Rapidly growing family-owned brand expands tea and lemonade portfolios with new flavour innovations, and entry into fruit punch category
Milo’s Tea Company, Inc., the third-generation, family-owned maker of beverages crafted with real, high-quality ingredients, is accelerating its rapid growth with the launch of three new refrigerated beverages. The lineup includes a Zero Sugar Lemonade and Limited Edition flavour Blackberry Sweet Tea, while also marking a major milestone as Milo’s enters a new beverage category with the introduction of Fruit Punch.
By bringing its fresh, real-ingredient standards to categories traditionally dominated by shelf-stable, artificial options, Milo’s is creating new choices for individuals and families seeking fresh-tasting beverages they can feel good about serving.
Classic favourites, reimagined with real ingredients
Milo’s Fruit Punch: Reinventing a classic family favourite the Milo’s way, Fruit Punch is made fresh with high-quality, real, 100 % natural ingredients. With no preservatives or artificial colours, it delivers a delicious, balanced fruity blend designed for sharing while unlocking new potential within the $1.5B U.S. Fruit Punch category2 as consumers seek better-for-you twists on nostalgic favourites.
Milo’s Zero Sugar Lemonade: Inspired by one of the brand’s most-requested products on social media and the success of Milo’s Zero Sugar Sweet Tea, Milo’s Zero Sugar Lemonade expands the zero sugar lineup to offer more choice for consumers seeking great taste without sugar. Crafted to deliver the bright, refreshing taste of homemade lemonade, the new offering contains no sugar, preservatives, or added acids.
Milo’s Limited Edition Blackberry Sweet Tea: Building on the strength of Milo’s Famous Sweet Tea, the #1 selling refrigerated tea in the U.S.1, the brand introduces a new limited edition offering, Blackberry Sweet Tea. Available through May 2026, this seasonal variety blends fresh-brewed Milo’s classic sweet tea with natural blackberry flavour for a smooth, fruit-forward twist made with real ingredients and no preservatives.
Milo’s Fruit Punch, Milo’s Zero Sugar Lemonade, and Milo’s Limited Edition Blackberry Sweet Tea are now available at 2,500+ Walmart stores in the US, with additional availability at select regional grocery retailers. All three are available in gallon sizes with suggested retail prices starting at $4.26 depending on retailer. Fruit Punch is also available in half gallon sizes, while Zero Sugar Lemonade is available in half gallon and 20 oz. single serve, with prices starting at $1.75 depending on size and retailer.
1Nielsen, 52-Week ending in 12/27/25 2Nielsen, Total Fruit Punch Total US xAOC + Conv L52W ending 12/27/25
FOODEX JAPAN 2026, the 51st international food and beverage exhibition, will take place from 10–13 March 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight. As one of Asia’s most established industry platforms, the event brings together beverage manufacturers, retail and private brand developers, foodservice operators and trading companies from across the region.
Japan remains one of the world’s most sophisticated beverage markets. While overall market growth is moderate, value creation is driven by premiumisation, hybrid concepts and health-conscious reformulation. At the same time, manufacturers face increasing raw material price volatility, weather-related crop instability, geopolitical supply risks and rising logistics costs. Stable sourcing models and long-term supply reliability have therefore become central strategic priorities.
Against this backdrop, Döhler will present its portfolio of juice concentrates, NFC juices, purées and integrated ingredient systems at stand S4-H33, demonstrating how global sourcing strength and application expertise translate into reliable, market-ready beverage solutions for Japanese customers.
Focus at FOODEX JAPAN 2026
At FOODEX, Döhler will highlight beverage concepts that reflect current category dynamics in Japan, including energy drinks, café-style frappe concepts, non-alcoholic beverage alternatives and hybrid combinations such as Coffee + Juice and Tea + Juice:
Energy Drink Concepts combine clean flavour profiles with balanced sweetness and stability optimisation, supporting both mainstream and functional positioning without compromising taste precision.
The Frappe Concept delivers rich mouthfeel and indulgent texture with reduced sugar, addressing the growing demand for café-style beverages in ready-to-drink and foodservice formats.
A Non-Alcoholic Beverage Concept demonstrates how aroma depth and flavour layering can create adult taste experiences without alcohol, meeting the continued trend towards alcohol-free consumption.
Hybrid developments such as Coffee + Juice and Tea + Juice highlight emerging cross-category opportunities. By harmonising fruit acidity with roasted coffee notes or enhancing tea with natural fruit sweetness, these concepts create distinctive yet balanced flavour profiles aligned with Japanese sensory expectations.
Ingredient systems for Japanese consumer expectations
Across all showcased applications, the emphasis lies on integrated solutions rather than single ingredients: combining premium raw materials with formulation expertise for stability, sugar optimisation and balanced flavour profiles. Each concept illustrates how global juice sourcing and technical application know-how can be adapted to Japanese taste expectations and manufacturing requirements.
All solutions are designed to support manufacturers in supply stability and diversified sourcing, efficient processing as well as accelerated and lower-risk new product development. “Japan’s beverage industry demands precision and reliability at every level – from sourcing to sensory performance,” says Zaihan Qiu, Country Managing Director, Döhler Japan. “At FOODEX JAPAN 2026, we are demonstrating how our global juice network and integrated ingredient systems support manufacturers in developing successful beverages.”
EMEA non-alcoholic beverage sponsorship is heavily concentrated in soccer, reflecting its unmatched, year-round audience scale and strong conversion potential that make it the sector’s primary driver of value. Soccer accounted for more than three times the value of the next-largest sport, motor racing in 2025, reveals GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
GlobalData’s latest report, “Sponsorship Sector Report – Non-Alcoholic Beverages – EMEA 2025,” reveals that despite motor racing only accounting for 14 deals across the region, the sport’s average deal value is $7.4 million, considerably higher than soccer’s $0.92 million.
Energy drink brands within the sector, including Red Bull and Monster Energy, command the highest average value across the region. In 2025, Europe leads EMEA in deal volume and value due to its mature market, deep sports culture, and concentration of major multinational brands.
Olivia Snooks, Sport Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Unlike soccer, where sponsorship opportunities are fragmented across hundreds of clubs, leagues, and tiers, creating a long tail of smaller, locally priced agreements, top-level motor racing, namely Formula 1, is concentrated in a small number of global properties, meaning a limited supply of top-tier assets and stronger pricing power per deal. F1’s association with performance, technology, precision, and endurance provides a credible narrative for product claims around energy, hydration, and recovery, enabling differentiated storytelling that is harder to execute in other sports.”
Red Bull is the region’s biggest non-alcoholic sports sponsor, investing $205.74 million, which is more than double Coca-Cola’s spending. With just 38 deals versus Coca-Cola’s 120, Red Bull is prioritising fewer, higher value partnerships over a high-volume strategy. This results in a higher average spend per deal, indicating a focus on marquee properties and premium rights that deliver maximum visibility and strong brand association with elite properties.
Snooks continues: “This strategy aligns with Red Bull’s global marketing position at the intersection of high energy sport, exclusivity, and youth culture. This premium strategy boosts impact in key EMEA markets, strengthening Red Bull’s aspirational lifestyle positioning and supporting stronger return of investment through a smaller number of deals.”
The UEFA Champions League partnership with PepsiCo offers the widest and most consistent international reach. It delivers prime-time audiences, strong digital distribution, and multiple activation opportunities throughout a long tournament. This explains why UEFA-linked rights command some of the largest fees, as sponsors are buying scale, brand safety, and repeatable visibility in high-stakes matches that regularly capture attention.
Snooks Concludes: “A key trend in the biggest deals is Red Bull’s prominence across multiple entries, reflecting a highly non-traditional approach. It effectively buys and operates the teams themselves in several cases. Rather than backing one flagship partnership, it invests across soccer and motorsport teams and individual stars like Max Verstappen, creating a consistent narrative around elite performance, and youth culture.”
The updated brand identity brings a fresh take on the healthy soda category and a commitment to products that help consumers find their inner magic.
Drink Happy Thoughts, a functional sparkling juice brand designed to support brain health and elevate mood, unveils a vibrant new brand identity. Building on the foundation laid by its predecessor, Illicit Elixirs, the transition to Happy Thoughts marks a strategic evolution, aligning the brand’s name directly with its core mission: helping consumers find their own happiness by feeling good.
The rebrand follows extensive market research and feedback from consumers, distributors, and retailers. While the name has changed, the commitment to high-quality, functional ingredients remains. Additionally, subtle tweaks to the formulation provide an enhanced flavour profile and formula to engage a more discerning consumer.
The shift to Happy Thoughts was a natural progression, as the phrase was previously a prominent tagline. The decision is bolstered by data from a recent survey of 250 functional drink consumers (aged 18-34), which revealed the name performed 37 % better in overall appeal than the previous moniker, driving a purchase intent of over 48 %.
Strategically designed for its core demographic of women aged 18–34, the new brand identity highlights three essential functional benefits: Focus, Brain Health, and Mood Boost. These results are delivered through a proprietary blend of amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants – including Saffron, L-Theanine, and Ginseng. The collection features five effervescent, fruit-forward flavours, each packaged in a distinctively vibrant, colour-coded can.
The refreshed branding and cans roll out online and through regional partners in the US in February.
Refresco, a leading independent beverage solutions provider for preeminent global and local beverage brands in North America, Europe, and Australia, and SunOpta Inc., a North American supply chain solutions provider, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Refresco has agreed to acquire SunOpta for $6.50 per share in cash.
Steve Presley, Chief Executive Officer of Refresco, said, “SunOpta represents an exceptional strategic addition to our portfolio and is consistent with our proven growth strategy to expand our capabilities into adjacent beverage categories. The acquisition of SunOpta is highly complementary and significantly broadens our position in the fast-growing plant-based beverages category. It further enhances our existing North American presence and capabilities, supporting a more balanced geographic footprint between North America and the rest of the world. Acquiring SunOpta enables us to further expand our offerings to our existing retailer and branded customers, while adding leading out‑of‑home customers and capabilities to Refresco that are aligned with our long-term value creation strategy. Finally, and most importantly, I am excited to welcome the SunOpta Team to the Refresco family.”
Brian Kocher, Chief Executive Officer of SunOpta, said, “This strategic combination validates our vision of transforming SunOpta into a premier solutions partner in the high-growth better-for-you food and beverage space. Over the past several years, we’ve built exceptional platforms serving marquee customers and consistently delivering double-digit growth while maintaining the highest food safety and quality standards. This partnership with Refresco provides the resources and scale to unlock SunOpta’s full potential. I’m incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished and excited about the opportunities ahead as we enter this next chapter of our growth journey.”
The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, will be implemented by way of a statutory court-approved plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act. It is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of court and regulatory approvals and subject to SunOpta shareholder approval. Upon completion of the transaction, SunOpta will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Refresco and the shares of SunOpta will no longer be publicly traded.
Cloud Dancer – Pantone Colour of the Year 2026
Colours coming from natural sources are vital in food and beverage innovation as consumers seek products that convey authenticity, transparency and trust. Soft, understated shades are gaining prominence, reflecting a desire for visual calm and balance in contrast to an overstimulating everyday environment. Within this context, white and off-white tones are emerging as powerful design elements that signal purity, quality and modern premium positioning.
Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2026, Cloud Dancer, encapsulates this broader movement. Rather than standing alone as a trend, this soft white tone reflects a wider shift towards natural colour aesthetics that feel reassuring, timeless and effortlessly elegant.
Soft white as natural colour trend 2026
Cloud Dancer (Pantone 11-4201) is a refined, gentle white that aligns closely with the growing preference for natural, minimal colour palettes. White has long been associated with simplicity and authenticity – drawing on visual references such as snow, clouds, marble and mist. In today’s market, these associations resonate strongly with consumers who value clean label concepts, reduced visual complexity and credible product cues.
For food and beverage manufacturers, this signals an opportunity to rethink how natural colours are used to communicate product value. Soft whites provide a neutral yet sophisticated foundation that harmonises easily with other colours, flavours and functional messages, without overwhelming the consumer.
Relevance of soft white tones across food and beverage applications
The appeal of natural white shades extends across categories, from confectionery and bakery to beverages. In product design, these tones support positioning around quality, restraint and modernity, while allowing brands to highlight sensory or functional benefits in a clear and confident way. Rather than being decorative, natural white colours become part of the product story – reinforcing expectations around ingredient integrity, processing transparency and premium appeal.
Natural white solutions that translate colour trends into product reality
Turning colour trends into successful products requires application-ready solutions that meet both technical and regulatory demands. Döhler’s portfolio of natural white solutions supports manufacturers in translating soft white aesthetics such as Cloud Dancer into scalable, market-ready concepts.
White Diamond is a bright, natural alternative to titanium dioxide for food applications. It delivers effective whitening for a wide range of confectionery products, including hard-boiled candies and pan coatings, while also providing bioavailable calcium. This enables manufacturers to achieve a clean, premium white appearance while aligning with evolving regulatory requirements and consumer expectations around ingredients.
In beverage applications, Döhler’s premium Cloud Emulsions create controlled cloudiness and a naturally appealing appearance in products that are otherwise colourless or lightly coloured. These natural emulsions offer high stability across applications and deliver intense cloudiness even at low dosages. They can also be combined with other shades to create customised cloudy tones that reflect current design directions.
Supporting manufacturers in bringing natural colour trends to market
With extensive expertise in natural colour solutions and application development, Döhler supports food and beverage manufacturers in translating colour movements such as soft whites and Cloud Dancer into commercially viable products. From clean-label white alternatives for confectionery to stable cloud solutions for beverages, the focus is on delivering premium appearances that resonate with today’s consumers while meeting technical, regulatory and sensory expectations.
By embedding colour trends into practical, future-ready solutions, manufacturers can create products that feel relevant today and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
Döhler will exhibit at Marca Bologna 2026, Italy’s leading international trade fair for private label products, taking place on 14–15 January at BolognaFiere. The company will showcase a curated selection of beverage and snacking concepts designed to support retailers and brand owners in developing future-ready private label portfolios.
The concepts on display reflect the key trends shaping today’s retail market, including low- and no-sugar products, functional benefits, plant-based alternatives and non-alcoholic beverages, amongst others. They demonstrate how innovative ingredients and integrated solutions shape successful private label products that meet consumer expectations for better human nutrition.
Trend-driven beverage concepts for modern private labels
Visitors to the Döhler stand can explore a broad spectrum of ready-to-drink and functional beverage concepts, combining appealing taste profiles with contemporary positioning. Highlights include light juice drinks such as Multifruit Yellow and Multifruit Red, developed with reduced sugar while maintaining a refreshing sensory profile.
