Carbonated soft drinks such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Dr. Pepper, have been household names for decades. Every now and then people love to indulge in a bubbly beverage. As we all know, these products are not the healthiest. They have had a bad reputation for causing health problems and can be quite addicting. Like everything else, when consumed in moderation these delicious drinks can fulfill your cravings. Consumers are wanting to try new and exciting flavors and reduce their sugar intake. Therefore, we will start seeing more and more innovations with carbonated soft drinks.
Carbonated soft drinks provide consumers with a bold and fizzy flavored beverage experience. The pandemic helped reinforce the appeal of these delicious drinks. According to Mintel’s market research, of those U.S. consumers who have drunk carbonated soft drinks more over the year to January 2021, 36% say they’ve drunk more because they are indulging more. Furthermore, flavor experimentation is paramount to the carbonated soft drink experience. Many U.S. adults are very interested in trying new flavors. Because of that, we are seeing innovation with carbonated soft drinks from many companies. Pepsi recently introduced Pepsi Zero Sugar Mango Flavored Cola Soft Drink. This is Pepsi’s first permanent flavored cola launch in five years. Coca-Cola with Coffee Caramel Flavored Cola was first piloted in Japan in 2018 and is now available in the U.S. in three varieties, Dark Blend, Vanilla, and Caramel.
Consumers are also asking for better-for-you soft drinks. They want a healthier option when they choose to indulge themselves and they are looking for it on the label. The pandemic events of 2020 have made consumers understand how their diets can be enhanced to support both their physical and mental health. This has ramifications for innovation. As many as 70% of U.S. carbonated soft drink consumers aged 25-34 keen to try a functional carbonated soft drink.1 Manufacturers’ are going to have to get creative and look at ways they can meet these demands.
For this reason, companies need an ingredient supplier like IFPC they can lean on for product development and innovations with carbonated soft drinks. We have worked with alternative sweeteners, innovative flavors, and functional ingredients for decades. When working with sweeteners, it is not always easy to find a single ingredient that can give you the taste profile you are looking for. A lot of the time it requires a blend of multiple sweeteners. When working with functional ingredients, you need a team that can assist with formulation and testing. Our goal is to help find the right ingredients that fit your product best. Get in touch with us today!
Sources: 1Mintel GNPD
