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. 

 As children, many of us tried our best to disguise, hide or at the very least ignore the side of vegetables on our plates.  

Tea and ready-to-drink (RTD) tea achieved estimated sales of $6.7 billion this year, according to Chicago-based market research firm Mintel. 

 Seventy-five years ago, Multi-Flow Industries was a family business that delivered fountain sodas up and down the streets to customers in Philadelphia.  

“Innovation” is a word used often across numerous markets, but what does it mean in the beverage industry? 

 Although I’m not nearly ready to start thinking about buying gifts for the holidays, almost a quarter of Americans already began their shopping in mid-September, according to Nielsen.  

On a typical episode of culinary TV show “Masterchef,” home chefs work hard to create something delicious for renowned chefs Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot. 

 For beverage labels, the retail shelf might feel like being in the hot seat on an episode of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”  

 According to New York-based market research firm Nielsen, alcohol drinks packaged in a pouch — many of which are marketed as frozen cocktails — approached $200 million in annual sales in measured channels through Aug. 18, 2012.