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When it comes to food and beverage development, healthy usually is among the top considerations. In Beverage Industry’s 2016 New Product Development Outlook report published in the January issue, only 14 percent of respondents listed convenience a low need/interest.

When I go out to dinner, typically I order water with lemon because I want to avoid excess calories and save a few dollars. However, when I want to indulge, a traditional Margarita on the rocks is my go-to drink.

Looking across all the categories within the beverage industry, observations showcase that the slogan marketers frequently use, “packaging sells,” might be a reality. The validity is not being challenged; however, the package array on the shelves in most retail outlets indicates that packages, containers, closures and even labels are going through frequent changes at some phase in the supply chain.

Whether its coolers or wall clocks, branding on everyday items is not a new phenomenon; however, throughout the summer, an onslaught of beverage brands announced branded fashion items that consumers could either purchase or win.

It’s not uncommon to hear mainstream media toss around phrases like “a new era” or “the next frontier.” The frequency of their usage can sometimes fall upon deaf ears; however, members of the beverage market should not ignore these phrases when it comes to latest in food and beverage labeling laws.

One of my favorite singers Billy Joel sings “A New York State of Mind,” and I was in that same frame of mind during a recent business trip to the Big Apple. I hadn’t been to Manhattan in almost 30 years and marveled at how different it looked. Not only was Times Square considerably cleaner, but what stood out, literally, were the towering digital billboards that flashed advertising, promos for upcoming TV shows, events and movies and more.

In today's business world, the toughest expenses to plan for are the direct and indirect costs that arise from meeting regulations and the instable regulatory environment.

Beverage filling machines never cease to take center stage when planning, designing or integrating complete production line installations.