Ingredients

Better-for-you beverages at Positive Nutrition 2023: From collagen-infused water to prebiotic soda

06-Mar-2023 By Flora Southey

From fortification to flavor, low-no alcohol and low-sugar, what are consumers looking for in better-for-you beverages? Join us at FoodNavigator’s Positive Nutrition Summit to find out.

Six months after legalization, Canada’s cannabis edibles market is stalled: ‘We’re just at the beginning of professionalizing this industry’

03-Apr-2020 By Beth Newhart

The cannabis drug was federally legalized in Canada in 2018, and edibles in 2019, but the market has so far been slow to take off. Brands struggle with product preservation and are looking for more guidance from Health Canada.

Alcohol-free: Could CBD help ‘bridge the gap’ for sceptics?

03-Apr-2020 By Flora Southey

For many, alcohol-free beer or spirits doesn’t ‘feel’ quite right, according to YesMore account director Lolly Watkins. Does CBD have the potential to remedy this issue for consumers?

The top 50 craft brewers in the US

02-Apr-2020 By Beth Newhart

The Brewers Association (BA), which represents US independent brewers, has released its annual top 50 list according to craft beer sales volume: along with an overall top 50 brewers list.

US distillers work together to supply hand sanitizer on mass: 'We are in this together'

26-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

Spirits companies around the world are donating alcohol and production facilities to make hand sanitizer. In the US, the Distilled Spirits Council of the US is streamlining efforts in a dedicated portal to connect suppliers, producers and medical professionals....

PepsiCo hires 6,000 employees, provides additional compensation to workers on frontline of pandemic

23-Mar-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

PepsiCo is hiring 6,000 new, full-time employees over the next month and is providing additional compensation to the more than 90,000 frontline employees – those who “make, move, and sell” PepsiCo products – at both PepsiCo Beverages North America and...

US alcohol calls on Congress for economic relief from COVID-19

23-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

With the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis only likely to worsen, the federal government is announcing different forms of aid packages. US alcohol associations are now asking for assistance.

Coronavirus: Alcohol struggles as bars close, but ecommerce thrives

23-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

The beverage industry is keeping a close eye on the rippling effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. And in the US, there have been a few positives mixed in with the negatives, such as a boom for ecommerce.

RISE Brewing Co. explores how to drive growth, support partners & underemployed during COVID-19

23-Mar-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Staying true to its mission to “find people where they are in the daytime,” RISE Brewing Co. is pivoting from distributing its nitro infused cold brew coffee in offices and at events to reach people instead in their homes as more Americans practice social...

Drinks industry reacts to coronavirus impact

23-Mar-2020 By Gwen Ridler

Cut earnings, threats to supplies and helplines for manufacturers’ customers are just some of the latest developments in the drinks industry as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Wine will be fine: Outlook for online sales in China remains positive despite coronavirus outbreak

23-Mar-2020 By Pearly Neo

The outlook for wine e-commerce in China remains optimistic despite the recent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country, according to a leading expert.

Redesigned cans and RTDs hope to attract a wider audience to illy

19-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

New ready-to-drink cold brew from Italian coffee company illy was set to debut at Expo West this month. But despite the cancellation, plans are moving forward with the hopes of attracting younger customers to the upscale brand.

Gojai's organic, caffeinated seltzer looks to dominate soda alternatives

19-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

A new sparkling water startup has hit the market in southern California. Gojai promises ‘clean, green, organic caffeine’ in every can, made with advanced reverse osmosis triple filtration.

Elmhurst enters crowded RTD latte category and teases smoothie bases

17-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

Plant-based milk alternative brand Elmhurst 1925 had big plans for Natural Products Expo West before its postponement earlier this month. However, its oat-based single serves, lattes and creamers will still launch in the US on schedule.

Beer or seltzer? Leinenkugel’s Spritzen blurs category lines and offers both

17-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

Molson Coors is stacking its hard seltzer portfolio with the announcement of the Leinenkugel’s Spritzen. It claims to be the first to a new category, beer brewed with fruity seltzer.

China wine trends: Symbolism of fortune and prosperity will ensure red’s dominance

17-Mar-2020 By Pearly Neo

The dominance of red wine in China can be attributed to the cultural symbolism of auspiciousness and prosperity associated with the colour, according to a local industry expert.

