Making predictions about the future of the beverage industry is a dangerous game. Trust us on this one; we do it every year for our January/February issue, and we’re about to put ourselves on the line again right now. As they have been for years, beverage consumers appear to be getting more careful and conscious about what they drink and why they are drinking it, which is bad news for some ingredients (see: sugar) and encouraging for others, particularly of the natural variety. For CBD, one of the most buzzed about ingredients of the past 12 months, it means the stage is set for it to develop into a major beverage category in the years ahead. For dairy milk, however, it might mean more steady declines as customers seek plant-based alternatives, and within that market, more sustainable products. Flavor preferences are changing too, with exotic citrus and bitters rising in popularity.

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