The annual CES tradeshow traditionally is the first event of THE new year to kick-off the next-generation of innovations. Although robots like Lovot, the companion robot, grabbed mainstream media headlines, innovation for the consumer market is not limited to the latest artificial-intelligence-powered creation. Instead, the innovations with perhaps the broadest impact can be found at local food and beverage retailers.
In the beverage industry, the beer market is among the categories that has seen consistent innovations released from small and large players. For a company like HEINEKEN USA, White Plains, N.Y., the global brewer benefits from the support of a large-scale parent company yet still operates with the flexibility of an emerging brand.