< Previous40 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net BEVERAGES © stock.adobe.com/Jenifoto 40-44.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2022 16:01 Page 1Food & Drink International 41 www.fdiforum.net BEVERAGES T he beverage industry is continuously evolving alongside the palates of consumers and in order to remain competitive. The more than two years we have spent with COVID-19 have invigorated a number of trends and spurred innovation in response to consumer habits, with drinks boasting health benefits chief among these. The feel-good factor Unsurprisingly, the pandemic has seen consumers across the globe become more health-conscious and wellness- focused than ever before, looking for new ways to boost their bodies and minds. Consumers have rushed to health-promoting ingredients and beverage brands able to make claims including high in antioxidants, immunity-boosting, anti-inflammatory, probiotic-rich, as well as those claiming to provide stress relief. Functional beverages presenting consumers with something extra are of high importance, offering nutritional and health benefits and solutions to problems such as stress and insomnia. From probiotic and prebiotics to energy and sports drinks, and meal replacers, there is an established audience seeking functional products that companies can target, and while not a novel invention, the variety of products functional ingredients are being incorporated into is expanding rapidly. This comes in hand with a new wave of “better for you” beverages with clean labels, natural 42 Á Quenching consumer thirst Quenching consumer thirst From demands for drinks with health benefits to those that are sustainably sourced and packaged, Food and Drink International explores some of the key trends impacting the beverage sector. 40-44.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2022 16:01 Page 242 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net BEVERAGES © stock.adobe.com/viperagp ingredients, lower amounts of sugar, less calories, and alternatives to caffeine. These drinks are promoting their use of ingredients such as superfoods, probiotics, prebiotics, protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and nootropics. A trend permeating all beverage categories, the focus on providing “better for you” drinks has been seen with tea, with herbal varieties growing in popularity for caffeine-free energy boosts, with adaptogens being further incorporated, but this is now extending further into other products like water. Indeed water is a major source of innovation, with consumers turning to functional still or sparkling products with added vitamins, acids, minerals, herbs, fruits and vegetables, as well as CBD for relaxation. These products are now fully in the mainstream with large companies like PepsiCo rushing out functional beverages. At the end of 2020 it launched Driftwell to de-stress consumers - a functional beverage containing L-theanine for relaxation and a soothing blackberry and lavender flavour - followed by Soulboost in 2021 - a sparkling water with a splash of real juice and the functional ingredients panax ginseng, to “help support mental stamina,” and L-theanine, again for relaxation. In incorporating functional ingredients, a solid awareness of product qualities and the processing conditions they can withstand is essential and is pushing forward minimally processed products. High temperatures, to eliminate microbial contamination for instance, can negatively impact the quality of some functional products, such as juices containing probiotics, leading processors to reconsider pasteurisation for more gentle processing technologies like high pressure processing. The boom in these drinks comes at a time when demand from consumers for natural ingredients rises, which has seen a particular boost for botanicals including lavender and rose, and sugar reduction continues to creep to the front of the minds of governments, brands and consumers, with many beverage companies reformulating and releasing reduced and no-sugar varieties, especially in the UK in response to incoming HFSS (high in fat, sugar and salt) regulations. The rules, which will see media and promotional restrictions for unhealthy products, have pushed brands such as Coca-Cola Europacific Partners to reformulate Capri-Sun to make it non-HFSS, and Britvic reformulate its core range of Rockstar Energy drinks. Ready, steady, drink Ready-to-drink (RTD) products are another huge trend in the beverage sector, skyrocketing last year, primarily when it comes to alcohol. According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, RTD volumes have been growing faster than any other major drinks category since 2018 and are expected to significantly outperform the wider beverage alcohol market over the next five years. When consumers were forced to remain inside their homes during the pandemic, RTD products offered a chance to try new, interesting flavours when we couldn’t visit bars and pubs; canned