Tea-based innovation is represented by a sparkling Matcha-Lemongrass drink with natural caffeine, offering a balanced combination of flavour, functionality and energy. The growing demand for alcohol-free indulgence is addressed through Nocaholic mocktails, including Lime-Mint Virgin Mojito and Aperol 0.0 %, alongside a wine-mix RTD concept featuring passionfruit and peach on a wine base.
Further beverage innovations include energy drinks in flavours such as White Peach and a sugar-free Cherry-Cranberry variant without taurine, as well as sports and hydration drinks like Orange with natural caffeine and Strawberry-Watermelon with coconut water. Plant-based drink concepts such as Pistachio-Chocolate and Oat-Matcha complete the beverage portfolio, highlighting indulgence within a plant-based positioning.
Healthy snacking with added consumer value
In addition to beverages, Döhler will present healthy snacking concepts that align with clean label expectations and mindful consumption. These include freeze-dried fruits as well as a selection of nut spreads such as pistachio, peanut and coconut, offering versatility across private label snack ranges.
Supporting private label innovation
All concepts showcased at Marca Bologna 2026 are designed to inspire customised private label developments that balance taste, nutritional considerations and consumer relevance. Döhler’s expertise spans formulation, sensory optimisation and scalable solutions, supporting partners in translating trends into successful retail products.
Ball Corporation announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a majority stake in Benepack’s beverage can manufacturing businesses in Europe consisting of its two production facilities in Belgium and Hungary. Benepack is a regional producer of aluminum beverage cans serving both international and local customers across Western and Eastern Europe.
Under the terms of the agreements, Ball will acquire an 80 percent stake, for a total estimated cost of approximately EUR 184 million, an attractive purchase price that reflects the strategic fit, geographic complementarity and high-quality footprint of the Benepack business. The remaining 20 percent interest will continue to be held by existing Benepack shareholders.
All required regulatory clearances have been received for the proposed acquisitions, and the transactions are expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to the satisfaction of the remaining customary closing conditions set forth in the purchase agreements.
“Benepack’s plants in Belgium and Hungary are well positioned to serve a growing base of beverage customers across Europe,” said Ron Lewis, chief executive officer of Ball Corporation. “This investment further optimises our European manufacturing network, supports long-term volume and EVA dollar growth with key customers and reinforces aluminum beverage cans as a sustainable, scalable packaging choice.”
Tractor Beverage Company, a farmer-founded, employee-owned brand behind the first and only USDA certified organic beverages served at scale in U.S. foodservice, announced its first retail product: Haymaker, a USDA certified organic, apple cider vinegar-based sparkling tonic inspired by the original farmer’s drink. Beginning January 2026, Sprouts Farmers Market will launch Haymaker exclusively in the US, marking Tractor’s entry into retail and extending the momentum of one of foodservice’s fastest-growing brands.
“Tractor’s growth has always been driven by doing things our way – building through foodservice, staying committed to organics, and letting the brand grow strong,” said Kevin Sherman, Chief Executive Officer, Tractor Beverage Company. “Retail wasn’t something we had our sights set on or rushed into. We knew this move would only make sense if we could do it in a way that stayed true to our heritage and soil-and-soul ethos. Haymaker is the perfect expression of that. It’s inspired by the farmers who came before us, crafted with ingredients that come from living soil, and made to bring a little soul into everyday life. Bringing it to shelves with Sprouts, a retailer that shares our values and commitment to making organics accessible to all, makes this moment feel exactly right.”
Reaching profitability this year proves the strength of Tractor’s foodservice-first, “business as unusual” model, which has fueled steady expansion across the country. Today, Tractor pours its USDA certified organic, flavour-forward beverages at more than 10,000 locations, including restaurants like Chipotle, hospitals, colleges and universities, corporate campuses, and major entertainment venues through its partnership with AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company. This growth reflects rising consumer demand for organic, low-sugar, mission-driven products, and clears the way for Tractor’s move into a direct-to-consumer, cans-in-hands model.
Sprouts Farmers Market, long recognised for its leadership in natural and better-for-you offerings, will be the first retailer to carry Haymaker in the US. The partnership reflects rising consumer demand for functional tonics, non-alcoholic options and values-led brands with transparency at their core.
Haymaker revives a centuries-old farmer’s tonic traditionally made with apple cider vinegar, ginger, and citrus – a drink created to refresh and sustain long days in the field. Tractor’s modern interpretation brings that heritage forward with four bright, bold flavours: Apricot Peach, Citrus Ginger, Dragon Berry, and Passion Mango – each made with a full tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and only five grams of sugar.
From the beginning, Tractor has worked to strengthen the organic food system, prioritising farmer relationships, soil health and total transparency. The company created the Organic Impact Tracker to measure the environmental benefits of its efforts and, through the Farmhand Foundation and its 1 % for the Planet commitment, it helps support farmers in their journeys towards organic practices. These efforts reflect Tractor’s belief that better beverages start with better agriculture, and a responsibility to invest directly in the people and ecosystem that make it possible.
Grounded in a shared commitment to organics, transparency and farmers, Tractor and Spouts are aligned in both mission and mindset. Haymaker brings that vision to grocery shelves, offering shoppers a beverage built on real ingredients and real values.
Multi-functional ingredient offers product innovation across plant-based and functional food and beverage categories
Tetra Pak announced the launch of sunflower protein, a plant-based ingredient designed to help food and beverage (F&B) producers meet rising consumer demand for plant-based products – while maximising existing investments.
Expanding Tetra Pak’s portfolio of innovative ingredients, sunflower protein provides a plant-based avenue for F&B producers to capitalise on the booming plant-based food and beverage market, which is forecast to triple in size to $35.9 billion by 20331.
Sunflower protein is particularly versatile due to its neutral, slightly nutty flavour profile, smooth texture and off-white colouring. These attributes mean it can be used to create anything from plant-based iced coffee to yoghurt, ready-to-drink protein drinks and more. With a dosing range of 2 % to 7%2, sunflower protein offers flexibility in formulation and can easily be adjusted to match specific product requirements, whether boosting protein content, enhancing texture or delivering balanced nutrition.
The addition of sunflower protein to Tetra Pak’s ingredient offering further strengthens the company’s commitment to supporting food and beverage producers enter and expand within the fast-growing food supplement and nutrition (FSN) category. Through its Product Development Centres, Tetra Pak helps F&B producers accelerate time-to-market and optimise the creation of products that meet the needs of today’s health-conscious consumers3.
With 74 % of today’s consumers actively seeking products with health claims3, sunflower protein’s nutritional profile4 presents an opportunity for F&B producers to tap into the growing functional food market. Containing up to 50 % protein4, along with fibre, vitamins and antioxidants, sunflower protein provides an ideal ingredient for functional and fortified products. Sunflower protein demonstrates high in vitro digestibility (98 %)5, indicating an amino acid profile suitable for plant-based formulations.6
The global protein market is forecast to surpass $27.48 billion by 20347, while Europe’s meal replacement segment alone is set to grow from $2.04 billion in 2024 to $3.91 billion by 2033 (CAGR 7.53%)8
At a time when F&B producers face pressure to optimise existing assets and expanding into new categories, this renewable ingredient can be integrated into current processes with only minimal adjustments and investment.
1The global plant-based food market is valued at $14,225.3 million in 2025 and is poised to reach $44,181.9 million by 2035, reflecting a CAGR of 12%. Source: Future Market Insights – Plant-Based Food Market Analysis – Size, Share, and Forecast 2025 to 2035. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/plant-based-food-market 2This is a recommendation based on internal tests carried out by Tetra Pak, mostly due to viscosity and taste. As a result of their own R&D processes, customers could potentially use higher or lower dosage levels. 3Ipsos for Tetra Pak Quantitative Survey on Health & Nutrition 2023 (Brazil, US, China, India, South Korea, Kenya, South Africa, Germany, Spain, UK). https://www.ipsos.com/en/future-health-and-nutrition-tetra-pak-index-2023 4Protein content based on dry matter: 53 g per 100 g, as verified in the product specification for SUNTEIN™ Sunflower Protein Pasteurized Extra Fine, Version 02/30.09.2024, provided by Europack Bulgaria 5Data based on in vitro analysis performed by Improve SAS (January 2025) using ISO 13903:2005, EU 152/2009 methods and Megazyme K-PDCAAS kit. 6PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score) is a method recommended by FAO/WHO to evaluate protein quality based on essential amino acid content and digestibility 7https://www.precedenceresearch.com/protein-market 8https://www.renub.com/europe-meal-replacement-products-market-p.php
New facility helps food and beverage (F&B) powder producers validate powder-formulated products and processes at industrial scale.
Tetra Pak has officially opened its new Product Development Centre (PDC) for Powder Process and Technology in Cholet, France, designed to accelerate innovation and optimise processes for powder-formulated products.
At 340 m², the new powder PDC features a fully equipped pilot plant with modular production lines and the latest powder-handling technologies. It also includes a dedicated testing laboratory to ensure quality, compliance and optimisation. Together, these facilities enable food and beverage powder producers to:
Validate recipes and processes before industrial roll-out, reducing the risk of costly errors and enhancing product quality.
Cut development costs and product loss, while increasing yield and accelerating time-to-market.
Trial sensitive or high-value ingredientsunder near-identical conditions to full-scale production, minimising waste and preventing costly downtime.
Meet sustainability targets through more efficient, resource-conscious processing methods.
From raw material characterisation and formulation through to pilot-scale simulation and industrial scale-up, the facility supports manufacturers across the full innovation cycle, from prototype to shelf. With a library of more than 6,000 powder samples and specialist testing instruments, the laboratory supports in-depth evaluation of powder properties and behaviours across applications, ranging from dairy and beverages to ice cream, whey protein and functional nutrition.
The pilot plants’ modular set-up means trials can be configured to each customer’s specific requirements, offering flexibility and agility. This not only accelerates industrial roll-out but also minimises downtime and product waste. To extend access, every trial can also be followed remotely via high-definition livestreaming with real-time interaction and detailed post-trial reporting. Customers receive recordings, technical data and product samples wherever they are in the world.
The PDC also showcases the latest powder-handling technologies, including the Tetra Pak® Air Jet Cleaning System for Powder, which improves cleaning efficiency and ensure optimal use of costly ingredients and Tetra Pak® Production Control Ignition User Interface, a single, scalable user interface to simplify production control and drive operational responsiveness. These innovations, combined with deep powder processing expertise and flexible infrastructure, allow the PDC to support faster, more confident product development.
The new powder PDC forms part of Tetra Pak’s product development centre ecosystem, in which food producers can achieve food properties and functionalities, trial different final product formulations, and develop brand or product identity to create an effective go-to-market strategy. By linking expertise and facilities across multiple centres, Tetra Pak helps customers accelerate innovation and reduce risk, giving them a powerful scale-up advantage.
Prinova will highlight a new range of beverage concepts targeting key consumer health and nutrition trends at Fi Europe (2nd to 4th December in Paris).
The leading provider of bespoke premixes and blends will showcase three new “Inner Power” functional beverage concepts. With a “feeling good from the inside out” theme, the ready-to-drink range is designed to inspire innovation and drive category growth:
Inner Glow Citrus and Maracuya – a vibrant orange drink containing beauty-from-within ingredients, including lemon balm extract, chamomile extract, and marine collagen. Prinova’s trends insights have highlighted growing consumer awareness of the relationship between nutrition, beauty, and personal care.1
Inner Balance Lime Cucumber and Mint – a soothing green beverage supporting gut health, with ginger root extract, apple cider vinegar powder, and passion flower extract. Gut/digestive health is an established megatrend1, with Prinova research identifying it as the primary health concern for 85 % of consumers.2
Inner Focus Mixed Berries Blush – a rich red drink targeted at cognitive wellbeing, which Prinova’s functional health trends research has identified as a megatrend.1 Consumers are increasingly focused on proactive, convenient nutrition strategies for cognition, with 80% citing brain health/mood as the most important health issue.2 Mixed Berries Blush features a B vitamin blend to support cognition claims, alongside coenzyme Q10 and functional ingredients from natural sources, including the branded Aronia Melanocarpa berry extract BrainBerry®.
Visitors to the Prinova stand will also be able to sample its game-changing pre-workout ingredient, CITRAPEAK®. The clinically backed product is the first 100 % soluble form of hesperidin, delivering fast-acting vasodilatory and pump benefits. Naturally derived from orange peels, it is clean, effective, and virtually flavourless, making it ideal for performance-driven solutions.
1Functional Health Trends, 2024 2Research conducted online between May and June 2024
The Middle East’s leading trade fair for food and beverage manufacturing, Gulfood Manufacturing 2025, will take place from 4th to 6th November at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together global innovators, technology leaders and solution providers across the industry. With more than 2,000 exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors expected from over 160 countries, the show is a central hub for reimagining the future of food production and product development.
A region in transformation
The Middle East’s food and beverage industry is undergoing a transformation, driven by ambitious government initiatives, a young and health-conscious consumer base and shifting regulatory frameworks such as upcoming sugar taxes. In this environment, reducing and replacing sugar has become one of the most pressing challenges for manufacturers. Consumers expect products that deliver indulgence and enjoyment while also aligning with their health and wellness goals.
With a comprehensive portfolio of natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions – from advanced sweetening systems to natural taste modulation technologies – Döhler enables manufacturers to create products that combine great taste with less or no sugar. As demand for healthier, better-for-you nutrition accelerates, Gulfood Manufacturing provides the ideal stage to showcase how science and technology can deliver innovation that meets both consumer expectations and regulatory requirements.
Döhler at Gulfood Manufacturing
As a longstanding partner, Döhler will present a comprehensive portfolio of food and beverage innovations that bridge science, technology and sensory appeal – concepts addressing the latest consumer needs, including:
Freeze-dried functional drops – small in size, big in benefits
Savoury Labneh – authentic taste with a modern twist
Energy Yoghurt – convenient daily vitality in dairy
Synbiotic Bars – pro- and prebiotic solutions for holistic gut health on the go
GLP-1 Drink – a cutting-edge approach to supporting a healthy weight
Next-generation beverage solutions – sugar reduction and taste modulation in response to the latest regional sugar taxation reform
Pre- and postbiotic soft drinks – designed to support digestion and elevate gut health
Mood-boosting 100 % juice drinks – formulated to deliver nutritional value and functional support for emotional well-being
GEA is supporting hands-on training at Geisenheim University with process technology specifically designed for research and teaching. For the newly opened Beverage Technology Center (GTZ), the engineering group supplied a multipurpose plant that replicates industrial beverage processes on a small scale – flexible in use, broadly applicable, and designed to support both teaching and applied research.
