PepsiCo embraces dirty soda trend with Dirty Mountain Dew and Mug Root Beer Floats
As consumer interest in indulgent, creamy sodas surges, major beverage brands are ditching the DIY approach for convenient, ready-to-drink formats
Soft drinks
New product development
New beverage launches: Pickle soda, Baileys choc minis and more…
Flavour innovation, format experimentation and premium convenience are driving the latest wave of beverage NPD across soft drinks, spirits and wine-based RTDs
Over 300 drinks companies sign open letter against Germany’s proposed sugar levy
Over 300 drinks companies in Germany have voiced their opposition to a planned sugar tax on soft drinks.
Mintel reveals new multisensory CPG opportunities
Texture, aroma and color are gaining equal footing with taste as brands target viral trends, neurodivergent consumers and GLP-1 users, Mintel finds
‘Fricy’: why it’s the hottest flavour trend of summer 2026
The trend taps into adventurous palates and flavour science, making it a must-watch opportunity for F&B
New product development
New beverage launches: Candy milk, Mount Gay rum, ‘functional’ alcohol…
Premiumisation, functionality and nostalgia are driving a fresh wave of innovation across alcohol and soft drinks, as brands look to capture evolving consumer preferences
Damm fuels growth strategy with international expansion
Spanish drinks producer Damm, known for its Estrella Damm lager, is initiating a new growth phase to double revenue by 2030 by continuing with its international and diversification strategy
Motion and sound: The unexpected marketing genius of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola’s logo is recognised worldwide - but there’s more to the brand than meets the eye
New product development
New beverage launches: Cockburns, Mingle Mood and more…
Functional ingredients, premiumisation and cultural inspiration drive the latest wave of beverage innovation across alcohol, energy and alcohol-free categories
New product development
New beverage launches: Kool-Aid first, Absolut expands and more…
Protein-packed lattes, limited-edition sparkling wine and brand-led collaborations are leading brands into summer
Sweet proteins gain global momentum with latest regulatory win
Amai Proteins’ sweet protein secures regulatory approval in Singapore after recent US nod
The most creative beverage packaging innovations
Looking for beverage packaging inspiration? We explore some of the most innovative ideas from across the beverage universe
New beverage launches: Mid-strength spirits, Pink Lady tie-up and more…
Mid-strength spirits, functional hydration and heritage all play a role in this week’s beverage NPD round-up
How Coca-Cola is winning in a K-shaped economy
Coca-Cola enjoyed a strong start to the year with net revenues up 12% in Q1. What is the beverage giant doing right?
New product development
New beverage launches: Patrón, Nestlé, Starbucks, prebiotic soda and more…
From functional sodas and iced coffee formats to high-proof tequila and design-led whisky, brands are pushing to capture new consumption occasions
PepsiCo is in the middle of its biggest snack reset in years
From SKU cuts and factory closures to functional launches and acquisitions, PepsiCo is moving fast to streamline and prove its snack empire still matters
The retail playbook that took a clean label soda from natural to mainstream
Clean label soda brand Nixie outlines the retail and merchandising strategy that is helping it compete in conventional aisles
How to build a beverage brand: Spindrift on embracing the sparkling opportunities in better-for-you drinks
Flavor innovation has been key for Spindrift’s sparkling water: and now the brand has expanded into soda and iced tea as it continues to embrace opportunities for growth...