cocktails and hard seltzers have become widespread on store shelves and a key aspect of alcohol consumption. The IWSR notes that RTDs have been an effective opportunity for companies and brands from across the full spectrum of the drinks market, with brewers and soft drink companies finding particular opportunities in hard seltzers, becoming a strong driving force behind that sub-category’s recent growth, and spirits and wine producers leveraging their existing brand awareness and equity to move into RTDs, from pre-mixed cocktails to hard seltzers to wine spritzes and coolers. Many famous brands, whether water, energy drinks or coffee, have recently crossed over into alcoholic RTDs, leading to strategic partnerships between soft drinks, beer, and spirits companies. RTD beverages also feed 40-44.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2022 16:01 Page 3Food & Drink International 43 www.fdiforum.net BEVERAGES into convenience culture, can be enjoyed anywhere, provide consistent taste, and success continues to be seen with options including bottled cold- brewed coffees, functional drinks and meal replacement shakes. Time to get low Change is also coming to alcohol thanks to no and low trends. Though it isn’t the end for alcoholic beverages, with appetite for craft beers and spirits expanding, consumers - especially younger, health-focused demographics - are reconsidering their relationship with alcohol, and brands are responding, launching more low and non-alcoholic versions of popular drinks, that are also improved on such beverages of the past with better flavour, aroma, and mouthfeel. Once an area of little choice, supermarket shelves are now packed with options, and drinking no and low products is becoming more accepted as a lifestyle and societal norm. The pandemic saw consumer behaviour evolve through lockdowns, seeing a turn to low and no brands with consumers 44 Á WeissBioTech launch refreshed portfolio of NATUZYM® enzymes for winemaking WeissBioTech have launched a refreshed portfolio of NATUZYM® enzymes for wine making: • NATUZYM® Wine Aroma for white and rosé wine aroma and precursor release • NATUZYM® Wine Extrak for white, rosé and red wine maceration • NATUZYM® Wine Filtration for white and rosé wine clarification, batonnage and β -glucan split • NATUZYM® Wine Flotation for white and rosé wine must clarification: flotation • NATUZYM® Wine Klar for white, rosé and red wine must clarification: sedimentation NATUZYM® enzyme products are used to increase the preliminary juice extraction and obtain more high-quality wine. The enzymes facilitate extraction of sugars, colour and aroma, as well as ease the filtration of the mash. These products feature benefits such as reduction of pressing time, and improved wine quality due to the extraction of grape varietal aroma and polyphenols. Dr. Vasil Iliev, Technical Sales & Application Manager at WeissBioTech, said: ‘’We wanted to make a comprehensive, yet simple portfolio of ready-to-use enzyme products that optimise the main wine making applications, while fit with any type of grape. NATUZYM® enzyme products are used to increase the preliminary juice extraction and obtain wine meeting your highest standards.’’ Uniquely, WeissBioTech offers full customization with NATUZYM® non-gm made enzyme products for wine making, that can be blended in any desired composition. WeissBioTech GmbH is a leading provider of tailored ready-to-use Enzymes for the Food and Beverages Industries. Located near Frankfurt Germany, we supply to multinational food brands and private label manufacturers of fruit juices, wine and beer, and processors of sugar, starch and potable alcohol. WeissBioTech is part of BRAIN Biotech AG since 2014. For more information visit www.weissbiotech.com/news/new-portfolio-wine 40-44.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2022 16:01 Page 444 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net BEVERAGES not wanting to drink full strength alcohol at home through the week. Sustainable sipping The importance of sustainability is rising intensely amongst consumers, seeing them support businesses who are environmentally conscious and abandon those that aren’t. Packaging is under fire and the climate and plastic crises remain hot button topics impacting beverages. Single-use packaging is a real concern and challenge for beverage manufacturers, with companies using and pledging to use packaging made from recyclable, re-usable, compostable, and biodegradable materials. Many companies have been transitioning to rPET plastic bottles, while others are going plastic-free with aluminium cans (employing paperboard for multipacks instead of plastic rings and shrink film) and boxed beverages, utilising cartons made with paper from responsibly managed forests. Yet there is also the X MUSE launched as first blended barley vodka inspired by Scottish spirit making X MUSE is the first Scottish blended barley vodka and the first to tread the intersection of spirit making traditions