GEA technology makes processes visible and understandable
GEA’s pilot-scale solution combines industrial process standards with didactic accessibility. It consists of a flash pasteurizer, a cleaning-in-place (CIP) and sterilisation-in-place (SIP) system, a carbonator, an automated interconnection matrix, and a separator suitable for fruit juice, beer, and wine applications. All components are skid-mounted, with an integrated maintenance walkway for optimal access – a setup specifically adapted to the demands of university-based operations.
“Students should learn how processes work – and how to design them,” says Astrid Heller, project manager at GEA and expert for non-alcoholic beverage processing. “With this setup, they can modify process sequences, understand control points, and at the same time gain insights into the hygiene and efficiency standards of industrial production.”
The automated interconnection matrix allows specific process steps to be switched on or off, enabling students and faculty to construct, modify, and analyze entire process chains. This flexibility enables a learning experience that goes far beyond conventional training models.
“Our students not only experience real industrial automation here, but also develop a deep understanding of the logic and structure of modern beverage production – from pasteurisation to filling,” explains Michael Ludwig, head of the GTZ at Geisenheim University. “We aim to train the people who will move the industry forward – in production, innovation, and product development.”
Transfer platform for academia, research, and industry
The GTZ is designed as an open center for technology and knowledge transfer. In addition to university students, the infrastructure is also used by collaborating research institutes, industrial partners, and – via Germany’s federal vocational class for fruit juice technology – even vocational school programs. Continuing education courses, technical workshops, and joint pilot projects help ensure that knowledge transfer is active and ongoing. With this approach, the GTZ strengthens Geisenheim’s position as one of Germany’s leading centers for beverage education and applied development – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
GEA was involved early in the project’s system planning. Even before construction began, requirements related to utilities, automation, and process integration were jointly defined – a model for successful collaboration between academia and industry.
Pilot-scale systems: a growing strategic area
For GEA, the Geisenheim project exemplifies a growing application field: scaled-down process lines for research, education, and product development. The combination of industrial-grade automation, didactic accessibility, and flexible multipurpose design makes these systems increasingly relevant – not only at universities, but also in pilot labs and innovation hubs across the beverage industry.
In the first half of the 2025/26 financial year (the six months ended 31 August 2025), AGRANA, the food and industrial goods group, registered a reduction of 50.5 % in operating profit (EBIT) to € 28.0 million. The Group’s revenue decreased by 9.1 % to € 1,691.6 million (H1 previous year: € 1,861.7 million). Nevertheless, thanks to very good second-quarter results in the Food & Beverage Solutions business, AGRANA has raised its forecast for the year and now expects a significant increase in Group EBIT of between 10 % and 50 %. EBIT is now projected to be in the range of about € 45 to 60 million for the 2025/26 financial year; this takes into account that the outlook for the Agricultural Commodities & Specialities business (the Starch and Sugar segments) remains subdued.
Stephan Büttner (Photo: AGRANA)
AGRANA Chief Executive Officer Stephan Büttner says: “We are still in a challenging transformation phase as we implement NEXT LEVEL, our new Group strategy. While the results in Food & Beverage Solutions were very positive, the operating performance in the Sugar and Starch businesses was unsatisfactory. Additionally, as announced, non-recurring expenses (primarily staff costs) were recognised in the Sugar segment as part of the restructuring in Austria and the Czech Republic. The strong earnings contribution from the Food & Beverage Solutions segment not only was a stabilising factor for Group EBIT in the first half of the year, but also forms the main basis for our updated EBIT forecast for the full year 2025|26.”
AGRANA Group financial results, first half of 2025/26 (1 March – 31 August 2025)
The Group’s net financial items amounted to an expense of € 19.7 million, compared to an expense of € 19.4 million in the year-earlier period. The slight increase was due primarily to a marked deterioration in currency translation differences that outweighed a significant improvement in net interest expense. After an income tax expense of € 7.1 million, corresponding to a tax rate of 85.5 % (H1 previous year: 36.8 %), profit for the period was € 1.1 million (H1 previous year: € 23.5 million). Net debt as of 31 August 2025 decreased by € 28.6 million from the 28 February 2025 year-end level, to € 407.8 million. The gearing ratio at the quarterly balance sheet date was a steady 35.5 % (28 February 2025: 35.5 %).
As a result of price changes, revenue of the FBS segment in the first half of 2025/26 was € 859.1 million, a moderate increase from the same period one year earlier.
EBIT of the FBS segment as a whole rose to € 68.0 million in the first six months of the financial year (H1 previous year: € 50.4 million), with sales volume remaining stable overall.
Food & Beverage Solutions (FBS)
As a result of price changes, revenue of the FBS segment in the first half of 2025/26 was
€ 859.1 million, a moderate increase from the same period one year earlier.
EBIT of the FBS segment as a whole rose to € 68.0 million in the first six months of the financial year (H1 previous year: € 50.4 million), with sales volume remaining stable overall.
Revenue of the “ACS – Sugar” segment in the first half of 2025|26, at € 309.6 million, represented a significant reduction from one year earlier. The main reasons for the decline were significantly lower sales to the reseller sector and lower sugar sales prices.
The EBIT result deteriorated sharply year-on-year to a deficit of € 36.3 million. Price pressure was relatively high in the deficit markets (Central & Eastern Europe region), which had a negative impact on sales volumes with resellers. In connection with the restructuring of the sugar business (the closure of the sugar production facilities in Leopoldsdorf, Austria, and Hrusovany, Czech Republic), expenses of € 20.0 million, mostly in the form of staff costs, were recognised in the first half of 2025/26. This exceptional item had an added negative impact on EBIT.
Outlook
At Group level for the full 2025/26 financial year, AGRANA expects a significant increase in operating profit (EBIT) compared with the previous year. Group revenue is projected to show a moderate decrease. The Group’s total investment this financial year, at approximately € 100 million, is expected to be both significantly below the 2024|25 value and significantly less than the budgeted depreciation of about € 113 million.
Leading retail and global food and beverage companies including PepsiCo and Unilever announced the launch of Supporting Trusted Engagement and Partnership (STEP) up for Agriculture (STEP up for Ag), a pre-competitive initiative designed to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of farmer-facing support organisations across North America.
Regenerative agriculture can be a powerful tool to promote healthier soil, as well as to reduce agricultural emissions, enhance biodiversity and watershed health, and help raise the standard of living for farmers and farming communities. It’s why PepsiCo – which sources approximately 50 key agricultural crops and ingredients from more than 60 countries around the world – has a goal to drive the adoption of regenerative agriculture, restorative, or protective practices across 10 million acres by 2030.
Scaling regenerative agriculture requires more than just technical solutions – it depends on trusted relationships and local expertise. Farmers are more likely to adopt new practices when they see clear benefits and receive guidance from organisations they know and trust. That’s why farmer-led, farmer-facing support groups are critical to the success of corporate regenerative agriculture programs.
STEP Up for Agriculture seeks to strengthen local organisations by equipping them with tools, training, and resources needed to support farmers on the ground. This approach is designed to unlock scale by meeting farmers where they are, with the aim of accelerating adoption across diverse geographies and creating a ripple effect of trust and innovation throughout the supply chain.
Through STEP up for Ag, corporate and philanthropic partners will provide funding and strategic support to help farmer support organisations:
Develop robust business and strategic plans to boost profitability and local economies
Expand staffing and training to better equip farmers with the tools of the future
Establish measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems to track sustainable progress against goals
Enhance implementation capabilities to support scalability
Access new revenue streams and partnerships to grow support for farmers over time
Transitioning more farms to regenerative agriculture requires deep collaboration – no single company or organisation can do it alone. By working together across sectors, STEP up for Ag is building a shared ecosystem of support that empowers farmers and drives lasting change at scale.
Lead Partners: PepsiCo, Unilever and others – each committing to fund and collaborate with specific farmer support organisations to strengthen advisory capacity and accelerate regenerative agriculture adoption – enhancing supply resilience and supporting local farming communities.
Contributing Partners: Corporations supporting existing or emerging organisations or the initiative at large.
Philanthropic Partners: Including The Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation (PACT) and the PepsiCo Foundation, providing catalytic funding and strategic insight.
Farmer Facing Support Partners: Phase I will include South East Research Farm (SERF), supporting farmers throughout the Canadian Prairies, and Practical Farmers of Iowa, supporting farmers across western Canada and the US, and Farm Advisor, a farmer-led, Indiana-based initiative that pairs experienced conservation farmers with peers to accelerate the adoption of soil health practices through mentorship, education, and on-farm support.
Over the next two years, STEP up for Ag will aim to facilitate peer learning, host annual in-person workshops and develop shared tools and resources to scale impact.
Looking ahead, STEP up for Ag is launching its first European pilot with the farmer-led cooperative Garlan in Spain. Over the next year, Garlan – supported by the Earthworm Foundation– will design its own regenerative agriculture program to offer to farmers, improving access to high-quality guidance and advice on regenerative practices. This pilot builds on earlier engagement in Türkiye, where EIT Food hosted a regional workshop that brought together farmer support organisations, corporate partners, and NGOs to explore how STEP Up for Ag could take shape locally. Together, these efforts mark the start of a broader push to strengthen advisory ecosystems and scale regenerative agriculture across Europe and other global landscapes.
Through this partnership – and with the potential future involvement of additional major organisations – this growing network aims to help drive meaningful, long-term progress toward a more sustainable agricultural future.
Consumer sentiment is changing. Consumers are more aware of the ingredients they are choosing to consume and are actively trying to purchase products that align with their needs and preferences.
GlobalData’s Ai Palette platform has analysed data from thousands of food and beverages ingredients to identify those that have high growth and high engagement. This analysis is based on real-time data points collected from social media and global retail sites over the past two years, as measured in June and July 2025, and includes a comparison of compound annual growth rates (CAGR) over that period.
The emerging food and beverage ingredients identified in this analysis were grouped under four key consumer trends: functional wellness, distinct flavour fusions, global takeover, and nature’s pantry. Insights from this analysis were presented in a recent Ai Palette webinar titled “Emerging Ingredients in Food & Beverages – Trends Consumers Really Care About in 2025,” which highlighted the following findings:
Functional wellness
This trend highlights the use of functional ingredients that improve the nutritional value of foods and beverages, providing consumers with health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Zinc is emerging as a key ingredient in the food and beverage sector due to its significant role in promoting functional wellness, supporting immune function, wound healing, and metabolic health. The Ai Palette platform indicates that the German dairy market is seeing a rise in zinc-fortified products, showcasing a growing interest in nutrient-rich dairy options.
Distinct flavour fusions
Characterised by the innovative combination of unique ingredients, this trend distinguishes products with bold and unexpected flavour profiles that captivate the palate and set them apart in the marketplace, such as gochujang. This Korean chili paste is gaining popularity in the US condiments market for its ability to enhance flavour fusions with a mix of heat, sweetness, and umami. Over the past two years, gochujang has experienced a remarkable growth rate of 28.5 %, supported by 264,000 data points from Ai Palette, appealing to adventurous consumers seeking authentic and spicy culinary experiences.
Global takeover
Reflecting the increasing influence of international flavours, this trend signifies the penetration of global flavours into new markets and categories, breaking traditional culinary boundaries. Miso is emerging as a key ingredient in the food and beverage sector, thanks to its versatility and health benefits, which align with the global demand for wholesome, flavourful options. Its growing popularity in condiments showcases its ability to enhance various dishes with its unique umami profile. Miso has seen a remarkable growth of 28.2 % since July 2023, supported by nearly 70,000 Ai Palette data points, emphasising its cultural significance and premium quality.
Nature’s pantry
This trend heralds a resurgence of natural ingredients, revitalising them with contemporary applications that underscore their timeless appeal and align with the growing demand for wholesome food and drinks. Peas are growing in importance as a vital component of this trend due to their fresh and natural qualities, which offer a distinctive and wholesome addition to culinary applications, with multiple health benefits. Their rising popularity in Indian snacks underscores their versatility and appeal in global food innovations.
Alice Popple-Connelly, Senior Consumer Analyst, at GlobalData, comments: “Understanding how consumer sentiment is changing and the underlying trends behind it enables brands to position their products more effectively. Identifying the emerging ingredients associated with each trend also provides food and beverage brands with compelling formulation options for innovation.”
Named “SipScape”, the platform offers insights into the alcohol-adjacent space, with new personas showcasing the evolving beverage consumer landscape
IFF, a global leader in food, beverage, health and wellness, has unveiled SipScape, a new platform designed to inspire innovation across the rapidly evolving adult beverage landscape. It offers actionable insights and trends, including product design, flavour modulation and sweetness reduction in no-and low-alcohol beverages. The platform also highlights IFF’s expertise in incorporating botanicals, natural colours and other functional additions based on current trends and market demands.
“Understanding how and why people drink today is essential to staying ahead,” said Fernanda De Paula, vice president of global beverages category for IFF Taste. “Consumers are looking for more than a buzz, and drinks are no longer defined solely by their alcohol content. The most successful new products are those that reflect people’s values, fulfill specific occasions and genuinely resonate with their needs. When done right, beverages can turn fleeting moments into joyful and meaningful experiences. SipScape is a vibrant virtual social scene, where brands can meet today’s beverage consumers, learn more about their preferences and uncover exciting innovation opportunities.”
Visitors to SipScape will benefit from deep explorations fueled by PANOPTIC, IFF’s proprietary trend and foresight capability. PANOPTIC has decoded cultural and consumer drivers, providing new insights into current shifts in the beverage market – such as the rise of conscious consumption and moderation among younger consumers. SipScape introduces five new consumer personas, each paired with distinctive concepts that reflect their unique preferences and motivations.
Meet two of the Sipscape’s Resident Sippers:
Eternal Explorer, Eva
Eternal Explorers, like Eva, are “rebels with a cause,” driven by a desire to create positive impact. Progressive and globally minded – similar to some members of Generation X and baby boomers – they have the means and mindset to support ethical brands through conscious choices.
Go-to concepts for Eternal Explorers include:
Once Upon Oaxaca Cocktail – a 5 % ABV cocktail featuring Mexican flavours like mezcal and palo santo.
Mango Sticky Rice Flavoured RTD Green Tea – a refreshing green tea packed with vitamins, immune support and natural energy.
Good-Time Guru, Gemma
Rebellious and disruptive, Good-Time Gurus are drawn to brands that not only understand their priorities but also celebrate them. Often Generation Alpha and Generation Z consumers, they value sensorial escapism, experimentation and personalisation.
