Articles by Amanda Del Buono

When it comes to food and beverage pairings, many often think of wine, but as beer sales continue to grow and craft beer gains an even firmer foundation, consumers have gained interest in matching their beers with food.

Smiley faces have been recognized for decades for their ability to communicate happiness without words. When Harvey Ball drew the first one in 1963 for an insurance company’s internal moral campaign, which paid him a meager $45, he certainly didn’t expect it would become a cultural phenomenon lasting through the decades.

Whether planning an expansion or a new facility, the ever-evolving beverage industry necessitates that those involved evolve with it. With trends like SKU proliferation and sustainability impacting the overall beverage industry, a slew of decisions need to be made when planning construction.

In 1948, Fred Kalil and his father opened the doors to Kalil Bottling Co. in Tucson, Ariz. The father-son team ran the company until it was handed down to Fred Kalil’s two sons, George and John, who now lead the bottling company and employ fourth-generation family members — making it not only a business, but a family tradition. 

Beverages, especially carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), are an essential part of the vending channel’s success. Although the vending industry faces challenges, like complying with new government regulations and trying to meet consumer health-and-wellness demands, industry experts say that the vending channel is poised for growth.

Nearly every beverage brand faces some challenges when reaching out to consumers. For many, educating consumers can be essential to success, especially as craft trends continue to rise. Recently, Tequila Herradura took on the challenge and embarked on its Casa Herradura tour, which brought the Tequila Herradura hacienda to several cities across the country.

Antioxidants, prebiotics, probiotics, electrolytes, fiber — whichever attribute it is, consumers have come to expect their beverages to feature a functional aspect. As the macrotrend of better-for-you and functional beverages continues to thrive, more products are being launched that target consumers’ digestive health concerns.

Although many beverage trends come and go, energy has become one of the top functions consumers continue to demand from beverages. And today’s consumers want more than just energy — they want beverages that cater to health-and-wellness trends, and the energy drink category is no exception.