News for the Beverage and Liquid Food Industry
Teenagers and young adults are extremely conscious of the importance of a healthy diet. Many therefore limit their alcohol intake or consume none at all. Nevertheless, they’re still having just as much fun, as creative non-alcoholic beverages are flying off the shelves of numerous stores. Many are even many available for the youngest of consumers.
Many of us started the second year of the pandemic hoping that things would quickly improve and restrictions would ease. However, new virus variants, the anti-vax movement and the resulting long-lasting closures of catering establishments in spring soon tarnished the prediction that things would be more normal than the previous year. Owners were hit hard in 2021 as bars and restaurants were mainly empty, followed by hesitant visits.
Sugar-free, low-carb, fructose-intolerance, gluten-free, self-optimization – these are the buzzwords of the latest diet trends among millennials and GenZs. This certainly doesn’t bode well for a juice comeback! Simultaneously, a product’s region of origin, whether it contains vitamins, whether it is homemade, “craft,” organic and vegetarian or vegan are all becoming increasingly important. The coronavirus pandemic and lockdown have also seemingly led to an interim juice beverage recovery. Will it last, or is it temporary?
Sustainability remains at the forefront of the development of glass and PET bottles, drink cartons and cans. The demands placed on packaging by consumers and legislators vary depending on material, but all fall under this overarching, dominant topic. Caps that are firmly attached to the bottle or carton (for single-use plastics), reduced use of material (lightweight glass bottles) and increased use of recycled material (rPET) are important goals, and will continue to be in future. Let’s take a look at current projects.
Like so many other trends, hard seltzer also originated in the USA, where it has been breaking one sales record after another. No wonder that the beverage industry in Germany sensed a big chance here after being greatly shaken up by the coronavirus. Hard seltzer, a new boom that can be brought across the Atlantic to Europe with ease, or just a brief tremor in the market like Fassbrause?
There was a conflict of interests between the priorities of the public health system and the objective of profit-oriented companies to sell more alcohol. A paradigm shift was needed – toward a culture of responsible drinking, or smart drinking, for those who choose to drink.
Sustainability is currently dominating beverage carton development. This appears in changes to material quality, novel cap solutions and design modifications. But also filling beverage cartons and using digital possibilities are to be improved.
Soft drinks are so deeply embedded in the Mexican culture and diet that they have become part of the dining tradition, from the taco stand to the white-linen restaurant. Soft drinks, and especially cola beverages, have become an integral part of Mexican life, even intersecting with politics and religion in certain regions.
Lagers have been the reliable force behind beer sales for years. Between January and October 2020, sales surged by an impressive 25 percent as compared with the same period in 2019. But dark clouds hang over the export beer market, with sales continuing to decline. Yet the steepness of the decline has eased.