Free AF: The brand riding the canned cocktail wave in alcohol-free
A rising star in the US canned mocktail category, Free AF is betting on a big alcohol-free future
Health & wellness
Drinking less but drinking better: Understanding the moderation movement
Consumers want to be healthier; so they’re cutting back on alcohol. But is it really that simple?
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
Diet Trends
Alcohol-free beverages become part of the wellness diet
From Dry January to everyday routines, alcohol-free beverages are integrating into wellness diets with functional, mood-enhancing ingredients
The rise of the social tonic: Hiyo highlights functional beverage potential in alcohol-free
Packed with a proprietary blend of adaptogens, nootropics and botanicals, Hiyo makes social connection the center of its brand
How alcohol-free marketplace Boisson connects brands and consumers
Boisson’s revived mission goes beyond stocking the best in alcohol-free: it’s about building the category with a community of mindful drinkers
Top tips for global expansion from alcohol-free spirit innovator
As the world’s leading independent non-alcoholic spirits brand, CleanCo knows just how quickly drinking trends are changing...
Is Dry January still in vogue?
Consumers are cutting back on alcohol year-round. Is January still important for alcohol-free brands?
US drinking guidelines revamped in dramatic shift
New US drinking recommendations now simply state that less alcohol is better
Medjool dates, saffron and cardamon seeds: Entrepreneur creates flavorful functional alternative to traditional milkshakes
Finance professional turned food entrepreneur Masuma Zahara Bukhari brings an exotic flair to the fast-growing functional dairy-free category
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
Healthy beverages
Lipton leans into function and flavor with new herbal teas and concentrates
Lipton is expanding into concentrates and herbal teas to meet growing demand for flavorful, functional and convenient tea formats, while keeping pace with trends like GLP-1 wellness and stress management
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
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.
Americans are drinking less than ever: The key figures from Gallup’s latest poll
Alcohol consumption has reached a 90-year low in the US. Gallup’s latest poll reveals today’s consumption habits
Water kefir: A new gut-health growth opportunity?
Kefir’s dairy-free twin has enormous growth potential
Beating the mid-afternoon munchies: Släcka brings new take to the GLP-1 world
With consumers’ focus now on appetite control, new brand Släcka believes it’s perfectly positioned to carve out a new beverage category
Otsuka Pharma grows electrolyte drink business across Asia
Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceutical is trying to grow its POCARI SWEAT electrolyte drink business through market expansion, including recent entry into India and across the Philippines.
Behind the big idea: How Air Up creates beverages from thin air
Most of what we ‘taste’ actually comes from smell. So can a beverage be based on that alone? Yes, says Lena Jüngst: a product designer turned beverage entrepreneur who took this simple idea into a bottle that’s built a fan following among kids and young...
Cold pressed hemp drinks creator aims to disrupt CBD category
The founder of a UK-based cold-pressed hemp drinks brand says the moment is ripe to enter the thriving functional drinks market, armed with Novel Foods exempt drinks that comply with the legal CBD limit.
Bottled water thrives in the face of health drive
As consumers turn away from soft drinks and alcohol, they’re being drawn to another beverage - water
Graasí’s organic barley water taps into the functional beverage boom
Founder Chris LaCorata shares how Graasí evolved from a community revitalization effort into an organic barley-based wellness drink built for today’s health-conscious consumer
Why alcohol-free beer is set to become second-largest beer category globally
Having rocketed up 9% in 2024, alcohol-free beer is set to overtake ale to become the world’s second largest beer category by volume this year
UK considers putting health warning labels on alcohol
The government is exploring the idea of mandatory health warning labels and nutritional information on alcohol, as momentum towards similar legislation grows around the globe
Prebiotics, low sugar and botanicals are reshaping the beverage market
Millennials and Gen Z are fueling explosive growth in the low-sugar soda segment - but as brands like Poppi face legal scrutiny, success now depends on clinical backing, clear labeling and regulatory compliance
Oatly bets on coffee and science to fuel plant-based milk’s comeback
Oatly defends processed food, doubles down on coffee and pushes for the next wave of plant-based milk growth
Strong flavours brew growth as English Tea Shop enters Middle East
Strong flavours drive English Tea Shop’s Middle East debut as it looks to capture premium tea demand
New sugar reduction tech hits Europe - and it’s not a sweetener
Better yet, products using it won’t be considered ‘novel foods’
Hydrogen-rich water shows promise for muscular protection
Supplementation with hydrogen-rich water may reduce exercise-induced muscle damage and improve sleep quality, according to new research.