Go-to concepts for Good-Time Gurus include:
Hopped Pineapple Lemonade – an 8 % ABV beverage that fuses tropical fruit with the crisp bite of hops.
Dragon’s Zen Sparkling Energy Drink – a zero-alcohol sparkling energy drink with balanced sweetness and a sophisticated flavour profile.
O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, a Certified B Corporation, boldly enters the fast-growing functional beverage market with the launch of Catalyst, an energy drink designed for today’s health-conscious consumer. This strategic expansion marks a pivotal moment for the family-owned organisation, evolving its portfolio beyond wine and spirits to enter the intersection of energy drinks and functional beverage.
The U.S. functional beverage market is seeing strong growth, particularly in the energy and sports drinks categories, with the segment expanding by 15.4 % this year. Catalyst is entering this market to meet evolving consumer preferences for healthier, great-tasting energy drinks that combine moderate caffeine with low-to-no sugar and added natural vitamins and supplements. Catalyst aligns with these preferences, offering 120 mg of caffeine, 10 calories, zero sugar and no artificial sweeteners, colours, or flavours.
Catalyst delivers sustained performance, without the sugar load or ‘spike and crash’ effect, through an innovative formula of premium nootropics that work synergistically to sharpen focus, enhance mental clarity, and sustain cognitive performance. Powered by plant-based caffeine and fortified with essential vitamins B12 and B6, Catalyst also supports elevated metabolism and natural energy production.
Housed in a sleek, modern can, Catalyst is available in six flavours, SuperBerry, PomPower, Grapefruit Frost, Fruit Fusion, Citrus Spark and Orange Dream, at a competitive price of $ 32.99 for a 12-pack and $ 2.99 for a single 12-ounce can. Catalyst can be purchased online at drinkcatalyst.com or at select retailers in the U.S.
On 3 June 2025, the US announced it would impose 50 % tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. This move represented an escalation compared to the 25 % tariff previously imposed on such imports on 10 February 2025. These policies create challenges for US manufacturers and users of packaging made of imported steel and aluminum. However, domestic recycling is enabling US aluminum can manufacturers to avoid the worst effects of tariffs, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s recent report “Industry Insights: The impact of tariffs on consumer packaged goods” reveals which CPG-relevant sectors are most affected by tariffs within specific trade relationships and how companies in these sectors will be affected. It also provides insights into consumer reactions to changes in the market caused by the imposition of tariffs.
Rory Gopsill, Senior Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: ” Unlike many other industries that rely significantly on metal imports, beverage can manufacturers in the US obtain a considerable share of their raw materials from recycled sources. The Aluminum Association reports that over 70 % of the aluminum utilised in domestic beverage cans is derived from recycled content. This closed-loop supply chain provides can manufacturers with a degree of insulation from US tariffs on imported aluminum as part of efforts to safeguard domestic industries and address trade imbalances with China and other exporting nations.”
In 2025, 99.6 billion rigid metal beverage cans are forecast to be sold in the US, according to GlobalData’s Primary Packaging and Outers Database. The Aluminum Association’s assertion that over 70 % of aluminum used in domestic beverage cans is recycled suggests that, of the total, 70 billion rigid metal beverage cans are made of recycled aluminum, leaving roughly 30 billion with significant exposure to tariffs on aluminum.
Tariffs create both opportunities and challenges for US recycling
Can manufacturers typically choose recycled aluminum over virgin aluminum because it is financially and environmentally less costly. This is because producing usable aluminum via recycling requires 95 % less energy than producing usable aluminum from scratch. In this respect, tariffs could create opportunities for US-based aluminum recycling plants as tariffs create yet more financial incentives for packaging manufacturers to utilise recycled materials. In other respects, however, tariffs create problems for the US’ recycling industry. For example, shipping recycled materials across national borders in North America is complicated by tariffs, with only US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)-compliant goods being tariff exempt.
Gopsill concludes: “In a volatile economic climate, where global supply chains are increasingly politicised, the US beverage can sector’s embrace of recycled aluminum stands out as a model of resilience. By leveraging domestic, sustainable materials, the industry not only reduces environmental impact but also cushions itself from macroeconomic shocks – proof that circularity and competitiveness can go hand in hand.”
Fruit beverages market size, share, and forecast 2025 to 2035
The global fruit beverages market is projected to grow from USD 50 billion in 2025 to USD 74 billion by 2035, registering a steady CAGR of 4.0 %. The juice blends segment dominates in 2025 with a 38 % share, supported by rising demand for functional and fortified fruit drinks.
Fruit beverages market forecast and outlook 2025 to 2035
The fruit beverages market is projected to grow from USD 50 billion in 2025 to USD 74 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 4.0 % during the forecast period. The United States is expected to be the most lucrative market for fruit beverages, owing to its mature yet evolving demand for low-calorie, vitamin-enriched juices and blends.
Meanwhile, India is anticipated to register the fastest growth from 2025 to 2035, driven by rising disposable income, a shift toward healthier beverage choices, and expanding organised retail penetration across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
The fruit beverages market is undergoing a steady transformation, with consumers increasingly shifting away from carbonated soft drinks toward natural, health-forward alternatives. Juice blends fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, and functional ingredients like turmeric or collagen are gaining popularity.
While premiumisation and wellness-driven innovations continue to fuel growth in urban segments, rural and price-sensitive markets remain dominated by traditional, pulp-rich mango and mixed fruit variants.
However, growth is restrained by seasonal raw material availability, regulatory scrutiny around sugar content, and high packaging and cold chain costs. To address these challenges, manufacturers are investing in aseptic filling technology, cold-pressed processing, and no-added-sugar formulations that appeal to health-conscious consumers and align with clean label trends.
Looking ahead from 2025 to 2035, the fruit beverages marketis expected to evolve toward greater functional differentiation and sustainability. Demand for organic-certified, traceable, and plant-based beverages will accelerate, especially in Europe and East Asia …
Refresco, the global independent beverage solutions provider, announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Telemark Kildevann Holding AS (“TKV”), a leading Norwegian beverage manufacturer. This transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
TKV is a family-owned manufacturer of soft drinks and bottled water, with two production facilities located in Fyresdal and Aurskog, Norway. The company maintains deep-rooted relationships with retailers and branded customers in Norway and Sweden, ensuring consistent, high-quality service and collaboration.
Refresco operates with 75 manufacturing facilities across Europe, North America, and Australia. With the acquisition of TKV, Refresco further strengthens its presence and operational capabilities to service customers across the Nordics, building on its existing footprint in Finland.
CEO Refresco, Hans Roelofs, commented: “The acquisition of TKV marks another milestone in the execution of our proven Buy & Build strategy, further reinforcing our presence in Europe. TKV’s loyal customer base, strong capabilities, and well-established market position enhances our ability to serve retailers and branded customers in Norway, Sweden and beyond. I look forward to welcoming over 60 employees to the Refresco team and further grow the business together.”
Expanded mandate of the former Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE), and EXTR:ACT, welcomes an accomplished sustainability and policy leader to drive forward an accelerated agenda for fibre-based food and beverage packaging.
The Food and Beverage Carton Alliance (FBCA) to announced the appointment of Sebastian Bartels as its new Director General. A recognised leader in sustainability, Bartels brings two decades of international experience driving strategic change across a wide range of industries. He joins FBCA at a pivotal moment, as the Alliance expands beyond Europe into its global role in building resilient food and beverage systems and advancing the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy.
“We are excited to welcome Sebastian,” said Patrick Verhelst, President of the Board of FBCA. “His deep expertise in sustainability and broad experience across sectors and geographies make him the right person to lead FBCA’s next chapter. We are confident he will amplify the Alliance’s impact and its future reach beyond EU-from grassroots engagement to international policy dialogue and circular value chain data expertise.”
Bartels brings a wealth of experience in leadership across sectors including manufacturing, logistics, packaging, FMCG, and energy-gaining firsthand insight into operational and sustainability challenges across diverse markets. He has held senior roles in several countries and is known for his collaborative approach across business, policy, and civil society.
Most recently, he led the Sustainability Services focus area at DEKRA, overseeing a global portfolio of more than 500 services that support clients in sustainable business practices, product sustainability, and the energy transition. Prior to that, he served as Head of Global Quality & Safety Strategy at the global transportation, logistics, and infrastructure group Deutsche Bahn, where he was responsible for international governance in risk, safety, and quality management.
In addition to his business background, Bartels brings political and civil service experience, including six years as an elected city councillor and leadership roles in national and international industry bodies.
“Joining FBCA is a tremendous opportunity,” said Bartels. “Food and beverage cartons play a critical role in reducing waste and supporting secure, low-carbon food systems. I look forward to working with our members to strengthen the industry’s global voice and accelerate innovation across the value chain.”
His appointment marks a new phase of strategic growth for FBCA, reinforcing its mission to promote safe, circular, and sustainable packaging with purpose solutions in Europe and across key international markets.
About FBCA
The Food and Beverage Carton Alliance (FBCA) is a global platform uniting food and beverage carton manufacturers and their paperboard suppliers. Formed from the merger of ACE and EXTR:ACT, FBCA advocates for food and beverage cartons as safe, circular, and sustainable packaging solutions that contribute to resilient food systems and low-carbon, circular economies.
Prinova Europe will showcase its functional nutrition capabilities in great-tasting, ready-to-mix beverage concepts targeting consumer trends at Vitafoods Europe (20th to 22nd May in Barcelona).
New consumer research by the premix and blends specialist has found that 53 % of consumers cite great taste as the primary influence on purchase.1 Prinova’s Vitafoods concepts combine trending flavours with functional nutrition and branded ingredients to demonstrate how manufacturers can develop innovative products that address key market needs. They include:
Citrus Blast – a pre-workout beverage packed with ingredients to unlock performance potential. This has been identified by Prinova’s research as a megatrend2 and of particular interest to sports and active nutrition consumers.3 The citrus-flavoured drink includes
L-citrulline, natural caffeine and B vitamins. It also contains 200 mg of CitraPeak®, the first 100 % soluble form of hesperidin. Currently available in the US, the clinically supported pre-workout ingredient will soon be launched in Europe.
Good Guts Lemon Ginger Tea – a refreshing drink for digestive health support. Prinova research has identified digestive/gut health as a megatrend2 and consumers’ primary health concern.4 The concept includes Aquamin®, a marine mineral complex and prebiotic for which Prinova recently acquired exclusive distribution rights in the DACH region. In human studies, Aquamin® has shown potential for aiding gastrointestinal tract health.
Young at heart – In Prinova’s recent market research, healthy ageing emerged as a key concern, with over half (52 %) of consumers saying it significantly affected their choices of food or nutrition products. Specially formulated to meet this need, this red fruit-based beverage concept contains ingredients such as saberry, vitamins A and C, and magnesium.
James Street, Global Marketing Director at Prinova, said: “We’re looking forward to demonstrating our unrivalled functional nutrition capabilities with our great-tasting, ready-to-mix beverage concepts at Vitafoods Europe. At Prinova, we specialise in developing innovative product concepts that reflect market trends. Our expertise in research and analysis of supplements, health, wellness, sports and lifestyle trends and consumer preferences uncovers untapped potential that drives category and overall market growth. As an industry leader in ready-to-mix powder contract manufacturing, we also offer huge flexibility in formats, including convenient stick packs for precise dosing and easy portability.”
Sēkwl sets out to redefine refreshment with flavour, function, and organic ingredients that include Zero B.S.
Say hello to Sēkwl Beverage House, a new kind of brand shaking up the beverage industry with drinks that blend flavour and function and that taste as good as they make you feel. Today, Sēkwl’s adaptogenic sparkling waters launch and aim to stand out in the sparkling water, functional, and non-alcoholic beverage industries.
“We are obsessed with the power of functional mushrooms,” said Matthew Eaton, Founder & Chief Beverage Officer at Sēkwl Beverage House. “We’re starting this brand with craveable flavors crafted in-house, just flavor with function, no weird chemicals, no fillers, and no B.S.”
As the industry of functional beverages and prebiotic sodas expands by the week, Sēkwl Beverage House enters the market with a bold vision: to redefine refreshment through plant and fungi-based ingredients that promote balance, focus, and recovery.
“The world doesn’t need another sugary soda or pseudo-health drink,” said Eaton. “We created Sēkwl with a clear mission: to craft drinks that not only taste amazing but actually do something for you. With functional mushrooms, organic botanicals, and real benefits in every sip, Sēkwl is hydration, reimagined.”
With six flavours, all crafted and made in-house with organic ingredients, Sēkwl represents a new approach to rethinking how products are made, how companies are structured, and how sustainability and storytelling can be seamlessly integrated into every sip.
Founded by beverage lover and flavour innovator Matthew Eaton, Sēkwl Beverage House is proudly LGBTQ+-led and passionately people-first. Eaton, his husband, Ryan Kelley, and best friends John Walls and Shannon Eurich have created a brand crafted with intention, blending functional mushrooms, organic botanicals, and bold flavours to create beverages that support mind, body, and soul.
“Sēkwl isn’t just about great taste. It’s about how you feel after your first sip,” said Eaton. “We saw a chance to create something new for the wellness aisle: a functional mushroom-powered sparkling water that supports energy, relaxation, and clarity without tasting like a supplement. This is a new way to enjoy hydration, and we can’t wait for people to try Sēkwl.”
Six signature flavours, six functional benefits
Sēkwl launches with six bold and refreshing flavours, each infused with a unique blend of functional mushrooms, organic botanicals, and adaptogens that help you reset, refocus, or recharge, depending on what your day calls for:
Hibiscus – Bright and balanced with hibiscus, raspberry, and Lion’s Mane mushroom extract. Supports heart, respiratory, and nerve health. Blended with 1000 mg Lion’s Mane, the “Brain Mushroom.”
Grapefruit – Not your average grapefruit. A zesty blend with cordyceps, cardamom, cinnamon, and licorice that may support immune and heart health. Blended with 1000 mg Cordyceps, the “Performance Mushroom.”
Lemon Ginger – A classic combo elevated with Turkey Tail for digestive health and gut balance. Blended with 1000 mg Turkey Tail, the “Immunity Mushroom.”
Chamomile – Relax and reset with calming chamomile, lime, and Reishi. Designed to help your body de-stress and restore. Blended with 1000 mg Reishi, the “Immortality Mushroom.”
Blue Spruce – Fresh, crisp, and invigorated with palo santo, mullein, and schisandra. Great for respiratory support and mental clarity. Blended with 1000 mg Turkey Tail, the “Immunity Mushroom.”
Cacao – Unwind with this rich, earthy blend of cacao, Reishi, Chaga, and holy basil. Calms the nervous system and supports stress resilience. Blended with 500 mg Reishi, the “Immortality Mushroom,” and 500 mg Chaga, the “King of the Mushrooms.”
