“Variety and choice are increasingly important to shoppers, and nowhere is that truer than in the convenience retail channel,” said James Ford, vp of Category strategic advisory, Coca-Cola North America.

“In recent years we’ve seen fruit juice and dairy companies counter attrition by advancing health positioning with organic, natural ingredient, and low sugar claims," said David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts. While water marketers are finding ways to put both fun and flavor into a plain yet reputably healthy product without sacrificing what makes water the beverage many parents prefer for their children.”

Here are three key mashup trends Packaged Facts sees spurring future growth in the beverage industry.

New Food & Beverage Products Video: Available in two flavors, Mango Punch and Citrus Punch, the beverage joins the Tampico product family as an alternative for those consumers looking to limit their sugar intake.

The single-serve juice drinks feature a twist cap and will be available in four fruity flavors, including Apple, Peach Passionfruit, Mango Tangerine, and Strawberry Watermelon.

Among the most important recent innovations identified by Packaged Facts in the report involves mashups—the crossover fusion of two or more beverage products that traditionally wouldn’t be expected to go together.

Packaged in 200-ml glass bottles, Grow Raw juices are 100 pure juice, and contain no sugar, preservatives or additives, the company says. 

The need for nutritious snacks is also growing—51% of consumers say healthfulness is an important factor in their snack choices2—and operators can give guests the solutions they’re seeking with V8® beverages from Campbell’s Foodservice.

The Niagara grape is a white grape with a golden hue. It delivers a sophisticated flavor profile that is crisp, sweet, light and refreshing and its juice is a popular ingredient in the juices and soft beverages category. Now R&D specialists at Welch’s Global Ingredients Group have developed a de-characterized version of the juice that is perfect for fermentation and blending with wine made from more traditional wine grape varieties and even other fruits.

Simply Light beverages offer a direct response to those who want the taste of orange juice or lemonade, but with less sugar and fewer calories than our regular juice drinks. In keeping with the brand promise, “The Best Things in Life Are Made Simply,” Simply Light Orange Juice beverages and Simply Light Lemonades are made from simple, non-GMO ingredients.