From rugby to racing: Founders shake up protein market with clear vision
A duo of driven entrepreneurs have launched a range of clear ready-to-drink pea protein drinks with transparency in both its products and ethos.
Should RTD coffee be included in soda taxes?
With increasingly sugary and indulgent products on the market, the UK wants to tax RTD coffee in the same way it taxes soda. How could this shake up the RTD coffee market?
‘Clean food’ classification created
The new Clean Food Consumerism scale aims to reflect why consumers buy ‘natural’ foods
Juice cleanse brand targets kids with clean-label line
Raw Generation taps into the kids’ nutrition boom with cold-pressed juice line Little Sippers
Gut health: The next battlefield in the soda wars?
Long-time rivals in soda, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have now entered a new battlefield: gut health soda
How to build a beverage brand: Celsius takes better-for-you energy to mass market success
Better-for-you energy drink Celsius is a premium lifestyle brand that’s continuing to gather serious momentum across the US and beyond. How has the brand transformed itself from a niche product to mass market success?
Podcasts, pop culture and hydration power: Alex Cooper’s Unwell Hydration
Enhanced electrolyte beverage Unwell Hydration was launched this year by top female podcaster Alex Cooper. The brand illustrates how hydration is going beyond the sports field and into a new world of celebrities, social media and - most importantly -...
Natural Products Expo West
Chobani bets big on protein in yogurt and RTD coffee
The company boosts its protein content for its yogurt and coffee businesses
What exactly is an alcohol-free drink?
Many alcohol-free beers and other alcohol-free drinks still contain a trace amount of alcohol. So how much is acceptable?
Orange juice price drop: Explaining the change in fortunes
The once-high priced drink has rapidly tracked down since the start of the year
The wonderful world of adaptogens for beverages
What are adaptogens; why are they trending in better-for-you drinks; and how are brands using them to their advantage?
New beverage launches: NPD at Natural Products Expo West
From prebiotic soda to RTD coffee, we take a look at some of the beverage innovations making waves at the natural and organic products show
How will Coca-Cola’s prebiotic drink launch shake up the gut health soda category?
Coca-Cola enters the prebiotic soda market with Simply Pop: a move projected to take the fast-growing category to the next level...
Coca-Cola enters prebiotic soda category with Simply Pop
Coca-Cola’s prebiotic soda will launch this month under the Simply brand: helping turbocharge the fast-growing gut health soda category.
How to build a beverage brand: Zevia on building up the Modern Soda category
Zevia is a ‘soda you can feel good about’. Dating back to 2007, the naturally sweetened, zero sugar drink was one of the pioneers revolutionizing the very concept of soda – a movement that’s now seeing some serious momentum.
Fruit juice and sweet drinks ‘risk’ to toddlers
Sweetened beverages, including fruit juices, should not be consumed by young children and can increase their risk of obesity later in life
PepsiCo hones focus on zero sugar, hydration and sports drinks
In line with the company’s wider strategy to focus its innovation pipeline on products that meet nutrition and dietary preferences, PepsiCo will continue to elevate its focus on positive choices in the beverage category.
Iconic ’80s soda Slice receives a gutsy modern makeover
Suja Life is re-launching the iconic citrus soda as functional beverages continue to disrupt the carbonated beverage aisle
Top soft drink trends for 2025: What to watch in flavors, functionality and formats
What’s driving soft drink innovation in 2025?
New beverage launches: NPD in low & no alcohol
There’s an espresso martini, a barrel-aged aperitivo, a chocolate cherry stout, and much more this January