Sēkwl adaptogenic sparkling waters are now available at www.drinksekwl.com, priced at $4 per can. 12-packs are $48, and 24-packs are $96 (plus tax and shipping).
The aim is to be able to process them using conventional technologies so that they can be used in applications that are currently occupied by petroleum-derived plastics. The companies Venvirotech and ENPLAST are collaborating with the Plastics Technology Centre (AIMPLAS) in this research.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biocompatible and biodegradable plastics in soil and marine environments synthesised by a wide variety of microorganisms, which share very similar characteristics with plastics of petrochemical origin. The most recent studies focus on the search for cheaper alternative substrates, such as agro-industrial waste or industrial by-products, and on extraction strategies to reduce product costs. In this way, the aim is to facilitate their incorporation into a market dominated by petroleum-based plastics. The most commercialised PHAs have certain limitations to be processed by conventional technologies, so one of the objectives is to optimise them so that they can be used in different applications within the plastics industry, as well as to scale up their production and supply companies in the sector.
In this context, the COM4PHA project is committed to developing new formulations of bioplastics based on the PHAs group to promote new lines of product development based on these biodegradable materials. In particular, the project is working on formulations based on the PHBV copolymer for applications in the packaging and agriculture sector, using innovative processing technologies for this type of polymer. These technologies include hollow-body blown extrusion for bottles and the application of the copolymer as a coating on paper substrates and agricultural mulch films.
The overall objective of the project is also to optimise the synthesis of the material and favour the scaling up of larger quantities to be able to offer PHBV at an industrial level and reach certain applications that are currently occupied by conventional materials.
The biotechnology company Venvirotech, which specialises in the transformation of organic waste through a proprietary technology that uses bacteria to produce PHA bioplastics, is coordinating this project. The company ENPLAST, a specialist in the creation and manufacture of all types of plastic packaging, is also participating in the project and will be responsible for validating the materials developed. As a link between the two companies, AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is in charge of the new PHA formulations, both for the production of packaging and for the formulation of coatings.
The new formulations for cosmetic packaging will be biodegradable and compostable and will comply with the established requirements, which will reduce their environmental impact and allow a better acceptance of the product by the market. This innovation may also be of interest to other processors and end-users in the food and beverage sector, in addition to cosmetics.
For coating formulations in the paper and agricultural sectors, developments will improve product quality and extend shelf life. The results can be exploited in the packaging sector, and applied to those where barrier properties are required, such as the food and cosmetics sectors. In the agricultural sector, they will be applied in mulch films to maintain crop quality based on the barrier and antimicrobial properties of the coating.
The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the Next Generation funds of the European Union are financing this action.
MycoTechnology, Inc., has announced that its new ClearHT™ natural flavour has received Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS) status from the Flavour and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) for use as a flavour with modifying properties (FMP) in multiple food and beverage categories.
Discovered from the honey truffle, a unique species of fungi with a rich history of use, ClearHT™ natural flavour is the newest addition to MycoTechnology’s portfolio of innovative taste solutions. At low inclusion levels, it enhances flavours such as citrus and caramel, and offers new ways to modulate sweetness, helping to address continued consumer demand for better-tasting, healthier products. It will be available for use in markets that recognize FEMA GRAS determinations by early 2026.
“Achieving FEMA GRAS status affirms the safety of ClearHT™ natural flavour and opens new opportunities in many regions,” says Sue Potter, Ph.D., Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs at MycoTechnology. “This is a significant milestone in our efforts to expand the availability of our ingredient solutions to global markets.”
Jordi Ferre, MycoTechnology’s CEO, adds, “We are proud to introduce ClearHT™ natural flavour, our latest innovation in MycoTechnology’s line of transformative ingredient solutions. Our team has continued to demonstrate exceptional progress in scale-up, safety validation, and applications development in preparation for commercial availability. This approval marks another important step in our mission to promote healthier, better-tasting food and beverages.”
Maison Perrier introduced Maison Perrier Chic, the brand’s first-ever line of premium flavoured sparkling beverages that reimagines classic cocktails into non-alcoholic delights. Blending fan-favourite flavours with Maison Perrier signature grand bubbles, Chic offers a refreshing twist on French sophistication – no spirits needed.
Crafted in collaboration with a distinguished French bartender from one of the World’s 50 Best Bars, Chic mixes real fruit juice and natural flavours with the iconic grand bubbles of Maison Perrier, adding a splash of French flair to your sip. Whether unwinding after a long day, hosting a chic soiree, or savouring a stylish nightcap, Chic delivers an elevated cocktail-inspired experience in every can.
For only 30 calories or less per can, Maison Perrier Chic serves up four flirty flavours inspired by classic libations:
Daiqui’red Flavoured Sparkling Beverage, a twist on the beloved frozen classic, the Daiquiri, with vibrant tart fruit and sparkling bubbles.
Peach Spritzer Flavoured Sparkling Beverage, a juicy peach delight with a crisp finish puts an effortlessly chic spin on a Bellini.
Piña Fizz Flavoured Sparkling Beverage, reminiscent of the fan favourite Piña Colada, a coconut and pineapple fusion of flavours that transports tastebuds to paradise.
Citrus Fizz Flavoured Sparkling Beverage, a reimagined take on French 75. Bright, zesty lemon flavour and a crisp bubbly finish.
Maison Perrier Chic Citrus Fizz Flavoured Sparkling Beverage will be exclusively available at Whole Foods, while the other irresistible flavours will soon grace retailers in the U.S., including Amazon, beginning this April. With an MSRP of USD 5.99 for a 4-can pack, it’s the perfect opportunity to indulge in a little sophistication.
Refresco, the global independent beverage solutions provider for Global, National and Emerging (GNE) brands and retailers in Europe, North America and Australia, publishes the Annual Report 2024 of Pegasus MidCo B.V., the entity owning Refresco Holding B.V.
The Annual Report, consisting of the Executive Board Report and the Financial Statements, is available for download on Refresco’s website: https://annualreport.refresco.com/
About Refresco Refresco is the global independent beverage solutions provider for retailers and global, national and emerging brands with production in Europe, North America and Australia. Refresco offers an extensive range of product and packaging combinations from juices to carbonated soft drinks and mineral waters in carton, PET, Aseptic PET, cans and glass. Refresco continuously searches for new and alternative ways to improve the quality of its products and packaging combinations in line with consumer and customer demand, environmental responsibilities and market demand. Refresco is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and has more than 14,500 employees.
Symrise is relaunching its beverage incubator Califormulations and renaming the brand into bWorks™. This step completes the evolution from a partial investment into a full acquisition over recent years. Since 2019, Symrise has been delivering end-to-end beverage innovation to consumer-packaged goods (CPG) companies and their brands. bWorks™ now builds on the existing legacy of innovative and trustworthy beverage solutions. It is expanding its services as an incubation partner with the unique capacity to support both small-scale and large-scale production.
In its capacity as beverage incubator, bWorks™ offers end-to-end solutions from concept to market-ready products. It is leveraging consumer insights, winning flavours, rapid prototyping, as well as agile manufacturing. This unique incubator approach combined with expert taste solutions brings together creativity and commercialisation. This allows for speed to market at the right size with the right flavour profile.
“Our modular services, from insights and design to prototyping, development, and full-scale production, make us the ideal partner our customers’ beverage innovation journey”, states Fernando Levy, Sr. Director of Beverages BU NA. “Customers can obtain limited-edition runs, line extensions, regional or national launches, or long-term productions from us. bWorks™ adapts to customer needs through our bundle services and longstanding flavour expertise”.
As a premier solution turnkey partner, bWorks™ will continue to support customers with beverage innovation across three beverage-focused locations within the USA: Teterboro, NJ, Columbus, GA, and Laguna Beach, CA. The manufacturing site in Columbus, GA, provides agility with run capabilities ranging from 10k to 100k cases per SKU. This covers a variety of packaging, including cans, bottles, and bag-in-box. The site has also received certification from the Department of Agriculture as an approved food manufacturing facility (SQF Level 3, FSMA/HACCP). This includes alcohol permits and the ability to provide certification in Organic, Kosher and Halal.
The Food and Beverage Carton Alliance (FBCA), an association formed from the merger of two established organisations, announced its launch as a unified platform dedicated to advancing beverage cartons as essential, renewable, and circular packaging solutions.
The organisation is the result of the merger of ACE (The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment) and EXTR:ACT, two European associations that have championed beverage cartons as a sustainable packaging solution and the industry’s work in ensuring they are collected and recycled.
With a vision to expand beyond Europe, FBCA aspires to unite beverage carton manufacturers and their paperboard suppliers in driving sustainable packaging solutions that enhance food security, reduce waste, and advance low-carbon circular economies.
An ambition for a sustainable future
Food and beverage cartons as essential components of resilient food systems. By leveraging renewable resources and continuously improving their environmental performance, food and beverage cartons play a crucial role in extending the shelf life of perishable foods, reducing waste, and ensuring safety and quality for consumers worldwide.
“Our industry is working tirelessly in designing fully renewable and sustainable packaging solutions that meet the needs of both consumers and the planet,” Patrick Verhelst, President of the FBCA Board said. “We are excited to expand globally and champion the role of beverage cartons in building a more resilient, low-carbon future.”
New board announced
The newly elected FBCA Board representing its five founding members includes:
Patrick Verhelst, President FBCA and Senior Director of Business Development, Elopak;
Ulrika Wedberg, Vice President FBCA and Executive Vice-President Sustainability & Public Affairs, Billerud;
Karina Boers, Head of Sustainability Development, SIG;
Tamara Bullock, Director Corporate Affairs, Europe and Americas, Tetra Pak;
Erik Hallberg, Vice-President Coating, Converting and Digital Technology, Stora Enso
“Through FBCA’s Global Centers of Expertise, Advocacy and Communications, we will provide the evidence and benchmarks needed to lead the way in sustainability progress,” said Annick Carpentier, FBCA Executive Director of Global Advocacy. “We look forward to working with global partners in driving a circular bioeconomy, maximising functionality and efficiency along the life cycle.”
FBCA unites industry leaders and global stakeholders in ensuring the long-term viability of a thriving food and beverage carton sector, optimising the performance of the life cycle of food and packaging systems. Together, FBCA will contribute its knowledge, expertise and leadership to develop robust regulatory frameworks for food packaging worldwide.
The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) announced the release of Version 4.3 of its groundbreaking Beverage Industry Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Sector Guidance. This latest iteration is designed to further support the beverage industry in aligning with global GHG reporting protocols while enhancing consistency, accuracy, and leadership in emissions calculation and reporting.
A comprehensive tool for sustainability in the beverage sector
The updated guidance builds on BIER’s commitment to providing beverage companies with sector-specific tools that go beyond standard protocols. It supports the industry’s efforts to measure, manage, and report emissions effectively across Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (indirect), and Scope 3 (value chain) categories. By tailoring the framework to the unique needs of the beverage sector, the guidance ensures actionable insights and meaningful progress toward decarbonization.
“Version 4.3 represents a critical step forward for the beverage industry,” said Erica Pann, Executive Director of BIER. “It enables companies to confidently navigate the complexities of GHG reporting while fostering greater transparency and accountability within the sector.”
Key updates in Version 4.3
The latest guidance incorporates cutting-edge developments in GHG reporting standards and methodologies, including:
Alignment with Emerging Standards: Integrating updates from the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Science-Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) FLAG guidance for forest, land, and agriculture emissions.
Enhanced Methodologies: Improvements in data allocation for recycling, transportation logistics, and cooling models to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Focus on Transparency: Strengthened protocols for data verification and disclosure to meet the demands of stakeholders, from regulators to consumers.
Commitment to net zero leadership
As part of a broader commitment to a net-zero future, BIER member companies are embracing ambitious science-based targets. Many have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040-2050. The updated guidance underscores near- and long-term decarbonization strategies, providing a clear pathway to align with global climate goals and build resilience in the face of climate change.
A collaborative industry effort
Developed by BIER, a technical coalition of leading global beverage companies, the guidance exemplifies the power of collective action. It unites the industry under a shared framework for measuring and reducing emissions while driving innovation and sustainable practices.
“This guidance reflects the beverage industry’s leadership in sustainability,” said Inez Prosee, GHG Guidance Project Manager and Associate Director at BIER. “By working together, we’re setting the standard for GHG reporting and creating a more sustainable future for the entire sector.”
The Beverage Industry Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Sector Guidance, Version 4.3 is available for download at https://bit.ly/BIERGHG25.
The study looks at how the use of cannabis is impacting consumption in key food and beverage categories in key markets.
GlobalData’s new “Hot Topics” cannabis study on the claimed consumption behavior of cannabis users compared to non-users highlights that this is a large and growing consumer group, who are behaving differently to the general population, in ways that brand owners and their stakeholders may not fully realise.
Jenny Questier, Consumer Analysis Director at GlobalData, commented: “Currently, there is little research data or analysis available to help companies understand the impact of a new cohort of cannabis users in consumer packaged goods markets where the drug has been legalised. While this study’s findings are indicative, they could apply to any market where cannabis use is prevalent as they do provide some useful insights into the impact that cannabis users consumption behavior could have on product choices being made in key food and beverage categories and which demographics are important in future product development and positioning.”
The study entitled, “Hot Topics Report: Impact of cannabis use on consumption in key markets”, provides a top-line indication of how consumers who claim to use cannabis, describe their use of the drug in five key markets which have legalised the recreational use of the cannabis, namely: the US, South Africa, Canada, Mexico and Germany, and the claimed impact this may have on consumer consumption in the alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, savory snacks, and chocolate and confectionary categories in each of these markets.
The study reveals that cannabis users have a tendency to stay at home more, are more concerned about their physical and mental health, spend more time online, and perhaps as a consequence of this, order more food online, when compared to non-cannabis users. Interestingly, the known side effects of cannabis use of increasing hunger and thirst are significantly impacting on consumers’ net consumption of non-alcoholic beverages, savory snacks and chocolate and confectionary, however, the drug’s use currently seems to have a limited impact on alcohol consumption overall.
This is an important cohort for consumer packaged goods companies because the number of recreational cannabis users is already significant and is set to grow further. In the US, cannabis is legal for recreational use in 24 out of 50 states, according to the *Pew Research Centre. In the US, there were an estimated 17.7 million daily cannabis users recorded in 2022, according to research published in the journal Addiction, based on data collected by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Questier continued, “In the coming decade, the number of cannabis users is set to grow globally as more US states are likely to legalize recreational cannabis use, public support may lead more countries to do the same, and more people are likely to take up the habit as a means of relaxation, enjoyment, and for perceived health benefits. It is imperative that brands and manufacturers of food and beverages understand what this may mean for future innovation and target consumer groups.”