Swedish pea drinks make North American debut

16-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

Following the worldwide success of oat drinks from Sweden, beverage company Sproud is looking to make peas the next big milk alternative protein source. After the postponement of Natural Products Expo West, it hits the North American market next month.

COVID-19: Expo West canceled as New Hope shifts focus to Expo East

13-Mar-2020 By Elaine Watson

In an announcement that will not likely surprise many stakeholders, New Hope has decided to cancel (rather than postpone) the Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim and focus its attention on Expo East in Philadelphia (Sept. 23-26).

Oatly: 'Broad scale out of stocks and sustained capacity challenges are largely behind us'

13-Mar-2020 By Elaine Watson

While the US oatmilk category is still in its infancy, it’s growing at an explosive rate,* says Oatly, the Swedish brand seeking to take the US market by storm. But can it keep up with demand?

FNA Deep Dive: Low-to-no alcoholic beverages

Booze-free growth imminent: Low-to-no alcoholic beverages set to boom in APAC

12-Mar-2020 By Pearly Neo and Guan Yu Lim

The low-to-no alcoholic (LNA) beverage industry is growing rapidly in Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States, and as of late this trend appears to have also caught on in the APAC region, with various major beverage firms launching their own...

Hard seltzer with real fruit juice looks to pick up slack where ‘beer has failed’

10-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

Ficks Beverage Co. wants to transform the flavor quality in hard seltzer without malt liquor or flavors. It takes cues from health-forward, non-alcoholic seltzers by using only fruit juice and no chemical additives.

Intelligentsia commits to purchasing 40K pounds of coffee from farmers

10-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

New Extraordinary Coffee Workshops (ECWx) in Honduras and Guatemala are furthering Intelligentsia Coffee’s sustainability mission. They invest in and engage with smallholder farmers, improving coffee quality for the US supply chain.

Can wineries leverage plant-based messaging to attract young drinkers?

10-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

An oversupply of wine in the US has producers rethinking their branding and marketing strategies to reach millennials and Gen Z drinkers. The Silicon Valley Bank’s Wine Division (SVB) advises wineries to tap into the ‘better-for-you’ trend and health-forward...

Water bottle made from 100% plant materials hits the Middle East

06-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

The Al Ain Plant Bottle from Agthia Group PJSC is the region's first plant-based water bottle. It is biodegradable and compostable within 80 days and is part of the company’s broader sustainability initiatives.

Bevi cuts 150 million bottles and cans from the workplace

05-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

Complimentary workplace snacks and beverages are now a relatively common practice for US employers, but the mounting costs and environmental drawbacks have offices turning more to eco-friendly drink systems like Bevi.

Hitting the road: Cold brew culture goes national

05-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

A multiple-city industry tour kicked off last week to promote cold brew coffee innovation in the US, featuring education from coffee roasters, beverage brands and cafes.

I Am Grounded debuts health bar made from upcycled coffee fruit

05-Mar-2020 By Jenny Eagle

I Am Grounded has launched a ‘sustainably-minded’ health bar made from recycled coffee fruit, launched via crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.

Expo West postponed over coronavirus fears, new date to be announced by mid-April

03-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

New Hope’s Natural Products Expo West tradeshow was postponed due to coronavirus fears on Monday night, just hours before the first events were set to kick off on Tuesday. More than 80,000 people were initially expected to attend.

Warburtons partners with Toast Ale to make beer from crumpets

02-Mar-2020 By Jenny Eagle

Warburtons has partnered with Toast Ale to launch the UK’s first ever beer brewed from leftover crumpets.

Craft vodka bets on uncommon flavors: jalapeno, mint and pickle

25-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

In a sea of US craft distilleries perfecting bourbon, scotch and tequila, Holla Spirits is turning its attention to vodka. Rare savory ingredients like jalapenos and pickle brine are taking a stab at reinventing the category.

The world according to wine: Germany and UK top imports in sparkling

25-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

Germany, the UK and the US import the most wine in the world; while Italy, France and Spain produce the most. Sparkling wine is also topping trends as a favorite among younger drinkers.

Reformatting IPAs for the masses: small sizes win big

13-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

In the face of health and wellness concerns and low-to-no alcohol trends, craft brewers of heavy, boozy beer are rethinking their methods. Line extensions and new packaging formats are the advice of Massachusetts-based Night Shift Brewing.

