Among the exhibitors on hand was a host offering ingredients for the beverage space. The following are highlights from those companies:

AFS featured functional beverage concepts, including a Focused Energy with AmaTea Max and PurTea; a Glow Up with CelluThrive and PurC, a Good Vibes with PurGinseng and MycoThrive cordyceps, a Mushroom Coffee with MycoThrive lion’s mane, a Celluar Detox with CelluThrive and a Joint Support with Oligen.

BENEO featured a coffee-bar with concepts containing a prebiotic fiber boost as well as Palatinose to deliver sustained energy.

California Natural Color showcased its portfolio of natural color and ingredient solutions, featuring a range of colors derived from fruits. On hand was a grape-flavored functional beverage concept created in collaboration with PLT Health Solutions. Enhanced with MegaNatural–BP grape seed extract, MegaNatural–BP’s polyphenol composition provides more biologically active polyphenols with improved bioavailability and greater absorption compared to other commodity grape seed extracts in the market, offering manufacturers a low dose — 150-300 mg in each serving, it says.

Cargill’s Future of Food research identified “Beyond Nutrition” as one of five macro trends shaping how consumers define value with them looking beyond label claims to tangible results. To exemplify this, the company offered a mango guava-flavored protein + prebiotic soda, featuring Cargill soluble corn fiber, Cargill allulose, ViaTech stevia leaf extract and pink Himalayan salt.

colorMaker Inc. promoted its natural color solutions for beverage applications.

GNT USA LLC promoted EXBERRY by GNT, a leading brand of natural, plant-based colors for the food and beverage industry.

Icon Foods highlighted its recent launch of TagaLite, a tagatose sweetener designed to deliver sugar-like functionality and sweetness without added sugars on the Nutrition Facts Panel. The launch follows the FDA’s clarification that tagatose no longer needs to be declared as an added sugar, it says.

Ingredion highlighted its capabilities with texture, taste and functional benefits through a range of concepts, including a bright sip refresher that was plant-based and sugar reduced; a super juicy vibe smoothie that was sugar reduced and fiber-forward; and a mango lassi that delivers on clean label, smooth texture, without compromise on taste, it says.

MANE and Arzeda shared the next phase of their strategic partnership. Under the new agreement, MANE has acquired an exclusive global license to produce and commercialize Arzeda’s ViaLeaf Reb M. The license enables MANE to manage the entire Reb M value chain, from production through commercialization.

Nexira showcased Eficacia, a 100% natural acacia gum emulsifier suited for functional beverage applications. The company noted that it also expanded its botanical extracts portfolio with new adaptogenic mushroom extracts and has recently completed a sensory mapping study of  its botanical range.

Nuritas highlighted its hydrolysate-based peptides exemplified through ready-to-drink and ready-to-mix beverage formulas. The heat-stable formulations are validated across retort and UHT processing.

PLT Health Solutions Inc. featured various functional beverages concepts, including a coconut-based Tropical Island beverage that will feature PLT’s Zembrin ingredient. Also available was Mango Tango featuring Zynamite S, providing visitors with a non-stim lift in mental energy and mood. Summer Berry featured PLT’s Rhodiolife Rhodiola rosea, offering adaptogenic stress relief and balance. Watermelon highlighted cellflo6 for endurance, recovery, blood flow and energy. Other offerings will include a MegaNatural-BP RTD Isn’t Life Grape beverage for cardiovascular support, and a protein-infused RTD featuring Supresa Crave Control that can serve as a complementary solution for brands looking at healthy eating behaviors and weight management trends adjacent to the GLP-1 category, it says.

PURIS launched H2 IZO, a proprietary pea protein designed to deliver a smoother, lighter sensory experience across high-protein beverage and dairy alternative applications, addressing key formulation challenges in sports and lifestyle nutrition, it says.

Riviana introduced six new branded ingredients for beverages and a new rice cream beverage prototype made with RTD fine pregelatinized rice flour. The new ingredient introductions were ready-to-eat (RTE) gels: OryzaGEL (rice), PisumGEL (pea), LensGEL (lentil), ViciaGEL (fava bean), CicerGEL (chickpea) and MaysGEL (corn).

Virginia Dare’s menu featured functional ingredients such as mushrooms, collagen, creatine, prebiotic fiber, plant protein, and vitamins, paired with trend-forward flavors including Dubai chocolate, rainbow sherbet, oatmeal cream pie, matcha latte and watermelon. The concepts were developed to reflect several of the most active areas in food and beverage innovation, including alcohol alternatives, beauty-from-within, cognitive wellness, protein, gut health and convenient formats, the company says.

Wixon launched three new flavors: Black Mint, Charred Pineapple and Manzano Pepper. Snacks and beverages featuring the Black Mint, Charred Pineapple and Manzano Pepper flavors were available in a rotating daily menu.

IFT First Annual Event and Expo 2026 will return to McCormick Place in Chicago, taking place July 11-14, 2027.