Here are some of the top-line indicative findings from the study for each food and beverages category surveyed in each market:
Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic Drinks
Cannabis use does not appear to have a significant impact on alcoholic drinks sales!
Claimed alcohol consumption remains largely unchanged overall as a result of cannabis use, generally holding steady at a plus or minus 1 % net change in most markets. Canada and Mexico have a small net decline in alcohol consumption with Germany’s high + 10 % net change attributed to a smaller sample size as cannabis has only recently been legalised in the country, and reported use remains relatively low.
An assumption that alcohol sales overall might suffer from the increased use of cheaper cannabis products as the stimulant effects are similar is not evident from this study. However, that’s not to say that the alcoholic drinks market isn’t changing; female cannabis users are drinking less alcohol, but males are drinking more.
Cannabis use makes you thirsty for non-alcoholic drinks!
All markets in this study saw a significant rise in the consumption of non-alcoholic drinks by cannabis users. In some markets, this rise occurred among all demographics, in other markets younger consumers dominated.
Savory Snacks and Chocolate & Confectionary
Cannabis use gives you the munchies, boosting savory snacks sales!
All markets saw a rise in savory snack consumption due to cannabis use; North American markets had particularly large rises. Unlike beverages, Gen Z do not dominate savory snack sales, instead it is older Gen Y and Gen X consumers.
Cannabis use gives you a sweet tooth, increasing chocolate & confectionery sales!
Cannabis use drives a significant rise in chocolate and confectionery consumption in most markets, although the demographic leading this varies from market to market.
Questier adds: “The top-line results from this indicative study show that cannabis users’ consumption behavior is different from other consumers. Consumption of soft drinks, savory snacks and chocolate and confectionery is significantly increased, with the balance between male and female, and young and old consumers shifting in each market. Whilst there is limited claimed impact from cannabis users on total alcohol consumption, the demographic make-up of this market is nevertheless changed by the presence of cannabis.
“With little research conducted into this area to date, the study’s indicative findings suggest that the implications of cannabis use for consumer packaged goods companies and their stakeholders could be significant for brand strategy, consumer targeting, portfolio management, innovation, sales, advertising, and marketing. Further research by brand, category, and geography could be required to ensure that these implications are understood and appropriate strategies devised to manage them.”
Free sample pages from the “Hot Topics Report: Impact of cannabis use on consumption in key markets”, are available here
As a founding member of the industry association RecyPac, Emmi is working alongside its partners to launch a nationwide circular solution for plastic packaging and beverage cartons. The solution was launched in several Swiss municipalities in January 2025, enabling the standardised collection of packaging, including Emmi branded products such as Aktifit and good day. A significant milestone has been reached in the collective efforts to achieve a circular solution in Switzerland for these high-quality recyclable materials, demonstrating the continued progress Emmi is making in achieving its sustainability goals for sustainable packaging and in supporting the circular economy.
Numerous Emmi dairy products such as Aktifit, good day and raclette are already available on the market in recyclable plastic packaging or beverage cartons. Since January 2025, consumers in the city of Bern and the municipalities of Dietikon, Greifensee, Oetwil an der Limmat and Schlieren have been the first to be able to place recyclable packaging into a standardised collection system. This marks the first major milestone in the RecyPac collection initiative’s goal to develop a comprehensive, nationwide solution for the two recyclable materials.
“The standardised collection and recycling solution for plastic packaging and beverage cartons introduces the first nationwide solution. We are continuing our pioneering work to develop a practical, everyday solution for our consumers and are committed to supporting a circular economy in line with our sustainability goals,” explains Marc Heim, Executive Vice President Division Switzerland at Emmi.
Emmi Schweiz AG is a founding member of the non-profit organisation RecyPac. This industry association focuses on the development of a recycling system that involves all stakeholders along the value chain with the aim of collecting recyclable materials nationwide and recycling them to a high standard. This will close a major gap in Switzerland’s circular economy.
Premium fruit and vegetable ingredients supplier SVZ sets out its predictions of the essential trends that will shape the food and beverage (F&B) industry in 2025. With an emphasis on nutritional value, and how it can be further supported by fruit and vegetable ingredients, SVZ’s three top trends reflect how consumers see F&B products as more than just fuel – but as routes to improved well-being, a greener, fairer economy and even authentic self-expression.
1. Back to basics: Fundamental nutrition
SVZ’s first top trend is consumers’ return to fundamental nutritional truths. Half a decade on from the COVID-19 outbreak, the connection between diet and health remains a central topic. Most Europeans report that they eat more healthily now than five years ago, but even so, many still worry about making the right choices amid a sea of conflicting advice.1 In France, 51 % of those surveyed by Mintel stated they felt pressure to eat and drink healthily.2 Pair this statistic with another from the same report which shows that around one in five respondents are attracted to core nutritional claims such as high fibre, vitamin or mineral content, and the ‘fundamental nutrition’ trend starts to take shape.3
“Shoppers are overwhelmed and wary of vague or complex nutritional claims,” comments Johan Cerstiaens, Commercial Director at SVZ. “Instead, they want options with clear, common-sense benefits that reflect the basics of nutrition. A great example is products which help consumers reach their recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables. It’s a claim valued by more than a third of shoppers, but real fruit puree or a vegetable juice is also a great source of natural flavour and nutrition too.”
2. The ‘so-what’ consumer: Rebellion takes centre stage
Directly challenging the much-discussed ‘nutrition-above-all-else’ attitude, 2025 will be the year of the rebellious food and beverage consumer. This theme is defined by personal expression, imperfections and guilt-free consumption. While some address their dissatisfaction with diet trends by going back to basics, others are taking a more radical approach. For instance, 34 % of French shoppers believe ‘life is too short’ to worry about specific food and drink choices, while worldwide, 43 % of consumers state they want to see more indulgent and ‘crazy’ food and drink creations.4 New-year trend predictions from Mintel, FMCG Gurus5 and Innova Market Insights all reference these rebels who prioritise gratification over righteousness.
“This trend is so interesting because it presents several different routes to success,” Cerstiaens continues. “On the one hand brands can lean into the convention-bucking aspect with wild and wonderful flavour combinations, but on the other they could focus on authenticity by demonstrating how their products align with key consumer values, such as plant-based eating or ethical sourcing.”
3. Supply and demands: Food safety, security and sustainability
SVZ’s final 2025 trend relates to the impact of geopolitical and climate-related disruptions on the food and beverage segment. From major political events to increasingly volatile weather events, global supply chains are under pressure – and shoppers are taking notice. Between on-shelf shortages and the rise of ‘skimpflation’6, reports of consumer concern are unsurprising, with 77 % of Italian adults for instance believing that climate change will affect the availability of supermarket products in their lifetime.7 In fact, globally, two thirds of shoppers state that sustainability is more important to them now than it was two years ago8, suggesting this is a purchase driver that will only continue to grow in importance.
“While it may not always be the easiest of topics, at SVZ we know no discussion about the future of food and beverages is complete without addressing sustainability and security of supply,” states Cerstiaens. “Through our daily operations, we have a seen genuine determination, from farm to fridge, to build a fairer, greener and more efficient global food system. Rather than being discouraged by current challenges therefore, as a sector we should be inspired to collaborate across the supply chain, drive innovation in natural ingredients and adopt sustainable sourcing strategies that help keep the F&B industry climate-resilient.”
With a joint investment of around EUR 3 million by Tetra Pak and Yellow Dreams, a new recycling plant is set to start operations in Ittervoort (The Netherlands) in the second half of 2025. The facility will handle the non-fibre component (polyAl) from used beverage cartons, boosting the recycling capacity in the European Union (EU).
Strategically located near the Belgian and German borders, the plant has the potential to process the entire volume of polyAl from beverage cartons recycled in Belgium and The Netherlands, and part of the volume from Germany. Featuring an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes, this second Dutch plant complements the existing 8,000-tonne capacity at Recon Polymers’ facility in Roosendaal, marking a significant increase to the region’s recycling capacity. It also adds to the existing and well-established recycling infrastructure in the EU, where beverage cartons are recycled in 20 specialised paper mills, with polyAl currently processed by ten facilities.
Kinga Sieradzon, Vice President Collection & Recycling, Tetra Pak, comments: “We are pleased to announce this new plant, which significantly enhances the recycling capacities of used beverage cartons in the region. By collaborating with Yellow Dreams, we have the opportunity to exceed the Netherlands’ official recycling targets.1This is another milestone in our collaborative journey with all stakeholders across the value chain, to drive collection, sorting, and recycling. Our ongoing investments, up to €40 million each year globally,2 reflect our commitment to advancing beverage carton recycling and supporting sustainable practices.”
Bas Gehlen, Managing Director at Yellow Dreams, adds: “The joint endeavour of Yellow Dreams and Tetra Pak not only showcases the potential of polyAl recycling but also sets a remarkable example of the value of collaboration towards building a circular system. Through this project, we are continuing to spearhead the transformation of carton recycling, leaving a lasting impact on the environment and inspiring further the adoption of circular economy practices.”
Today, beverage cartons can be and are being recycled into valuable materials for new products wherever the collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure is in place. Therefore, expanding this infrastructure is a priority for Tetra Pak. Recycled paper fibres are used to enhance the quality of various paper products, such as e-commerce boxes and shopping bags. The protective layers of polymers and aluminium, once recycled, can replace virgin plastics or other recycled plastics in applications for injection moulding, extrusion or thermo-forming, and be used to produce a variety of goods, such as pallets, crates, outdoor furniture, flower pots and tiles.
Tetra Pak has collaborated intensively with Recon Polymers since 2019 to further develop polyAl recycling technology. The project evolved into a full-fledged commercial plant in Roosendaal, Netherlands that commenced operations in early 2021 and got an €1 million injection in 2023 in a bid to increase the capacity to 8,000 tonnes per year, therefore advancing material circularity across France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The co-investment with Yellow Dreams – which is based on the same technology, helping to transform polyAl into a range of everyday items including reusable pallets, interiors and large-format 3D printed object – represents the latest step in this journey. Once operational, the new plant will benefit several countries.
1The Netherlands’ official recycling target not only accounts for fibre recycling but also polyAl recycling. This target will evolve from 34 % in 2023 to 55 % by 2030 (source: https://www.verpact.nl/nl/drankenkartons) 2Capital and operating investments.
DNV, the independent assurance and risk management provider, published a new report highlighting the urgent need for the food and beverage sector to transform its supply chains to meet sustainability demands amid global challenges like climate change, regulatory shifts, and evolving consumer expectations.
The report ‘The Future of Sustainable Food Supply Chains: Spotlight on Europe’s Food and Beverage Industry’ reveals that sustainability has become the number one supply chain priority for food and beverage companies, with 75 % ranking it among their top three goals, ahead of cost efficiency (63 %) and regulatory compliance (49 %).
To succeed, companies must adopt a holistic approach that integrates visibility, digital transformation, and compliance with emerging regulations. With food systems accounting for a third of global carbon emissions, the report identifies critical areas where the industry must focus to balance environmental responsibility, cost-efficiency, and compliance with increasingly stringent regulations.
The report’s key findings on critical challenges facing food and beverage supply chains include:
Digital transformation as a catalyst: The adoption of digital tools such as supply chain traceability, connected product passport as well as supply chain risk management platforms is gaining momentum, but the sector lags behind others in integrating key technologies. A focus on verifiable and trusted data, as well as ease of use across all supply chain actors is essential to enable transparency and cost-effective compliance.
Evolving regulatory landscape: New EU directives, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the Packaging Waste Directive, are driving companies to address sustainability comprehensively, from carbon footprints to human rights concerns.
Consumer and retailer influence: Today’s informed consumers demand sustainable and transparent food production practices and are willing to pay a premium for products aligned with their values. Retailers, especially those with private labels, are pushing for deeper collaboration with suppliers to meet these expectations.
“The food and beverage industry faces an era of significant transformation as sustainability within the entire supply chain becomes an urgent priority. Global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and the growing impact of climate change, have intensified existing challenges while introducing new complexities to the industry’s supply chains,” said Geir Fuglerud, CEO – Supply Chain & Product Assurance at DNV. “This report is a blueprint for companies to address the challenges ahead, leveraging digital innovation to balance cost-efficiency and environmental responsibility.”
While digital transformation is crucial for creating lean and green supply chains, the report’s findings highlight that it must be coupled with robust methodologies for data collection and verification. Technologies like AI offer immense potential to enhance visibility and traceability, but fragmented standards and siloed data systems remain key barriers.
As climate change accelerates and global populations grow, the food and beverage sector must embrace a holistic, technology-driven approach to sustainability. Collaboration across the supply chain, bolstered by strategic partnerships and adherence to rigorous standards, will be essential in shaping a more sustainable and efficient future.
Just Made, a leading producer of cold-pressed juices, shots, and smoothie bowls, announced the installation of a Hiperbaric 300 high-pressure processing (HPP) system at its new Houston (USA) production facility. The company hosted an inauguration event on November 9th to celebrate the new facility, HPP equipment, and expanded capabilities.
“We have followed Just Made’s inspiring journey from inception to becoming a leader in authentic, cold-pressed beverages. Their commitment to quality and innovation perfectly aligns with our mission, and we are honored to be part of their growth story,” said Rob Peregrina, Executive Director at Hiperbaric.
Just Made was founded in 2016 with a mission to bring the vibrant flavors and nutritional benefits of tropical fruits to consumers across the United States. The company currently distributes its cold-pressed juices and other products in over 3,000 retail locations across more than 25 states.
Based in Houston, TX, the new 22,000-square-foot facility houses the Hiperbaric 300 system, two bottling lines, coolers, freezers, and other food processing equipment. The Hiperbaric 300 unit features a 300 mm (11.8 inches) diameter pressure vessel and can process up to 1,410 kg/h (3,100 lbs./h) of product. The new HPP system will help deliver significant cost savings compared to relying on third-party HPP services. The company projects a payback period of 2 to 3 years on the new equipment.
“We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Hiperbaric as they develop new innovations that will benefit the food processing industry,” said Norka Nimocks, CEO of Just Made. “Their commitment to service and responsiveness is a key factor in our decision to partner with them.”
About Just Made Just Made was founded in 2016 with the goal of bringing the vibrant flavours and nutritional benefits of tropical fruits to consumers across the United States. The company’s portfolio of cold-pressed juices, shots and smoothie bowls are available in over 3,000 retail locations across more than 25 states. As a certified B-Corporation, they believe in using business as a force for good. For every bottle sold, they donate 5¢ to support local schools, teachers and students in rural Latin America and the Caribbean. Their team works directly with school administrators and teachers to determine the best uses for these funds.
