What's New in the Beverage Industry?

The beverage industry is fast-growing, with many new trends introduced during the pandemic. In 2022, consumers are looking for balance and variety from the beverages they consume.

Functional Beverages

We first posted about functional beverages in July of last year, and since then, this category has continued to expand. Functional beverages increase mental focus and help balance physical body functions. Some of the most prevalent ingredients in functional beverages are prebiotics, probiotics, CBD, and ingredients that boost hydration and improve gut health. In particular, Gen Z and Millennials are always on the lookout for functional beverages with clean ingredients that can improve their mood or fill nutritional gaps.

Premium Packaging & Variety

With so many beverage options in the market, it can be challenging to stand out. Many beverage brands focus on using premium packaging to differentiate themselves from their competitors, utilizing unique dies for their labels and specialty finishes like embossing and foil stamping.

Although consumers may have loyalty to certain beverages, it doesn’t limit them from trying out other options as well. With so many new beverages popping up on the market, many shoppers decide to try a new beverage based on the packaging or variety of flavours. Sample packs with multiple flavours are becoming increasingly popular, especially for carbonated beverages and beers, as a way for consumers to get introduced to a brand and even try seasonal offerings.

Rise of E-Commerce

E-commerce saw huge growth during the pandemic, and although it’s not quite at the height that it’s been in the last two years, it is still very strong. Almost all industries have had to adjust their operations or packaging to accommodate the logistics of e-commerce.

Beverages are no exception, with e-commerce enabling consumers to order their favourite beverages on a company’s website, sign up for a subscription order or subscription box, and so much more. It’s imperative that beverage brands are equipped for e-commerce, from ensuring their packaging will protect their product as it travels to the customer to creating an online presence so that their brand is accessible.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Consumers are looking for variety and balance when it comes to their beverages, and non-alcoholic beverages can offer that. As a result, there’s been tons of growth in this beverage category, with refined mocktail options and a range of flavours, especially botanical-forward beverages, which are proving popular.

These are just a few of the prominent trends in the beverage industry for 2022. To find out more, reach out to our team here or request a quote online.