As a new mom, I have learned to embrace the phrase multi-tasking. I did not think that I would have perfected the morning ritual of singing “Pop Goes the Weasel,” applying makeup and rocking a baby at the same time, but I have. Although beverage-makers don’t need to include nursery rhymes in their product formulations, they are doing their own type of multi-tasking.
Beverages no longer are just a means of refreshment for consumers. Now consumers are looking for a multitude of functionalities — energy, relaxation, immunity, digestion, etc. — while still providing that refreshing finish. To formulate these multi-functional beverages, beverage manufacturers are turning to a number of ingredient sources including probiotics, fiber, proteins and botanicals.