In the film “Dead Poets Society,” actor Robin Williams famously encourages his students to embrace “carpe diem” or “seize the day.” For me, this ubiquitous phrase is resonating even more now that the new year is here. Yes, it’s time for “wiping the slate clean” and starting anew with plans to eat better, exercise more, etc.
So, what will 2019 hold for the beverage industry? Several market research firms and experts revealed their upcoming top trends and predictions.
In a statement, Will Bernat, co-chair of Nutter, McClennen & Fish’s food and beverage group, suggests that the hunger for innovation will continue with larger beverage brands continuing to acquire smaller, niche brands.
Given the fact that coffee is no longer a morning-only beverage, Bernat predicts that cold brew will continue to be “hot.” “Like craft beer, cold brew is a vast category and ripe for innovation when it comes to providing products for multiple taste profiles,” he said. Functional beverages also will continue to proliferate. “Why drink water when you can drink collagen-infused water?,” he asks.
Market research firms also are emphasizing the trend to stay cognitively fit as much as physically fit. Mental health is a pressing concern around the world and many consumers are turning to health-enhancing ingredients to help relieve stress, anxiety and insomnia, says GlobalData in its “Top Trends in Healthcare and OTC Products 2018” report.
The report reveals that 67 percent of North American consumers say that stress is a pressing mental health concern followed closely by overwork (59 percent) and insomnia (57 percent).
Soft drinks with mental health benefits could help fill that void and are a missed opportunity in North America, the analytics firm says.
I am interested in seeing what new products and innovations will triumph in 2019, and reporting on the latest trends for our readers.
Did you know?
With more consumers seeking protein in powders and ready-to-drink beverages, the global sports nutrition market accounted for $28.3 billion in 2016 in the United States and is expected to reach $45.2 billion by 2022, growing at a compound annual growth rate of around 8.1 percent between 2017 and 2022.