and art thinking. It is the brainchild of former Pernod Ricard Senior Marketer Vadim Grigoryan and co-creator of Edinburgh’s sculpture park Jupiter Artland, Robert Wilson. As a brand committed to the arts, the vodka’s name, X MUSE, is taken from Ian Hamilton Finlay’s sculpture of the same name. The bottle is designed by award-winning design agency Stranger & Stranger, as homage to Charles Jencks’ Cells of Life, the land art framing the aquifer where spring water for the vodka is drawn, both of which sit at Jupiter Artland. In partnership with Heriot-Watt University two heritage varieties of barley, Plumage Archer and Maris Otter, were distilled and combined to create a smooth and complex flavour. X MUSE is handcrafted in Scotland, using the finest local ingredients that embrace the variety of nature. The distinct flavour profile invites both sipping and savouring – lending itself as a launchpad for both creative and classic serves – whether that’s neat, on the rocks or as a cocktail. For more information visit: www.xmusevodka.com © stock.adobe.com/Pavelis need for businesses to take more responsibility for their entire packaging lifecycle, for example collecting and recycling as many bottles and cans as sold. Simultaneously, following responsible ingredient sourcing practices is also on the agenda, alongside reducing the carbon footprint of beverage production operations via energy efficient integrations, new production techniques, and systems sourcing power sustainably, for instance through solar power. 40-44.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2022 16:01 Page 5www.fdiforum.net Plan your campaign with Food & Drink International… ...your competitors are! As marketing is the vital ingredient for the success and growth of any business, we can offer advice and packages to suit all budgets. Speak to one of our experienced account executives. CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO? • Print • Online • E-Newsletters • Regular News • Topical Features The perfect medium to give your brand the best chance of being seen! Contact us below for our 2022 editorial schedule Call today on +44 [0] 1472 310310 or email: v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk INTERNATIONAL INTERN NATION AL ahe The d y saf ety and a News Healltth, saf h ygiene Pumps and nd INTERN NATION AL i nno F o c o vati i o i Ne ws P ack aging spotlight oading baL ay y doors syss and INTERN NATION AL Ne ws challe n g Meeti n g Fla vouring col ouring ges col ouring c INTERN NATION AL Be v erages ellff The futu in f o c Thefutu O n the shel ture s i n f o cus i s End of f line pack kaaging MINIMUM COST…MAXIMUM IMPACT! www.fdiforum.net 45.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2022 16:02 Page 1ethnic market. With over 1,200 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors the show brings together many companies within, or doing business within, Canada. For more information visit www.sialcanada.com Food and Drink Expo 25 – 27 April NEC Birmingham, UK For the past 26 years, Food & Drink Expo has been the flagship event for retail, wholesale and foodservice audiences focusing on finished products, and in 2022 the show returns, revitalised and ready to tackle the key challenges affecting the sectors. The event promises a more intuitive visitor experience, a cutting edge and highly engaging programme featuring specialist journalists and high-profile keynote speakers, alongside masterclasses, plenary sessions, live interviews and panel discussions centred around hot button, state-of-the-nation issues. For more information visit www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk Food Pack Asia 4 – 7 April BiTec, Bangkok, Thailand Food Pack Asia is the most comprehensive sourcing platform for food processing & packaging machinery, drink technology, hotel & restaurant technology and bakery innovation for Thai food and beverage industrialists. The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for food industrialists and beverage professionals who are looking for new technology, machinery and business solutions of food processing, packaging machinery, drink technology, and other related products and services from Thailand and overseas. For more information visit www.foodpackthai.com SIAL Canada 20 – 22 April Palais Des Congres, Montreal, Canada SIAL Canada is the biggest food- innovation trade show in North America. It alternates between Montreal and Toronto to cover all local and regional demand, not to mention the growing 46 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net Events Food & Drink © stock.adobe.com/Alexander Raths Packaging Innovations and Empack 25 – 26 May NEC Birmingham, United Kingdom Packaging Innovations will connect packaging technologists, designers and buyers with more than 200 of the market’s leading suppliers of primary and secondary packaging materials and related technologies. Empack will bring together directors at packing and filling operations with more than 40 of the market’s key