When designing a new product for your brand, it’s always important to consider consumer demand. While this may sound obvious, putting pen to paper and figuring out where you fit into this equation requires expert analysis and understanding of the market.
The Modern Customer
If you’re looking to dive into the beverage industry and formulate a show-stopping product, you must first understand what the modern beverage consumer wants. Today’s shoppers are health-oriented, prioritizing products that leave them feeling as good as the beverage tastes—products with clean ingredients, minimal sugar content, and few to no artificial additives.
Consumers are ultimately putting their wallets where their well-being is kept in mind.
Beverages that line the shelves of grocery aisles are sprucing themselves up to fit this mold, so the rise of sparkling water comes as no surprise.
What Is Sparkling Water?
Sparkling water is carbonated water with or without added natural flavor. Natural Flavors are made using compounds derived from nature. This allows for flavorists to have over 20,000 raw materials to have in their toolbox to create many flavors or flavor combinations.
This is great news for sparkling water manufacturers because it opens up endless possibilities for innovative flavor creations, allowing brands to differentiate themselves from their competitors while catering to a market thirsty for delicious, health-conscious beverages.
Benefits of Sparkling Water
From both a consumer and a manufacturer’s perspective, there are many benefits to sparkling water.
When a consumer approaches your latest and greatest line of sparkling water to ask, “is sparkling water healthy?” you can happily reply, “Absolutely!” Sparkling water is a healthier upgrade from soda without compromising on taste or carbonation. Consumers may be surprised to read the zero-everything nutrition label. Still, they can joyously continue sipping, knowing that sparkling water’s only effect on the body is supplying it with the hydration it needs.
On the manufacturing side of the equation, sparkling water is a no-brainer. For one, it’s very economical. With limitless natural flavors available, you can easily develop an army of flavor packs and combinations. Additionally, since the only ingredient is carbonated water and natural flavor, you can bypass the messy supply chain and sourcing operations because you’re only using a few ingredients.
Another benefit to sparkling water is flavor consistency. natural flavors or essences standardize the flavor across batches.. Gone are the days of worrying about whether or not your product may taste “off” due to a change in supplier. Flavorists can reproduce natural flavors down to identical compounds.
Upcoming Flavor Trends
Ready to take your sparkling water brand to the next level? Create the best sparkling water on the market with these upcoming flavor trends.
More than anything, consumers are after products that make them feel as good as they taste. That means no more foggy hangovers from alcohol and sugary beverages or heavy drinks that sit in their stomachs too long.
Here are the top five flavors associated with immunity:
- Orange
- Strawberry
- Berry
- Lemon
- Black Tea
In addition to products that promote overall well being, it’s important to consumers that their drinks prepare them for activities like working out at the gym, getting in a nice run outside, or heading out on a hike with friends. Consumers want drinks that provide functionality and strength.
Here are the top five energy-boosting flavors:
- Mango
- Watermelon
- Citrus
- Berry
- Pineapple
If it isn’t obvious by the above lists, fruity is a fan favorite. Luckily there are many avenues within the fruit flavor world for brands to explore and experiment with, and we’re here to help.
Whether you’re brainstorming your first sparkling water flavors or already have a product ready to commercialize, our flavor department can help you along all stages of the process. Get in touch with us to find out how we can bring a little sweetness to your project today!
