Reach3 Insights found that consumers evaluate beverages on far more than taste, considering factors such as function, wellness, convenience, ingredients and the role a drink plays in a particular moment.
A recent NECG survey challenges the narrative that legal-drinking (LDA) Gen Zs are moving away from beverage alcohol, noting that the shifts in these consumers’ consumption habits are more about drinking differently, not less.
An Insights from Circana titled “What’s Sizzling As Summer Approaches?” notes that despite alcohol sales struggling last year, premixed cocktails stood out.
Recent data from GSTV shows that despite navigating rising prices, a large majority of consumers are shopping convenience stores while seeking value and discovery.
For years, the soft drink industry has focused on sugar reduction and fortification to improve its health credentials, yet consumer trust remains fragile. As we look toward 2026, the conversation is shifting from what is added to a drink to how it is made.
The beverage marketplace has gone through repeated cycles of fragmentation, reinvention and rediscovery. Not long ago, the narrative was that big brands were finished and the future belonged to endless niche innovation.
EY organization released its Consumer Beverage Survey, which found three major aspects are reshaping beverage choice and consumption behavior: health, digital engagement and generation shifts.
Mintel’s “2026 Global Food & Drink Predictions” report highlights how empathetic brands can help consumers who are feeling like they are only surviving, rather than thriving.