Healthy and natural attributes top the list of consumer needs and interests for beverages, according to respondents of Beverage Industry’s annual New Product Development Survey. Thirty-one percent of survey-takers believe these are the latest trends, while 66 percent report a consumer need or interest in these claims. Furthermore, almost half of respondents plan to increase the use of natural flavors and colors in their beverages in 2013 due to consumer demand, the desire for cleaner labeling and health reasons. By comparison, only 35 percent and 28 percent of respondents planned to increase their natural flavors and colors, respectively, last year.
This year also should see the launch of more new products compared with last year, according to survey results. Sixty-four percent of survey respondents plan to increase their new product launches in 2013 in response to consumer demand, company growth and new trends. Likewise, 42 percent expect their research and development budgets to increase in 2013 due to new products and more employees.