Most consumers believe that food and beverage manufacturers should declare if a product has been made with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), new research shows.
In a survey commissioned by Ingredient Communications and conducted by SurveyGoo, 83 % of respondents agreed that companies should declare on a product’s label if it has been designed or manufactured with the help of AI technology.1 More than half of all those surveyed – 55 % – agreed with this assertion strongly and only 4 % disagreed with it altogether.
Nearly two thirds of respondents (64 %) said they believed that food and beverage products made with the help of AI technology should not be described as ‘natural’ – with 12 % disagreeing with this. There was also strong support for regulation, with 78 % of respondents agreeing that the Government should introduce laws controlling the ways food and drink companies can use AI technology to design and manufacture their products. Just 6 % disagreed with this.
A majority of respondents (52 %) agreed with the general point that AI technology is a positive development that will benefit humanity, with 21 % disagreeing. However, when asked how they felt about the use of AI specifically to design and produce food and beverage products, fewer respondents (42 %) said they felt positively about this, with 27 % saying they felt negatively.
Just under half of respondents (44 %) said they believed that a food or beverage product made with the help of AI might be less safe to consume. However, they were split on whether they would be more or less likely to buy a food or beverage product made with the help of AI. Just over a quarter (26 %) said they would be more likely to do so, with 29 % stating they would be less likely.
The survey also revealed a distinct generational split. A majority of Generation Z and Millennial respondents felt positively about the use of AI in the food industry (65 % and 57 %, respectively). The corresponding figure among Generation X and Boomers was markedly lower – 44 % and 25 %, respectively.
Richard Clarke, Managing Director of Ingredient Communications, commented: “Many food and beverage companies have rushed to embrace the benefits of AI technology but it’s important they take care to consider how consumers feel about this. We’ve seen a huge backlash against AI in the arts and entertainment business. To avoid the same fate, food and beverage manufacturers should pause to reflect on whether they are being sufficiently transparent about their use of AI.”
He continued: “As we saw 30 years ago with the furore over the safety of genetically modified crops, it’s easy for misinformation to spread and stir up fear. Food and beverage companies would be wise to implement a communications strategy to ensure the public is kept informed about the ways in which they harness the power of AI tech.”
Other takeaways from the survey included 79 % of respondents agreeing that savings made by food and beverage companies through the use of AI should be passed on to shoppers in the form of lower retail prices.
However, sentiment shifted if this came at the expense of employment, with 40 % considering it unacceptable if the use of AI technology to design and manufacture a food or beverage product meant somebody lost their job – even products were cheaper as a result. A third of respondents (33 %) considered this an acceptable outcome.
1Online survey of 1,040 consumers in UK and USA, conducted October 2024
Drinks Ventures GmbH and Canable, a leading co-packing service provider based in Berlin, Germany, are excited to announce the launch of its new financing program aimed at helping beverage brands rapidly scale their operations. This initiative offers unlimited funding at competitive rates to qualifying companies, enabling them to meet growing demand and expand their market presence.
You’ve already proven your drink’s market potential by selling 100,000 cans? Now, imagine accelerating to 500,000 cans and beyond. Our financing program is your co-pilot in this exciting journey of scaling your beverage brand.
Eligibility criteria:
Companies must have successfully sold a minimum of 100,000 cans of their beverage product to qualify.
Applicants are required to possess a current purchase order or Letter of Intent (LOI).
“We recognise that many promising beverage brands face challenges in scaling production to meet demand, even after achieving initial market success,” said Jennifer Browarczyk, CEO of Drinks Ventures GmbH. “Our new financing program aims to bridge that gap, providing the capital needed to fulfill large orders and accelerate growth.”
The program is designed to work seamlessly with our co-packing services, offering a comprehensive solution for beverage companies looking to increase production volumes efficiently. By combining flexible financing with expert co-packing capabilities, Canable is positioned to be a valuable partner in helping innovative beverage brands reach their full potential.
Beverage companies interested in learning more about this financing opportunity and Canable’s co-packing services are encouraged to apply using this form: https://forms.gle/fmJqhS6aVn3b49AB6
About Drinks Ventures Drinks Ventures, home to Canable, is a top co-packing service provider based in Berlin, Germany. With a dynamic and flexible manufacturing process, Canable enables European beverage brands to ramp up production starting at 6000L. In collaboration with their partners, they streamline printing, canning and filling. Through the Beverage Scaleup Program, Drinks Ventures is focused on financing the growth of multiple scaleup drink companies.
The escalating food waste crisis in the Asia-Pacific region presents a significant challenge that demands urgent attention from stakeholders across the supply chain. To combat this, foodservice operators are increasingly adopting recycling as a cornerstone of sustainable practices. Sustainability initiatives in the food and beverage industry include ethical sourcing, food waste reduction, and implementing composting programs and efficient waste management systems, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Shravani Mali, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “As awareness around sustainability grows, consumers increasingly prioritise ethical considerations in their purchasing decisions. Consumer demand for sustainability efforts among food service establishments and the food and beverage industry is accelerating, pushing restaurants to use more recycled materials, reduce waste and decrease their carbon footprint.
Governments across Asia have launched various initiatives to act against the crisis. These efforts reflect a growing recognition of the environmental, economic, and social implications of food waste, which is a persistent challenge across the region.
For instance, according to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in Australia, food waste is a persistent issue in the country, with an estimated 7.6 million tons of food discarded each year. Under the National Food Waste Strategy, the Australian government aims to halve the country’s food waste by 2030. Approximately 4 % of Australian food waste comes from the hospitality and foodservice sector1.
Moreover, in the Chinese municipal waste structure, approximately 50 % accounts for food waste2. As a sign of hospitality in the Chinese culture, people tend to order more food than they can eat. Prompted by these concerns, the Chinese government issued the Anti-Food Waste Law (AFWL), which aims to alleviate food waste.
Tim Hill, Key Account Director, SE Asia at GlobalData adds: “As a result of rapid urbanisation, population growth, and a complex food supply chain in APAC, there is a rising need to implement strategies to reduce food waste, thereby enhancing sustainability.”
For instance, food waste that is unsuitable for human or animal consumption such as fruit/vegetable peels and eggshells can be used to enrich the soil or as a natural fertiliser for landscapes.
Hill adds: “Additionally, redistributing excess food in collaboration with nonprofit organisations and food banks will foster a sense of responsibility towards food resources. Hence, such initiatives are expected to reflect a considerable decrease in the environmental footprint.”
Mali concludes: “The growing food waste problem in the APAC region demands immediate action and collaborative efforts across sectors to establish sustainable practices, enhance resource efficiency, and establish a resilient and responsible food system. Tackling this issue is crucial not only for environmental sustainability but also for bolstering the economic and social welfare of the APAC region.”
1CSIRO, November 2023 2Environmental Change and Security Program – Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, December 2023 3GlobalData 2024 Q3 Consumer Survey – Asia & Australasia, with 6,000 respondents, published October 2024
Refresco, the global independent beverage solutions provider for retailers and global, national, and emerging (GNE) brands in Europe, North America, and Australia, today announces the successful closing of its acquisition of Frías Nutrición (“Frías”), a leading manufacturer of plant-based drinks in Spain. This transaction, first announced on July 22, 2024, strengthens Refresco’s position in the rapidly growing plant-based beverage category.
Frías, located in Burgos, Spain, employs approximately 250 people and specializes in producing private label plant-based drinks, including almond, rice, hazelnut, and soy options for key retailers in Spain and beyond. This acquisition complements Refresco’s existing operations in Spain and significantly expands its capabilities in the plant-based drinks sector.
CEO Refresco, Hans Roelofs, commented: “As part of our proven Buy & Build strategy, we are looking to expand our capabilities in existing and adjacent beverage categories. The acquisition of Frías not only enhances our footprint in the plant-based drinks market, but it also allows us to better serve our European customers and accelerates our product innovation capabilities. We are excited to welcome the talented Frías team and are dedicated to a seamless integration process that will drive mutual growth.”
With this acquisition, Refresco reaffirms its commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative beverage solutions to its customers, while also further enhancing its service offerings.
Döhler, a world-leading producer and provider of natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions, has announced a joint venture with FGF Trapani, a renowned specialist in citrus farming and processing. This partnership aims to revolutionise the use of citrus fibres as natural texturisers in food and beverage applications. Thus, customers get access to premium, cost-effective and minimally processed citrus fibre solutions that address market trends for healthier and environmentally friendly ingredients.
Döhler’s extensive experience in natural ingredients and ingredient systems as well as their application in F&B, combined with FGF Trapani’s lifelong heritage and expertise in citrus farming and processing, provides innovative alternatives to traditional hydrocolloids that excel in gelling, thickening and stabilising applications. As key provider in the F&B industry, Döhler now expands its product range with an advanced portfolio of citrus fibres that is developed for high-performing product textures, enhancing both consumer appeal and product differentiation.
Focus on customer benefits and application expertise
Customers all over the world will benefit from this collaboration having direct access to high-quality and minimally processed citrus fibres. In response to the increasing demand for health-promoting ingredients, this collaboration provides natural fibres that support dietary goals, including fibre enrichment and reduced use of artificial additives. This empowers brands to develop products that cater to health-conscious consumers.
The joint venture’s citrus fibres offer versatile applications across various product categories, from beverages and dairy to bakery and sauces. This versatility allows manufacturers to innovate across their portfolios, creating new and exciting products with improved texture, mouthfeel and health promoting claims.
Strategic benefits of vertical integration and sustainability
FGF Trapani’s production facility, strategically located in one of the world’s largest lemon-growing regions, ensures a reliable supply of premium raw materials. By processing citrus fibres directly from fresh lemon peels, the joint venture guarantees access to a pectin-rich product that combines the benefits of both soluble and insoluble fibres. This vertical integration allows for maximum quality control and sustainability throughout the supply chain, supporting the production of highly functional ingredients that meet stringent industry standards.
With a focus on sustainable production practices, the partnership delivers environmentally friendly citrus fibres that align with consumer values. By utilising by-products of citrus processing, this initiative is contributing to a more sustainable food and beverage production.
Meeting consumer demand for healthier and organic ingredients
The joint venture between Döhler and FGF Trapani is timely, as consumers increasingly demand cleaner, minimally processed and organic-quality ingredients. Citrus fibres, derived from natural raw materials, are well-aligned with these market trends, offering a functional and sustainable ingredient that meets the needs of health-conscious consumers.
Tetra Pak and Lactalis have unveiled a carton package that uses certified recycled polymers linked to used beverage cartons, marking a first for the beverage carton industry and a significant step towards a circular economy.
This material has been certified by ISCC PLUS as originating from the recycling process of used beverage cartons in Spain and is allocated to the package based on a mass balance attribution method. This means that the certified recycled polymers are made up of a mix of recycled and non-recycled, virgin fossil feedstock, ensuring the corresponding volume of recycled material is sourced and tracked throughout the supply chain. This is verified by a third-party auditor, according to the ISCC Chain of Custody Procedure.2 The chemical recycling process ensures that the certified recycled polymers do not compromise the package’s quality, food safety or any other attributes, further demonstrating the circular potential of cartons.
The advancement keeps quality resources in circulation and reduces the industry’s dependence on virgin, fossil-based materials, which aligns with both companies’ ambitions to further enhance the environmental profile of packaging. Tetra Pak plans to invest €100 million annually for the next five to ten years to achieve this, while Lactalis has made responsible packaging and the circular economy one of its global environmental priorities, together with animal welfare across their partner farms and decarbonisation of all their activities by 2050.
Joël Llovera, Purchasing Director of Lactalis Iberia, says: “Our collaboration with Tetra Pak is rooted in a shared vision and commitment to environmental stewardship for future generations, facilitated by circular economy principles. Packaging innovation plays a crucial role in this endeavor. We are dedicated to sustainable progress. Transitioning from fossil-based polymers to recycled ones, certified by ISCC PLUS as linked to used beverage cartons, represents a significant stride towards our objective.”
Marco Marchetti, Vice President Packaging Materials, Sales and Distribution Solutions, Tetra Pak, adds: “Increasing the usage of renewable and recycled resources in packaging is critical if we are to help food and beverage producers realise material circularity, turning waste into new resources and lowering reliance on virgin, fossil-based materials. To scale up the adoption of certified recycled polymers in food packaging, we need collective action across the entire system and enabling legislation. Scientists, policymakers, recyclers, industry players and others must work together to turn challenges into opportunities, as shown by our world-first introduction with Lactalis.”
This innovative initiative by Lactalis involves packing its Puleva dairy range sold in Spain – including calcium skimmed, semi-skimmed, whole and lactose-free milk – in Tetra Brik® Aseptic 1000 Slim cartons featuring the HeliCap™ 23 Pro closure. Following the market introduction under the Puleva brand, Lactalis aims to gradually expand its range of dairy products in packaging that uses certified recycled polymers. This step also aligns with expectations from consumers across the globe, who demand greater commitment from brands in terms of sustainability and are beginning to adapt their own behaviors to match. Tetra Pak research indicates that 78 % of consumers are concerned about the environmental impact of plastic waste, with 29 % reporting an increase in purchasing products packaged in recycled materials in the last year.3
1The certified recycled polymers are made of a mix of recycled and non-recycled, virgin fossil feedstock. Mass balance certification ensures the corresponding volume of recycled material is sourced and tracked throughout the supply chain. This is verified by a third-party auditor, according to the ISCC Chain of Custody Procedure. 2The material has been certified by ISCC PLUS as originating from the recycling process of used beverage cartons in Spain and is allocated to the package based on a mass balance attribution method. Mass balance is one of the chain of custody options eligible for ISCC certification. 3Tetra Pak’s latest Sustainable Packaging consumer research, run in 2023, comprised a total of 14,500 consumer interviews based on an online questionnaire in 29 markets: Germany, France, UK, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, South Africa, Egypt, China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, Brazil, USA, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina.
Themed “Make joy through science and creativity”, concepts will focus on transforming megatrends and innovations into opportunities for the industry
IFF is set to unveil a series of groundbreaking food and beverage innovations at Gulfood Manufacturing 2024 leveraging cutting-edge technologies and deep consumer insights. This year’s theme, “Make joy through science and creativity,” underscores IFF’s focus on transforming megatrends into tangible opportunities for the industry.
