Your source for the most up-to-date information on emerging beverage trends.
Expo West: Trends & Innovations
- Hyper-customization
- Functional Botanicals
- Collagen
- Organic & Natural Energy Drinks
- Plant-Based
Hyper-customization
Products that fulfill individual needs were pervasive across food and beverage categories, and brands were calling out functions on product labels. The most common functions included immune support, increased energy, enhanced beauty, detox and improved cognition.
Coffee Blenders offered a line of RTD cold brew coffee with specific functions like “Lean” and “Think.” They featured ingredients like L-Theanine and green coffee bean extract.
Wellness shots were also very common across the show floor. Nootra offered “powered juice shots” with functions “Immunity” and “Detox.”
Functional Botanicals
Ginger, lavender, elderflower, and rose were very common botanicals featured in products like the Ginger People Turmeric and Ginger Latte, The Bu Lavender Kombucha, Cawston Press Elderflower Lemonade, and H2Rose Beauty Water.
Turmeric was the most popular ingredient at Expo West and was in products from golden milk to corn flake cereal.
Schizandra, an adaptogen, is an emerging botanical that we saw in Rebbl Elixir Berries & Cream, Goldthread Schzandra Supreme, and Rise Rose & Schizandra Kombucha.
Collagen
Collagen was a very prominent ingredient, and could be found as a powder supplement, in RTDs and in foods like protein bars, jerky and broths. Examples include Vital Proteins collagen powder, Eviva Collagen Elixir and Bulletproof Collagen Protein Bar.
Organic and/or Natural Energy Drinks
Many brands showcased organic and/or natural energy drinks. Examples include Dark Dog Organic Energy Drink, Zola Organic Hydrating Energy Drink made with sparkling coconut water, and Limitless lightly caffeinated sparkling water.
Plant-Based
Innovative nut-milks included Malk Cashew Malk (strawberry flavored and original), Elmhurst Milked Peanuts (original and chocolate/peanut), and 137 Degrees Walnut and Pistachio milks.
Other innovative plant-based milk alternatives included Mooala Banana Milk, Oat-ly Oat Milk, and Good Karma Flax Milk.
Plant-based proteins were also showcased in products or as powders. Pea protein was the most common plant-based protein, but it was often combined with brown rice and/or hemp protein in products for active consumers.
Hemp-derived CBD was widespread across the show floor and could found in products from enhanced waters to oat bars.
