The future of functional beverages: Exploration, personalization and smart hydration
Explore the latest trends shaping the future of functional beverages, from adaptogens, nootropics, probiotics, botanicals and functional mushrooms to plant-based ingredients that support hydration, energy, focus, mood and overall wellness.
This session will examine the science behind today’s most sought-after functional ingredients, their potential health benefits, and how beverage brands can formulate products that deliver personalized hydration and wellness beyond traditional refreshment. Attendees will also gain practical guidance on functional beverage formulation, ingredient selection and regulatory considerations, including compliance challenges related to serving sizes, consumption frequency and health claims. Learn how to evaluate botanicals based on biological system activation, active compound profiles and real-world formulation suitability to develop innovative, consumer-driven functional beverages.
Industry leaders Charbel Mawad (Projo), Andy Dratt (Imbibe), Candace Smith-Lee (Baldwin Richardson Foods) and Marie Wright (Mystic Flavours) will share cross-functional perspectives on consumer trends, ingredient innovation, commercialization and flavor development, offering actionable insights for beverage brands navigating the rapidly evolving functional beverage market.