Vizzy vs Brizzy: Molson Coors faces lawsuit over new hard seltzer

10-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

Makers of the Brizzy hard seltzer drink have filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Molson Coors, who plans to release a hard seltzer called Vizzy this year.

Bacardi goes ‘back to the bar’ in search of cocktail trends

07-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

Bacardi is enlisting the help of 7,000 global employees to track new trends in cocktails and wider alcohol by sending them to local bars and restaurants. This year mindful drinking is expected to go mainstream, and natural, fresh ingredients will be at...

US consumers shop local for cider, as regional brands grab 40% market share

07-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

Local cider sales in the US are up 15% since last year. And despite recent challenges from hard seltzer and FMBs, regional ciders are tracking double-digit growth. The industry now focuses on conveying the diversity of the cider category.

Italy eyes the US beverage market for health-conscious, eco customers

04-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

American consumers are increasingly looking for products with a focus on simple, high-quality ingredients and sustainability. And a group of Italian companies believe their products are ready to meet these demands: with their drinks on show at the Winter...

New beverages at the Winter Fancy Food Show

03-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

Teas, tonics, smoothies and more... new beverages were out in force at the Specialty Food Association's Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.

Sun Chaser draws alcohol-free ‘buzz’ from nootropics

31-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

Tapping into the wide market of functional nootropic ingredients, startup beverage brand Sun Chaser leverages L-theanine and cordyceps for an alcohol alternative.

Goose Island goes So-Lo with new IPA: ‘The market has spoken’

31-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

A new 3% ABV craft IPA from Goose Island Beer Company will be the brewery’s first low-calorie and low-alcohol option. It’s going nationwide across the US and into Canada this year.

HopTea craft brews non-alcoholic tea like a beer

30-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

Hoplark’s HopTea brand replaces malt in its beverage brewing process with a tea base for a line of non-alcoholic beer alternatives. Its latest grapefruit variety mimics the radler style.

Beyond cold brew: Can nitro-infusion add a new dimension to teas, wines and kombuchas?

27-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

Nitro-infusion is commonly associated with the cold brew coffee category: but Enhanced Beverage Solutions (EBS) sees potential for the trend to thrive in other categories such as tea, wine and cocktails.

Numi Organic Tea rebrands, moves more into health and function

27-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

US organic tea brand Numi debuted a branding refresh at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco last week, alongside new functional sleep teas and premium drinking chocolates.

Surreal Brewing 'reduces the stigma' of non-alcoholic beer

23-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

After just a year and a half in business, Surreal Brewing Company sells five varieties of alcohol-free craft beer out of northern California. They exhibited at this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show, sampling the latest release.

Loverboy launch grows the hard tea category

21-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

Hard seltzers dominated the alcohol conversation in 2019, and there’s been an uptick in flavored malt beverage (FMB) launches in response. Loverboy brings a healthier option to the small but growing hard tea category.

Jelly Belly seltzers draw flavor inspiration from candy beans

21-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

The Joffer family, original founders of the Jelly Belly Candy Company, has launched a line of Jelly Belly Sparkling Waters under the new Joffer Beverage Company in the US.

Pabst's new 'luxury' beer brand launches Seabird IPA

16-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

The Pabst Brewing Company (PBC), best known for its Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) beer, is launching a new IPA. The Seabird beer is exclusive to the midwestern US region.

White Claw to sponsor SXSW festival and erect $250m facility in Arizona

16-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

Following the summer of hard seltzers in 2019, White Claw’s popularity is expanding in 2020. It announced plans for a new facility to keep up with demand for the drink, and the brand will sponsor one of the biggest American festivals of the year.

Winter coffee flavors highlighted with milk alternatives

15-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

Winter flavors feature in US coffee chains at this time of year: with more oat, almond and coconut milk options than ever before.

Single-serve sake expands minis market in US, Australia

14-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

Sake originated in Japan and is made alcoholic from fermented rice. Hiro Sake wants to make the trend portable and accessible with smaller, on-the-go portions.

Alcohol brands are making billion-dollar ecommerce mistakes

13-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

US consumers spent $2.6bn buying alcohol online last year, but experts say it could be billions more. Alcohol ecommerce penetration is ‘abysmally low’ which Rabobank believes could have 'profound consequences' on the industry.