Fresh out of college in 1991, Mark Rampolla ventured to Latin America as a Peace Corps. volunteer in Costa Rica. He also spent time in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Brazil. During his travels, Rampolla was enlightened by many things within the Latin American culture, including a popular regional drink: coconut water.
These days, consumers have a plethora of choices to make while they’re shopping for beverages. Besides the flavor, brand or product type, they’re bombarded with statements like “low sodium,” “low calorie,” “natural” and “organic.” According to “Natural and Organic Foods and Beverages in the U.S., 3rd Edition,” from market research publisher Packaged Facts, New York, 37 percent of U.S. adults buy organic groceries and 56 percent of U.S. adults buy packaged food products marketed as “all natural.”
Long known as a skin soother, aloe has a reputation in the United States for its inherent external benefits. Riding the health and wellness trend, aloe suppliers and beverage-makers are working to expand consumers’ knowledge about the benefits of consuming aloe.
Marley Beverage Co. expanded its line of all-natural relaxation beverages with Marley’s Mellow Mood Lite, a low-calorie version of Marley’s Mellow Mood beverages. Marley’s Mellow Mood Lite is half lemonade, half tea and contains 40 calories in each 8-ounce serving.
Health and wellness continue to be points of interest for the beverage industry not just in the United States, but for other countries and regions as well. On the global scale, “no additives and preservatives” is the top health position for juice and juice drinks launched from Oct. 10, 2010, to March 11, according to Innova Market Insights, Duiven, The Netherlands.