From collectibles to drop culture: The trends transforming beverages
Innovation is central for any drink brand looking to meet the evolving expectations of consumers.
Functional beverages
Olipop unveils new leadership to support next growth phase
Olipop, the US gut health soda brand, has unveiled a leadership change as it prepares for its next stage of its growth.
Functional drinks boom, but can brands prove they actually work?
Demand for drinks promising everything from gut health to better sleep is soaring, but brands face growing pressure to back up their claims with robust science and regulatory compliance
Nichols eyes functional drinks growth with £64m purchase of VITHIT
Nichols, the UK-based soft drinks manufacturer, is to strengthen its position within the growing health and wellness category with the purchase of functional drinks company VITHIT for a cash deal of £64m.
GLP-1 beverage innovation outpaces regulation, creating challenges for drinks manufacturers
Beverage innovation in the GLP-1 space is moving faster than regulations, meaning drinks companies could be facing “significant complexity” new research has warned.
From food noise to alcohol cravings: The expanding promise of oral GLP-1s
As oral GLP-1s sweep across Europe and the US, research suggests they may do far more than curb appetite
Stress-relief drinks fuel next functional beverage boom
Stress-relief drinks are fast becoming one of the hottest categories in functional beverages, as consumers seek products that support relaxation, mood and emotional wellbeing
Functional foods: what’s the next big ingredient?
Functional ingredients are shaping product launches across food and beverage
Will the beef tallow trend come to Europe?
It’s taking off in the US, but will European consumers be open to the idea?
IFT FIRST
Protein’s single note is getting old – what is its next verse?
After years of optimizing protein concentration, ingredient suppliers are shifting the focus toward solutions that deliver broader benefits ranging from satiety and metabolic health to sensory performance and formulation flexibility
What are the top 10 functional beverage brands favoured by AI in the US?
Brands that embrace innovation are coming out on top in AI-generated recommendations, according to new research.
What are the six top innovations driving beverage development?
Beverage innovation is moving from ‘refreshment’ to ‘purposeful refreshment’ with weight loss medications and protein soda’s driving change, a leading R&D expert has claimed.
Pioneers
How Lullaa is taking functional dairy to the next level
Milk already boasts an impressive nutritional profile, but can it compete with kefir, kombucha and protein shakes? Four Leaves Co’s award-winning functional milk offers one answer
Protein claims are transforming dairy – and the numbers prove it
High-protein has become dairy’s most powerful growth engine. But where are the biggest opportunities?
US reclassification of cannabis opens new opportunities for beverage innovation
The US’s reclassification of cannabis under a “less dangerous” drug schedule is part of a broader trend towards legitimising cannabis production.
Protein Sodas are the new “whitespace” for innovation in US market
Protein sodas are set to drive the next wave of innovation in the US market, according to a new report from Mintel
Creatine storms functional drinks but can it really deliver?
As formulators race to stabilise creatine for RTD formats, the ingredient is moving beyond sports nutrition into mainstream wellness, yet evidence gaps and dosing challenges could shape its true potential
Target’s better-for-you food play is paying off
The retail giant is rethinking its grocery business and chasing consumer preference for healthier products
The functional beverage checklist
From flavour and functionality to fun: here are the five crucial areas every functional beverage must address
WALOVI taps food-as-medicine trend to grow in Saudi and beyond
China’s WALOVI is seeking growth globally in markets from the Middle East to Africa for its traditional herbal teas
Keep it simple: Why functional beverages are in danger of overwhelming consumers
With so many choices, could consumers be put off the category entirely?
Rethinking the coffee replacement
Coffee alternatives are rising not as replacements, but as functional upgrades
How to build a beverage brand: Neutonic on reaching its $60m valuation from nootropic drink growth
Co-founder and personal trainer James Smith talks innovation, growth and social media stardom... and his hands-on approach to customer service
10 top trends in functional beverages
Gut health, energy and relaxation are booming: but what else are consumers looking for in functional beverages and how can brands meet their needs?
TRIP expands night-time portfolio with CBD-free sleep range
UK-based CBD drinks brand TRIP has expanded its night-time offering with the launch of new Dream Gummies and Dream Powder, formulated without the brand’s flagship ingredient.
Functional drinks shift focus from body to mind
Functional drinks have traditionally concentrated on the body. The next frontier is exploring brain health, cognition, focus, stress-relief and mental wellbeing
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
Calm in a can: Savvy launches functional beverage targeting mental, menopausal needs
Aussie brand Savvy has released a ready-to-drink functional beverage targeted at reducing stress and anxiety while maintaining mental performance, which also responds to a growing need for menopause support among women.
Wellness brands dominate Alantra fast-growth poll as Dirtea takes gold
Dirtea, the once-niche mushroom coffee pioneer, has been named the UK’s fastest-growing food and drink brand in Alantra’s Food & Beverage Fast 50 with functionality taking over the mainstream poll.
The evolution of the energy drink category
Energy is reaching new audiences and opening up new opportunities
Mood beverages: How a new generation of drinks is helping us relax
An emerging functional frontier looks at a key consumer need
Modern soda’s influence spreads across the beverage category
The category has taken US shelves by storm over the last couple of years: but what will it look like in 2026 and beyond?
How functional beverage brands can build trust and loyalty
Trust is key to building brand loyalty and reaching new audiences
Mood beverages: The ingredients spurring the category forward
Botanicals are the star of the show
Carving out the functional frontier of alcohol-free drinks
It’s an exciting area of innovation - but are consumers ready?
Collagen beverages and ingestible K-beauty gain US retail traction as Clöud Café launches at Ulta
Clöud Café has launched its coffee and matcha offerings at Ulta Beauty as alternative to leading collagen RTD products and marking the company’s first placement inside a US beauty specialty retailer.
Olipop ramps up focus on flavour innovation as functional beverages boom
Flavour innovation is top-of-mind for the gut health superstar as US consumers value taste above all
Inside the functional beverage craze: What benefits are consumers really looking for?
From gut health to energy, there’s a huge range of choice in the functional beverage category. What do consumers actually want?
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
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...