Imbibe will be closed on October 3, 4, 17, 18, 25, and 26. Please expect delays in responses during this time.

What’s big in beverages? Health, innovation and sustainability

Posted: December 26, 2017
In: In the Media

What’s driving the beverage industry forward into 2018? Here, we take a look at the biggest trend in the industry – and how they can be expected to develop.

1) Health and wellness

We all know that consumers are increasingly conscious about health and wellness. But what exactly does that mean for beverages?

In soft drinks it means reformulation to reduce sugar or remove artificial ingredients, developments in natural sweeteners (take for example Coca-Cola’s revelation last month that it will introduce a coke sweetened entirely by stevia), and functional or fortified beverages to add value to products (Imbibe predicts ingredients with cognitive, immune or beauty claims will be ones to watch in 2018). It also means we can expect growth in bottled water to continue, leading to lots of innovation making the beverage anything but plain.

Read the full story on Beverage Daily.

beverage, Beverage Industry, beverage trends, clean label, coffee, consumers, customization, flavor, flavor chemistry, functional beverages, functional ingredients, imbibe, Juice, Non-dairy milk, nutrition, organic, plant-based, Product Development, protein, sports nutrition, sugar, sugar reduction, sustainability, transparency

Keep Reading:

Nostalgia, Hydration Shape 2026 Beverages

Across the globe, nostalgia-driven flavors, upgraded hydration solutions, and functional nutrition claims are converging to redefine how people connect with what they drink and eat.

Cellular Health: The Next Big “Everyday Function” Trend (2026–2031)

Cellular health is emerging as the next everyday function, with new ingredients and formulation challenges shaping future food and beverage innovation.

Are You Ready for the Shift to Natural Food Colors?

For many, readiness depends less on regulatory intent and more on practical realities like formulation stability, flavor impact, cost targets, or supply chain constraints. How ready is your team? Take a two-minute assessment to find out!