New beverage launches: Sanpellegrio, mid-strength wine, Aviation gin and more…
Brands across spirits, wine, soft drinks and energy are pushing seasonal innovation, category expansion and premium cues
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
New product development
New beverage launches: Nestlé, boutique whisky, Oatly and more…
A wave of new beverage launches is landing across functional shots, RTDs, mead and premium sparkling drinks, as brands tap trends in flavour expansion, better‑for‑you formats and elevated alcohol‑free alternatives
PepsiCo plays ‘offense’ to transform portfolio for health-conscious consumers
CEO Ramon Laguarta outlines plans to reduce sugar and sodium, boost protein and fiber, and “restage” core brands to drive higher value per consumption
DGA sweetener warning sparks industry pushback
Dietary Guidelines pose a challenge for formulators around non-nutritive sweeteners
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 Coca‑Cola’s 2026 growth playbook: Digital, innovation and change
As Coca‑Cola enters a pivotal year, the drinks giant is doubling down on digital transformation, bold innovation and a refreshed leadership vision to fuel its next decade of growth
New product development
New beverage launches: Absolut ft Tabasco, THC, new energy and more…
Beverage innovation is hotting up with a wave of new launches across categories. From spicy collaborations to energy entrants, it’s all here
New product development
New beverage launches: Mountain Dew, mushrooms and Twinings sparkling tea
From functional mushrooms and gut‑health postbiotics to tropical rums, mineral‑rich sparkling waters and design‑led Dry January serves. Here are the new beverage innovations
Coca-Cola reportedly pulls plug on Costa Coffee sale
Coca-Cola said to be scrapping Costa Coffee sale after months of talks with private equity bidders fall flat
New product development
New beverage launches: Bumper alcohol-free special
The beverage industry kicks off 2026 with a surge of innovation, spanning functional, premium and alcohol-free launches worldwide
Tackling soda consumption can help stem the rise of UPFs in lower-income countries
A global move away from whole foods and towards UPFs - including soda - is threatening public health, warns a series of studies in The Lancet.
How to create a PFAS action plan
The proliferation of ‘forever chemicals’ in the food system is causing increasing concern. Beverage manufacturers need to be ready as restrictions tighten
‘A mandate for innovation’: R&D is back at the top of the agenda with UK sugar tax shake up
The UK will extend its sugar tax to include more drinks, including milk-based products. Businesses have two options: take the financial hit - or get back into the lab and innovate
Fanta’s fractured formula – how sugar taxes and colour bans rewrite the recipe
Behind Fanta’s fizz lies Coca‑Cola’s toughest challenge: keeping one brand iconic while navigating a maze of laws, tastes and taxes worldwide
Soda taxes: Finding the sweet spot between health goals and business growth
Announcing an expanded sugar tax this week, the UK government acknowledges the delicate balance between public health goals and business innovation. How will the new rules affect the market? We crunch the numbers
High sugary drink intake still prevalent in Chinese schoolkids
Over 80% of China’s schoolchildren are still choosing sweet drinks, sparking calls for tougher control measures
Kaohsiung Food Show 2025
Sparkling green tea: Taiwanese creation meets demand for zero alcohol
Kaohsiung-based tea firm reimagines green tea into a fizzy beverage as health-conscious consumers seek weight-friendly and zero-alcohol options
Will soda taxes serve as the model for future UPF regulations?
The beverage industry has long argued that soda is singled out unfairly when it comes to soda taxes. But now there’s pressure to extend measures across ultra-processed foods
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
Yuka brings aspartame fight to the US
Report calls for ban on ingredient found in thousands of common food and beverage products
Sweeteners in focus
Sugar is no longer ‘benchmark’ for sweetness as consumer preferences shift to blends
Research by Ingredion suggests a paradigm shift toward plant-based and blended sweeteners over sugar, but consumer confusion about what is ‘natural’ and safe could hinder innovation and sugar reduction efforts
Both sugary and sweetened drinks increase liver disease risk
Sweetened drinks are linked to an even greater risk of liver disease than their sugary counterparts
A big hopportunity: Hops’ complex flavor profiles open up innovation opportunities in beverages and beyond
Hops have, for centuries, been the domain of beer and brewers. But thanks to their complex flavor and unique sensory profile, the potential across the beverage category – and beyond – is huge
The ‘proteinification’ of everything
Once just a bottle shaker staple, protein is taking on new forms and finding its way into everything from soda to chips to macaroni and cheese.
Laser-powered PET tech: How far PET blowing technology has come - and where it’s going next
In 1980, Sidel pioneered the commercial PET blower. Now, it’s unveiled the world’s first industrialized laser-powered solution: tech set to reshape the industry again.
Startup Spotlight
Fresh Fizz brings clean label soda back to basics
By sticking to herbs, spices, juices and natural sweeteners like honey, maple and date syrup, Fresh Fizz’s ingredient list is informing every aspect of its business strategy
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
UAE to link beverage prices to sugar levels: What does industry need to do?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will implement a tiered excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) from January 2026
Major PepsiCo investor launches campaign for overhaul
Elliott Investment Management, with a $4bn stake in the company, wants to shake things up