There's a lot of competition on beverage shelves, and soft drinks buyers do range reviews at the start of the new year. To be successful with your drinks brand in 2021 you need to start preparing now, writes Richard Horwell of F&B marketing and...
By Tom Harvey, co-founder, YesMore Drinks Marketing Agency
What are the big, overarching trends that have shaped 2020 - and which will continue to make their presence felt in 2021 and beyond? Tom Harvey, co-founder of YesMore Drinks Marketing Agency, outlines his six top picks in this guest article.
By Danielle Jackson, strategic planner, Zeal Creative
The festive period is an incredibly special time for consumers, retailers and not least of all brands: a number of which offer up their own version of Christmas spirit through seasonal varieties and limited-edition products. But do they support brand...
Brands which copy successful innovations will forever be playing catch up. Instead, they should understand why an innovation has succeeded and use those insights to carve out their own path, writes Stephen Firth, senior partner, Vivaldi London, in this...
The non-alcoholic category is exploding because people are demanding choices that are crafted to be just as appealing as their alcoholic counterparts, writes Laura Taylor, founder of US brand Mingle Mocktails, in this guest article.
By Danielle Jackson, Strategic Planner, ZEAL Creative
The soft drinks category has been working through a challenging year. Danielle Jackson, strategic planner at UK brand activation marketing agency ZEAL Creative, asks what lessons the industry can learn and take into 2021.
Personalized nutrition is somewhat a revolutionary technology within the beverage industry, offering consumer specific nutrition recommendations in real-time based on their DNA and gene profiling. But are consumers aware of this technology, and would...
Kombucha offers drinkers more complexity than your average alcohol-free alternative, writes Emma Thackray, co-founder of Booch & Brew, in this guest article.
Given that a ‘three-tier’ restriction system has recently been implemented across England, the likelihood of staple December activities seems rather slim. Everything from the crib service, Santa’s grotto, cracker-pulling wars - it’s all up in the air,...
The functional beverage trend will gain momentum in 2020 and beyond, according to FMCG Gurus, as consumers become more conscious about their health due to COVID-19.
COVID-19 has contributed to a rapid acceleration in the beverage industry’s use of digital technology over the past 12 months, with new technologies forecast to play an increasingly important role in the industry’s future survival and growth, a new report...
What happens after a small, Brooklyn-based drinks startup gets acquired by the biggest beer company in the world? Kombrewcha joined ZX Ventures in 2016: and this guest podcast explores how the two are working together.
ZX Ventures is AB InBev's global growth and innovation group, best known as a corporate venture fund, but its role goes far beyond that. Rabobank Liquid Assets takes a look inside the group in this guest podcast.
Jackson Family Wines has achieved a 33% drop in greenhouse gas emissions and a 60% reduction in the water required to produce a bottle of wine over the last decade. In February the company, together with Familia Torres, launched International Wineries...
Pernod Ricard and Park Street Imports highlight the drivers of M&A in craft spirits, and talk about what both founders and investors must do to create a successful long-term partnership.
CBD is the most exciting and perhaps controversial new ingredient in decades: and this guest podcast from Rabobank looks at whether it's going to be a big deal - or a big disappointment.
It is vital that sports drinks designed to enhance the performance of athletes are clearly differentiated from highly caffeinated energy drinks that are not, says the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA).
CAOBISCO – which represents the Chocolate, Biscuits and Confectionery Industries in Europe – has rebuffed a study’s suggestion that placing a tax on sweets snacks could be an effective tool in fighting obesity.
The Philippines' Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, which includes a new sugar tax, came into effect at the turn of the year, bringing with it a wave of confusion in the Philippines' drink sector.
Should your bottle of wine tell you how many calories you are consuming? Should your beer list its ingredients? Given consumers’ increased scrutiny over what they eat – and drink – the answer is yes. But of course, nothing is ever simple.
GoodBelly has launched four new product lines, including GoodBelly Protein Shake, GoodBelly Juice Drink, GoodBelly Sparkling Drinks and GoodBelly Ade, as consumers are gravitating more towards the functional beverage category, according to the company.
Craft has become ever more visible in both brand DNA and marketing. And while craft doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon - has its success reduced its potency, asks Chris Walmsley, co-founder of creative agency Cubo.
