The beverage industry has witnessed drastic changes in the last few decades. It is evolving at faster rates to accommodate changing consumer choices. These changes are often drastic turns from conventional methods. Innovative and disruptive methods of doing business have been prevalent in the industry in recent years.
Even with the significant changes, the revenue generated in the food and beverage industry keeps shooting up yearly. There’s high demand for energy drinks, carbonated soft drinks, and other beverages. Consumers are seeking better value for their money, more variety, healthier and better-tasting drinks made with natural ingredients with better and convenient packaging.
The changes in consumer lifestyle and choices make it necessary for beverage companies to seek alternative ways to satisfy consumers, while maintaining operation at a minimal cost. These laudable changes have, however, affected the entire production processes and distribution channels
Sustainability: reducing environmental impact.
Beverage companies are taking sustainable approaches to their operational procedures. Eco-friendly practices are now a must. Consumers are now aware of the impact of waste and their activities on the environment. Thus, they are seeking more environmentally friendly options.
In terms of packaging, there are environmental concerns about the single-use plastics. Beverage companies are minimizing their use and seeking green alternatives like paper packaging and edible packaging made from seafood.
Functionality: increased focus on wellness and health.
Consumers’ demand for healthier products is shifting the beverage companies’ attention to the need for the production of more functional products. They are producing drinks with more emphasis on quality rather than quantity. Beverage types are mashed up to produce different flavors.
This rise of innovative beverage products has caused category blurring. Before now, soda was just soda. But in recent times, mashups of different categories to form unique products and added benefits. Energy drinks infusions, sparkling water, sparkling tea, and coffee are products that have risen along with this category blur.
Convenience.
Consumers want the best quality in the most convenient way. In response to this, we have beers, wine, hard seltzer, spirits, all available in cans. Consumers are provided with ease of drinking to satisfaction with their favorites at their chosen locations.
Online platforms are new market platforms for beverage manufacturers to sell their products. Direct-to-consumer strategies are employed by manufacturers to get their products to consumers. These platforms enable them to obtain data from their consumers, analyze the data, and use it to deliver further personalized consumer experiences.
The major driver for the changes in the beverage industry has been consumer preferences. However, these changes are present opportunities for development in several ways. As beverage companies take advantage of these changes and align their products to meet the demands of the consumers, there is no telling of the changes and possibilities that could happen.