Articles by Stephanie Cernivec

As legend has it, the Fountain of Youth is a spring that restores youth to anyone who drinks from it. Because the fountain is a bit difficult to find, many people have settled for beauty treatments such as lotions, serums and plastic surgery. However, what’s arguably more important than looking young is keeping the human mind young, and beverage-makers are creating drinks that help do just that — and they’re not nearly as difficult to find.

Showcased in Admiral Beverage Corporation’s Worland, Wyo., production facility is a banner with a quote from famed news anchor Tom Brokaw: “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.” Nevertheless, the latter is what Admiral Beverage constantly is trying to do. With its headquarters situated in a town of just more than 5,000 people, a sense of community is engrained in the company’s roots — along with a passion for its business.

Being a trendsetter isn’t always ideal. You’re often the “guinea pig,” which could be a good thing or a bad thing. For Admiral Beverage Corporation, it’s a good thing. The company was one of the first bottlers in the country to install injection molding machines, it says. After introducing blow molding lines to both of its production facilities a few years ago, injection molding has enabled the business to become even more vertically integrated.

They say “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and according to new research, so does a bottle of 100 percent fruit juice. A report from the University of California at Davis shows that 100 percent fruit juices could have protective health benefits similar to those of whole fruits. The report found a positive association between consumption of 100 percent juices and reduced risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and decreased cognitive function. Additionally, 100 percent juices are linked to heightened antioxidant activity, the report states.

The role of caps and closures has been to seal and preserve the product inside. But as the years go on, that job description keeps getting longer and longer. Beverage-makers are looking for tops that reflect their brand; keep the environment in mind; offer color, printing and form options; provide ease of use for consumers; showcase innovation; and maintain product integrity and safety.

Brands on the shelf are allotted only a short period of time to grab shoppers’ attention and convince them to purchase the product. Most purchase decisions are made in a split second, according to Tobii Technology, Danderyd, Sweden.

Hot or cold, bottled or bagged, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water, according to the Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc., New York City.

In 1999, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a health claim allowing soymilk manufacturers to state that consuming 25 grams of soy protein in a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, says Virginia Lee, senior research analyst at Chicago-based Euromonitor International. This claim boosted the popularity of soymilk, and it continues to be the most popular dairy alternative beverage today, she says. However, the research firm estimates that sales of soymilk declined 5.8 percent from $981 million in 2009 to $924 million in 2010, and another 8.5 percent in 2010 reaching $846 million in 2011.

Imagine opening a cooler full of bottled soft drinks, water and beer only to find the labels peeling off or disintegrating. Labels are expected to hold up against environmental factors like water, ice and hot or cold temperatures. When they don’t, it can reflect poorly on the product. And if this happens at retail, it could even deter a consumer from purchasing the product.

Once a product makes it to the store shelf, brand appeal and package design can’t always carry it to success. That’s when companies turn to marketing. But when the market is filled with millions of individuals of various ages with different backgrounds, marketing can turn into a puzzle. Marketers are tasked with not only determining their message, but also the product’s audience and the best ways to reach them. If all of these pieces don’t fit, the brand’s target audience might not be enticed to purchase the product.