Beverage mashups are among the most important innovations in the industry.
Coffee, tea and energy drinks sales have increased through mashups — the fusion of two or more beverage products that traditionally wouldn’t go together, according to Packaged Facts.
Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes market intelligence on consumer market topics. U.S. Beverage Market Outlook 2019 is the companion report to Packaged Facts’ U.S. Food Market Outlook 2019, published in February.
Packaged Facts’ U.S. Beverage Market Outlook 2019 identified three key mashup trends expected to create growth in the beverage industry:
Trend 1: Coffee Jolts Soda, Energy Drinks, Juice and Bottled Water
Coffee is being combined with sparkling beverages, energy drinks and juices.
This trend is expected to grow as consumers seek the flavor of coffee with the experience of carbonation, the extra boost of energy and more flavor options.
“The carbonated soft drink or soda category is challenged, but many consumers moving away from soda still want flavored drinks that have bubbles,” said David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts. “They also want healthier, more natural versions with less or no sugar. One of these soda alternatives is ready-to-drink coffee, which has seen a spate of sparkling versions on store shelves. Even more interesting is when we see coffee and sodas converge into an amalgamation that satisfies multiple tastes with a single beverage.”
Trend 2: Tea Brews Up Healthier Flavor Fusions that Appeal to Millennials
Similar to coffee, tea is increasingly being incorporated into sparkling beverages, energy drinks and juices.
The results combine tea’s health benefits with energy ingredients, carbonation and flavors that appeal to young consumers.
Trend 3: Energy and Sports Drinks Created With More “Natural” Caffeine Sources
Coffee and tea are naturally energizing. Most Americans consider these beverages their original energy drink. After all, they share the most ubiquitous energy ingredient — caffeine — with today’s most popular energy drinks.
More recently, entrepreneurs have launched coffee and tea-based beverages that more clearly play upon their energy functionality.
