As the industry continues to watch the rise of better-for-you products, it seems certain consumers also are searching for just-for-me products. Whether it’s a coffee beverage made with personally preferred ingredients or choosing a brand that embodies one’s personality, the customization trend has begun to permeate the industry.
Whether it’s for suppliers or finished beverages, trade shows can provide an eye-opening experience about what trends are on the horizon. At this year’s National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show, the Cool New Products section was a great introduction to what innovations companies were showcasing. And on the show floor there was no shortage of emerging brands and categories.
Beverage Industry last covered Monster Energy in our December 2007 cover story. At that time, Monster’s leadership team, including this year’s Executive of the Year honoree Rodney Sacks, chairman and chief executive officer of Hansen Natural Corp., was somewhat reluctant to participate in our cover photo shoot. Sacks, along with Monster Beverage Co. President Mark Hall and Hansen Natural Vice Chairman and President Hilton Schlosberg, obliged for the cover photo, but the company also extended an invitation to the Monster Beverage staff.
Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, my dad taught me to love all things Chicago. So naturally, I became a Blackhawks, Bears, Bulls and Cubs fan. (Although I’m not a White Sox fan, I wish them luck as well.) I have specific memories and particular items that I associate with each team. When it comes to the Cubs, I think of the ivy at Wrigley Field, of course, but I also think of Old Style beer.
It’s hard to know when inspiration will strike. During an interview for this month’s Beverage R&D article on flavor trends, Cathianne Leonardi, flavorist at Allen Flavors, Edison, N.J., discussed how she developed a line of beverage prototypes inspired by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit dedicated to late fashion designer Alexander McQueen. The “Savage Beauty” exhibit featured McQueen’s garments along with the audio and video presentations that accompanied the designs during their respective runway shows.
It has been a long time since I have stepped foot in a school lunchroom. Although it has been awhile since I packed my Barbie lunch box with a juice box featuring whichever popular cartoon characters graced juice boxes at the time, I still remember some of the staple items that me and my classmates enjoyed.
Last month, market research firm Nielsen outlined its new platform of 12 criteria for new product success during an “Innovation Revelation” webinar. In addition to outlining the dozen steps, Vicki Gardner, senior vice president of product innovation North America for the New York-based company, noted that traditionally successful product launches often offer benefits previously unavailable in the marketplace.
When visiting the nation’s capitol last month, in addition to enjoying the museums, monuments and memorials, I couldn’t help but take notice of the popular beverage of choice on those hot July days — bottled water. Vendors carried around coolers and walked up and down the streets selling water, and tourists flocked to them.
Whenever holidays or birthdays roll around, time sometimes gets the best of me. To save myself the hassle, I find myself turning to the Internet for a quick shopping trip. Before, I only used to shop online for things I couldn’t find in stores, but now it is becoming more the norm for my regular shopping — and I’m not the only one. The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and PwC US 2011 Food, Beverage, and Consumer Products financial performance report “Thriving in a Connected World” indicates that digital transformation is empowering consumers while allowing consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to manage their enterprises effectively and efficiently to drive growth.
Somewhat serendipitously, I opted to read the May 16 edition of The New Yorker featuring an in-depth profile on PepsiCo’s food and beverage innovation plans while traveling to last month’s IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo in New Orleans. The “Snacks for a Fat Planet” article by John Seabrook details PepsiCo’s plans for innovation across its portfolio of products with insight from senior PepsiCo executives, including Jonathan McIntyre, senior vice president of R&D global beverages, who was featured in Beverage Industry’s April cover story.
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