Beverages, like all product categories in the U.S. market, have had a bit of an up-and-down time in recent years, at least in terms of new product introductions. In non-alcoholic beverages, the U.S. market experienced a significant drop in new product introductions in 2009.
Recent years saw a boom in the craft beer segment of the alcoholic beverage category; even in the midst of an overall down beer market in 2010 (sales dipped 1% vs. 2009), sales of craft beers grew a solid 11% by volume and 12% in dollars.
Coconut water remains a growing segment of the beverage category. As Beverage Marketing Corp. explains, young adults are embracing the beverage; the company calls teens the kind the kind of consumers “used to searching for alternative health solutions.”
When looking at the rest of the world, the absence of additives and preservatives and low/no/reduced sugar drives the beverage category (whereas the U.S. market is driven more by natural claims). While there are some differences in which claims are more prevalent depending on region of the world, this focus on healthfulness truly is global.
Shoppers ages 50-54 lead the charge when it comes to purchasing health and beauty products online (52%), and shoppers ages 45-49 are purchasing more food and beverage products online (29%) than any other age group.
Mediterranean Snack Foods Company has added Lentil Crackers to its Mediterranean Baked line. Promising to be gluten-free and featuring 6% of the recommended daily allowance of iron, the ingredient legend touts vegetable oil in the form of olive oil and/or sunflower oil and/or palm fruit oil.
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