As the new year begins, most of us reflect back on the past year and look to the future with anticipation. The same rings true in the beverage industry as beverage-makers launch new products to engage consumers while paying attention to the latest trends. (See the New Product Development Survey, page 52).
When it comes to non-alcohol beverages, New York-based Wine n Dine, a mobile app for iPhones, pinpoints a few of the hottest trends. “If we were to place a big bet on a frontrunner, it would be matcha (Japanese green tea). We’ve seen matcha explode over the last year and are now seeing the ingredient used not only for drinks, but also in food,” says Mike Williams, head of product and strategy at Wine n Dine.