With the 2011 World Tea Expo in full swing June 24-26, George Jage, founder and president of World Tea Media, granted Prepared Foods an interview about tea’s growth and how the food and beverage industry can take advantage of this sector. He shared insights on the latest tea trends, noteworthy business challenges with tea and developments in bottled and canned teas. In addition, Jage and his company are gearing up for the launch of World Tea East, September 9-10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Pennsylvania.
Reformulating children’s products to attract the adult market is not a new tactic. Not too long ago, Jelly Bean introduced its line of Jelly Belly Cocktail Classics, with flavors such as Mojito, Pomegranate Cosmo and Margarita.
Among the fastest growing beverage trends of recent years has been energy drinks. Indeed, even in a year of slim growth for the category overall, energy beverages managed to post a strong 5.4% increase in volume, per Beverage Marketing Corp.
Sales of bottled water continue to rebound in the U.S. as, according to Convenience Store News, the segment saw sales rise 4.2% in 2010, following a 10.2% plummet in 2009, and are projected to increase 3% in 2011.
Seasonal offerings are nothing new in the confectionery aisles, with virtually every holiday having a corresponding packaging from candy manufacturers around the country.
Jelly Belly is no stranger to fusing flavors. The confectionery giant has jelly beans in the flavors of popular alcoholic beverages (its Cocktail Classics line includes Mojito and Pomegranate Cosmo), jelly beans with sour fruits and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, centered around the sweet treats (and sometimes tricks) from the Harry Potter universe.
The flavor for Litehouse’s recent launch of Yogurt Kefir Cultures Caesar Dressing has proven popular (indeed, according to last month’s New Products Annual, Caesar was in the third-most introductions between 2007-2009). However, setting the Litehouse launch apart is its functional element.