Beverages: Drink Innovations March On
By Mindy Hermann, MBA, RDN
Today’s Dietitian
Here are five of the trends overflowing in 2021.
Beverages are booming beyond their traditional role for hydration. In its report
U.S. Beverage Market Outlook 2020: Grocery Shopping & Personal Consumption in the Coronavirus Era, the market research firm Packaged Facts predicts a jump in sales from $150 billion in 2019 to more than $160 billion by the end of 2020.
Packaged Facts identifies three major beverage trends: plant-based, less sugar and calories, and functional. Plant-based appeals to consumers seeking holistic health, natural ingredients, and environmental sustainability. Beverages with plant-based ingredients often incorporate other features such as high protein and/or reduced sugar. The listing of added sugars on the Nutrition Facts panel shines a spotlight on the sometimes-high sugar content of beverages. Functional benefits offer a perceived short cut for better health and performance long term, along with enhanced immunity to weather the pandemic.