Skills and Abilities at Your Service

Explore the leading beverage trends, ranging from non-alcoholic beverages to individualized hydration products, to create offerings that appeal to future consumers.

, and Administrator

2025 September 18 . 8:50 AM

2 min read

Skills and Abilities at Your Service

In the ever-evolving world of beverages, innovation is the name of the game. From enhancing the taste of non-alcoholic beers to developing personalized drinks, the industry is witnessing a transformation like never before.

Sapporo Breweries is leading the charge in the non-alcoholic beer sector, introducing isobutyl isobutyrate and Terpinen-4-ol to enhance the taste and smell of their NA beers. Meanwhile, Kirin Holdings is focusing on eliminating off-flavors in non-alcoholic beers using special compounds.

The wellness and moderation space is another promising area of innovation. Brands are incorporating functional ingredients such as cannabis, adaptogenic mushrooms, and proteins in beverages to enhance mood and support the nutritional needs of consumers. For instance, New Caledonia Enterprises has patented a technology that speeds up the aging process of alcoholic beverages, offering greater control over flavor profiles and product consistency.

The digital revolution is also making its mark on the beverage industry. Coedo Brewery partnered with IT company NEC to use AI in developing four unique craft beers targeted at specific age groups. The Coca-Cola Company has taken this a step further with the 'Coca-Cola 3000' experience, a collaboration between human creativity and artificial intelligence that offers a unique flavor, emotional, color, and sensory aspects inspired by the future.

Innovators worldwide are also addressing challenges in non-alcoholic drinks, such as thin bodies, lack of flavor, and undesirable off-flavors. GNT Group, for example, has developed a patented formulation of an aqueous extract of spirulina enriched with bioactive lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which is odorless, temperature-stable, and acid-stable.

The shift towards health and wellness is evident in the growing interest in functional wellness beverages. Google searches for 'prebiotic soda' and 'fiber soda' spiked by 79% and 42% between 2023 and 2024, respectively. This trend is reflected in the rapid expansion of the non-alcoholic beverage market, with a 25% decline in alcohol consumption among Gen Z over the past four years.

Regulatory changes are also driving innovation. The HFSS regulations in the UK ban advertisements of products high in fat, sugar, or salt, forcing brands to rethink their marketing strategies. The UK is also proposing a higher tax on beverages containing more than 10 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, targeting brands like Coca-Cola.

In the realm of cannabis beverages, brands like Molson Coors have already launched THC-infused drinks in countries where it is legal, such as Canada. The beverage giant is exploring the U.S. market through its joint venture, Truss CBD USA.

Lastly, the FDA's decision to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the US by 2026 will significantly impact the visual identity of beverages.

The future of the beverage industry is undeniably exciting, with innovations in taste, health, technology, and regulation shaping the landscape. Whether it's non-alcoholic beers, cannabis beverages, or personalized drinks, the industry is poised for a revolution.