“We aim to revolutionise the food and beverage industry with innovative solutions that exceed market demands,” said Helga Moelschl, regional president, AMETI, Nourish, IFF. “Our approach combines scientific expertise with a relentless spirit of creativity and agility. We are excited to present concepts that embody these principles. Visitors will experience firsthand how our sustainable and affordable solutions deliver unparalleled sensory delight and functional health benefits.”
IFF will showcase a diverse range of new concepts inspired by key consumer trends like Experiential Delight, Health, and Affordability across various categories, including beverages, dairy, snacks, bakery, culinary, bars and confectionery. These innovations highlight IFF’s technical expertise and creativity in helping manufacturers create products with sensory appeal and functional health benefits, while also reducing costs.
Visitors to the double-story booth can experience the following beverage concepts:
Cost-efficient dairy drink: Concepts containing IFF’s unique system of specialty stabilisers, emulsifiers, patented flavour technology, and innovative top notes offers impactful savings on the full product composition without compromising on the sensory profile and stability compared to standard milk. Solutions are showcased in plain milk and sweetened flavoured versions, all offering higher calcium levels than standard milk.
Fizzy beverage with innovative flavours: Designed to connect with consumers’ emotions while offering the benefits of an energy drink, IFF researchers developed IFF Beyond Hedonics™, a toolbox of proprietary consumer research methodologies, to align flavours with functional benefits (IFF Ingredient HealthScape™) and affective states such as energy, happiness, focus and fun (IFF Flavor Feelings™). By leveraging these insights, IFF can help manufacturers build a stronger connection between their brands and consumers.
Reduced tomato paste in tomato-based sauces: Powered by IFF CURE™, IFF’s Core and Uncommon Replacements & Extenders, this system blend reduces tomato paste by 30 percent or more in ketchup, tomato paste and tomato-based sauces, maintaining flavour, texture, and quality while offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative for manufacturers.
Cocoa reduction in chocolate drinks: IFF’s innovative flavours and ingredient solutions can help mitigate the impact of cocoa price fluctuations, ensuring that the taste and functionality of chocolate drinks are preserved even with reduced cocoa content. This approach addresses cost concerns and maintains the high-quality sensory experience that consumers expect.
Mintel, the experts in what consumers want and why, has announced three key trends that will shape consumer behaviour in the years ahead. In 2025 and beyond, we’ll witness the human mind, nature and technology aim to find harmony, though not always achieve it. Consumers and brands will live in a pendulum that constantly swings between a sense of control and a loss of control. Mintel’s objective for 2025 is to delve into the nuances of all seven Mintel Trend Drivers (Value, Wellbeing, Identity, Rights, Technology, Surroundings and Experiences) across three different contexts: Home, Community and Globe.
The three consumer trends for 2025 are:
The Home: Under Construction
In an unpredictable housing market, true comfort and authenticity in our homes will come from celebrating imperfections and individuality rather than chasing an ideal that often eludes us.
The Community: Linked Lives
Communities will exist in a collaborative space that defies physical limits, inspired by what brands and consumers can imagine together.
The Globe: Tradition in Transition
The way things have always been done is changing by force as much as choice. Brands will need to embrace this inevitability to sustain progress and relevance.
The Home: Under Construction
Daniel Takacs, Mintel Associate Director, Consumer Trends, said: “The purpose of ‘home’ is evolving, and brands are being put at the forefront to inspire pieces of a home—not a complete home. Consumers are no longer waiting for the perfect functional space to start living. As people rebalance their routines and habits, they are doing so through a lens of optimising their time (e.g. multitasking) and their well-being (e.g. rituals). This contradiction of harmonising productivity with self-care is shaping the future of the home.
“As individuals grapple with the challenges of securing a stable home and accept that ownership expectations don’t always align with reality, familiar comforts will become even more vital. The growth of childless couples, new relationship models and ageing in your own home and communities, will all influence how people want to live. Concurrently, remote work will reshape family dynamics, impacting how children develop attachment bonds in environments where parents are constantly present. Modern home life, where emotional, practical and economic factors all play critical roles, will result in a reevaluation of defined household roles. In the envisioned future, home is not merely a place to live; it is a hub of health, efficiency and personalised comfort.”
The Community: Linked Lives
Daniel Takacs, Mintel Associate Director, Consumer Trends, said:
“In the face of inevitable change, people are looking to form stronger, sustainable and long-lasting connections to help them grow resilient to whatever life throws at them. Driven by a need to prepare for everything from climate change events to political shifts, the complexity and unpredictability of these issues make it neither logical nor desirable to tackle them alone. Consequently, social groups have become a necessary part of how people plan for the future, seeking out intentional companionship and collective support.
“Despite a fear of growing loneliness and isolation, there’s optimism in the fact that self-expression invites community, whether it’s Swifties or coffee enthusiasts. A brand’s tone can foster a sense of belonging and empowerment with its audiences, shaping a space where individuals can thrive and engage positively with each other.
“Ultimately, brands will have to adopt a balanced approach to AI, ensuring it supports human self-expression to mitigate the risk of increased social isolation. Brands will not only be viewed as a resource for products, but they will be central to creating spaces where individuals feel valued and supported.”
The Globe: Tradition in Transition
Daniel Takacs, Mintel Associate Director, Consumer Trends, said: “Consumers can no longer go about their daily lives without an awareness of the global changes at play, from extreme weather to advancing technology. Brands must be acutely aware of the evolving consumer sentiment that swings between moral values and basic needs. Environmental change, technological advancement and ageing populations will cause significant challenges for consumers. Tensions will arise between generations as Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) remain active well into old age, and Gen Alpha (born 2010-25) demand attention.
“In addition, the norms around health and beauty will see a notable shift, with the use of weight-loss drugs and cosmetic surgery becoming normalised. While these trends reflect shifting attitudes towards body image, as consumer expectations evolve, there will be a growing emphasis on transparency, safety and efficacy in health and beauty products. Brands will be called on to address immediate aesthetic desires and also prioritise long-term health, setting the stage for a future where wellness is accessible.”
Caliwater™, the plant-based hydration innovator founded by celebrity mom Vanessa Hudgens, launches Watermelon and Wild Prickly Pear Kids Pouches at Albertsons in the US.
(Photo: Caliwater™)
Caliwater™ announced the launch of its signature Kids Pouches, featuring Watermelon and Wild Prickly Pear flavours, at Albertsons Company stores in the US – just in time for the back-to-school season.
Caliwater™ offers a functional cactus water derived from the prickly pear fruit, containing half the sugar and calories of coconut water. Not only does it taste delicious, but it also supports hydration, immunity, and digestion, making it an ideal choice for kids. The brand is backed by celebrity moms Roselyn Sanchez, Brooke Burke, Nikki Reed, and founder Vanessa Hudgens.
Since its debut in January 2022, Caliwater™ has seen remarkable growth as the ultimate super hydration solution. The launch of Caliwater™ Kids Pouches in Albertsons aims to promote healthy, eco-friendly options for families. The new pouches come in vibrant 6-packs with spill-proof 4.2 oz designs, perfect for on-the-go hydration at USD 6.99 per carton.
Caliwater™Kids pouches provide a delicious option that kids love, addressing the common challenge parents face in keeping their little ones hydrated throughout the day – without the excessive sugar found in leading juice boxes.
Caliwater™ Kids Pouches not only taste great, but they also provide a range of health benefits thanks to the prickly pear cactus. Rich in antioxidants and naturally occurring electrolytes, they support hydration, immunity, and digestion. With five electrolytes, including potassium, magnesium, and sodium, Caliwater helps with rapid hydration and muscle recovery. It also contains dietary fiber, which aids digestion and promotes overall well-being, making it a great choice for the entire family.
Two iconic Australian businesses with household brands that have been in the pantries of Australian families for decades are merging, together with the powdered milk business of a third Australian founded business Nature One Dairy to create a market leading Australian food and beverage company with significant scale.
Former Asahi Beverages Group CEO and current SPC Director Robert Iervasi has been appointed the Managing Director of the merged business, which will own and operate three business divisions, namely SPC, The Original Juice Co. and Nature One Dairy.
SPC is an iconic Australian brand and is the largest producer of fruit, tomato, baked beans and spaghetti processing, packaging, and canning in Australia. It holds some of Australia’s most recognisable household food brands such as SPC, Ardmona, Goulburn Valley, ProVital, Pomlife, the Good Meal Co, and Street Eats – feeding Australian families for more than 100 years.
The Original Juice Company is a well-known Australian food processing company specialising in chilled fruit and vegetable juices. Founded in 1988, it has maintained a commitment to sourcing local fruit and producing fresh juice daily for over 30 years. Using a mix of conventional and custom-developed equipment, OJC manufactures high-quality juices, fibres, infused fruits, and fruit waters for both domestic and international markets.
Nature One Dairy is a Singapore registered, Australian-founded dairy company that manufactures and sells premium infant formula, nutritional formula and milk powder products. With an established sales and marketing footprint in Australia, China and other Asia Pacific markets, products are sold under the Nature One Dairy brand. The Nature One Dairy international market presence provides a platform for further inorganic growth for the combined business through product diversification and access to the Asian distribution market.
Together the three businesses create a substantial Australian based and owned global food and beverage companies that will continue to support Australian producers and execute on a global growth strategy.
Collaborations between well-known brands, such as the recent Coca-Cola and Oreo partnership, are of mutual benefit to companies by way of sales and marketing promotion. The partnerships allow collaborating brands to leverage their existing fan bases and create a buzz around the product. As such, beverage companies need to innovate beyond their markets, as 65 % of global consumers say it is essential or nice to have a well-known brand when deciding to make a purchase*, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
In August this year, The Coca-Cola Company announced a partnership with Mondelez to launch a limited-edition cola with flavours inspired by Oreo cookies. As well as recently, the two global brands have released Oreo Coca-Cola cookies. This collaboration aims to celebrate the bond between the food and drink-based brands as they label themselves “besties” and offer consumers a unique and playful experience.
Similarly, Fanta, another brand under Coca-Cola, is rolling out a limited-edition apple flavour variant called Fanta Zero Afterlife. This launch is timed for Halloween and is part of Fanta’s Halloween activity. The packaging will feature Beetlejuice-themed designs, creating a strong association with Fanta and Warner Bros. Pictures brands.
George Shaw, Consumer Analyst at Globaldata, comments: “This marketing campaign aims to drive talkability and engage both Fanta and film fans. Moreover, these collaborations and limited-edition products are part of a larger trend in the beverage market, where companies are constantly looking for ways to innovate and attract consumers with unique offerings. By partnering with well-known brands or incorporating popular themes, companies can generate brand excitement and increase sales.”
By introducing limited-edition flavours, companies can create a sense of urgency and encourage consumers to try the product before it’s gone. The impact of these collaborations and limited-edition products is significant. GlobalData’s Q2 2024 Global consumer survey reveals that consumers value novel and unique features when making purchasing decisions and 60 % of them consider it essential or nice to have novel/unique features when deciding to make a purchase. This aligns with the strategy of Coca-Cola.
According to GlobalData, the global carbonates market is projected to reach USD 521 billion by 2029, and global companies are collaborating to capture market share.
Shaw adds: “This highlights the competitive nature of the carbonates industry and the importance of innovation and strategic partnerships. Coca-Cola and Fanta’s collaborations demonstrate their efforts to stay ahead in the market and attract consumers with unique offerings.”
Coca-Cola is not the only beverage brand using collaborations. GHOST, a supplement lifestyle brand, has launched a lineup of hydration drinks in collaboration with Sour Patch Kids. This collaboration aims to provide consumers with a familiar tasting way to optimise their hydration during intensive workouts. GHOST can tap into the popularity of the Sour Kids Patch brand to attract a new base of customers previously unreached by hydration beverages and attract a potentially younger demographic.
Shaw concludes: “The collaborations between beverage brands like Coca Cola and Ghost showcase the importance of innovation and strategic partnership. As consumer demand for novel and distinctive offerings grows, these collaborations in the carbonates and sports drinks markets are crucial for capturing market share and increasing brand loyalty.”
*GlobalData 2024 Q2 Consumer Survey – Global, published in July 2024, included 22,016 respondents
Symrise announces the opening of a new office and lab facility for Food & Beverage in Beijing. To optimally serve the dynamic and rapidly growing consumer base in the area the company has invested EUR 1.5 million in the facility. The location will enhance the R&D capabilities, customer proximity, and market presence in the North of China.
The country’s diverse and evolving tastes, driven by a rising middle class and increasing urbanisation, lead to stronger demand for beverages, dairy, culinary, and snacks. By expanding its presence in China, particularly with the new facility in Beijing, Symrise can perfectly cater to local preferences and swiftly respond to market trends.
The 800 sqm facility in Beijing covers 250 sqm of office space and 400 sqm of advanced laboratory areas as well as 150 sqm administration rooms. The labs include specialised zones for beverage and dairy creation, application, savory creation as well as snacks and seasonings, each equipped with dedicated workstations and evaluation rooms. This state-of-the-art setup enables Symrise to develop products tailored to the market. It can also provide comprehensive and swift support to customers in the region, ensuring timely and efficient service.
A key market for food & beverage applications
“China represents a crucial market for Symrise due to its dynamic and rapidly growing consumer base in food & beverage applications. As a logical consequence we have expanded our Beijing site to significantly enhance our R&D capabilities,” said Walter Ribeiro, Global President, Food & Beverage at Symrise. “With a focus on customer proximity and technical excellence, this facility will serve as a vital hub for innovation and customer collaboration.
The facility also adds further resources to the company’s main lab in Shanghai, ensuring continuous support and resource optimization. It offers an improved working environment for the team, with modern amenities and a design that balances flexibility, efficiency, and local cultural elements.
“This strategic positioning enhances our ability to innovate and introduce new products tailored to Chinese consumers,” adds Robert Marti, VP North Asia, Food & Beverage at Symrise. “It also strengthens our engagements with local food and beverage producers. As we continue to develop and optimise our offerings, both our customers and consumers will benefit from a broader range of high-quality products, leading to increased satisfaction and loyalty in this key region.”
The Beijing office and lab underscore Symrise’s commitment to innovation, customer intimacy, and market expansion. With additional hires of technical experts, the company sees itself well-positioned to drive growth and deliver superior products across various categories. Symrise anticipates this facility will enhance its current offerings and open market opportunities, solidifying its presence in the Northern China and beyond.
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Regenerative agriculture can be a powerful tool to promote healthier soil, as well as to reduce agricultural emissions, enhance biodiversity and watershed health, and help raise the standard of living for farmers and farming communities. It’s why PepsiCo – which sources approximately 50 key agricultural crops and ingredients from more than 60 countries around the world – has a goal to drive the adoption of regenerative agriculture, restorative, or protective practices across 10 million acres by 2030.