technology suppliers. Three conference stages will bring the latest thinking on the key issues in packaging development and processing; while a host of features and networking initiatives will ensure visitors find the partners and products that will define their next projects. For more information visit www.packagingbirmingham.com Due to the coronavirus outbreak, readers should be aware that events may have been cancelled or postponed. All dates correct as of publishing, but please check beforehand. AAHAR – International Food & Hospitality Fair 26 – 30 April Pragati Maidan, India AAHAR - The International Food & Hospitality Fair is one of the biggest B2B Exhibitions and Asia’s best-known brands 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2022 16:03 Page 1in Food & Hospitality shows and is running in its 36 years. It is a flagship event organized by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (the premier trade promotion body of the Government of India) in New Delhi, India. UKIVA Machine Vision Conference 28 April Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, UK Now in its 6th year, this one-day event continues to provide the latest vision technology and services from world-leading companies in industrial vision and imaging. With up to 50 exhibitors and 450 visitors, the event is jam-packed with content including technical seminars perfect for machine vision users and engineers, networking opportunities and knowledge sharing. For more information visit www.machinevisionconference.co.uk Petfood Forum 30 2 – 4 May Kansas City, Missouri, USA Petfood Forum provides an immersive educational experience for learning about pet food consumer purchasing behaviour, trends and innovations. With expert insights and in-person networking, the conference and exhibition can help you react faster to shifting market opportunities and demands. Petfood Forum 2022 will take place in person, however, for professionals not travelling in 2022, an on-demand program is offered. For more information visit www.petfoodforumevents.com Fruit Logistica 5 – 7 April Messe Berlin, Germany Fruit Logistica, a flagship event held in Germany covers every single sector of the fresh produce business and provides a complete picture of the latest innovations, products, and services at every link in the international supply chain. Fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and dried fruits, Product packaging & labelling, transport and logistics systems, goods handling and storage are some of the areas covered by the event. For more information visit www.fruitlogistica.com Food & Drink International 47 www.fdiforum.net © stock.adobe.com/alfa27 Vinitaly 10 – 13 April Veronafiere, Italy Vinitaly is an international event featuring wines and vineyards from all corners of the country. The event includes exhibitors displaying their unique and rarest collections of wines and breweries. The event is filled with restaurant business professionals and wine professionals. This is a must-attend event for all wine industries and vineyards. The event gathers a huge crowd of wine-loving fans from all corners of the world. For more information visit www.vinitaly.com 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2022 16:03 Page 2FEATURES Supply Chain Spotlight Caps & Closures Slicing, Dicing & Cutting Functional Ingredients Cleaning & Maintenance Frozen & Chilled Foods Import & Export EVENT PREVIEWS Easyfairs Packaging innovations Next month in May 2022 - Deadline 13th April INTERNATIONAL Visit us at www.fdiforum.net where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to our newsletters so you can have the latest news emailed to your inbox, in between printed issues? 48.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2022 16:04 Page 1Classified Often imitated… …never equalled You can feature your company in our hugely popular Online Directory with a description, contact details and a hyperlink If you would like further information please contact Vicky Hunt on +44 [0] 1472 310310 or email v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk or visit www.fdiforum.net/directory From field to fork, Food & Drink International is the voice of the industry. Food & Drink International 49 www.fdiforum.net Depositors Manufacturers of depositors & filling machines for the food production industry Labels • Self adhesive Labels • Lasersheets • Fanfolded Labels • Thermal Transfer Ribbons • Barcode Labels INDEX Online Directory Depositors Labels To Let www. fdiforum .net • Superb Location - Close to the ports of Grimsby & Immingham - Great motorway links - Close to the town centre • Secure off street parking • High speed internet availability • A range of affordable office sizes Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Ground floor offices to let - prime location in Grimsby To Let Online Directory To advertise your services on the Classified pages contact us on 01472 310302 49.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2022 16:04 Page 1Next >