Jessica Jacobsen

My high school government teacher stressed the importance of avoiding ambiguous and loaded language when asking questions. To test this theory, each student developed a question and was asked to go to the lunch room’s open study hall to ask a handful of students our question.

Who’s thirsty out there? It looks like the readers of Beverage Industry as they voted and named JUST Water as the Readers’ Choice New Product of the Month poll winner for November.

It’s hard to believe that 2016 is just around the corner. After things wind down from the holiday rush, I enjoy reflecting on everything that I experienced during the year. However, I must admit, I also have a tendency to start planning new adventures and challenges for the year ahead.

Just as the lyrics state, “to keep your engine running you need energy for your high-powered, revved up body machine,” in the educational Schoolhouse Rock! video “The Body Machine,” food and beverage manufacturers are making sure that today’s products are packed with the vitamins and minerals not just to fuel the human body, but also maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Packaging allows brands to communicate with consumers before they even drink a product. When considering the increasing number of SKUs on retail shelves, having an appealing package is a crucial element to consider for new products as well as existing products’ package redesigns.

When it comes to their health, U.S. consumers have their share of concerns. According to Bellevue, Wash.-based The Hartman Group’s “Health and Wellness 2015” report, on average consumers are actively treating 3.4 health conditions and proactively preventing 6.2 health conditions.

The readers of Beverage Industry know how important it is to stay hydrated. Perhaps that is why they voted Bai Antiwater as the best new beverage for October. 

With mainstream media reports detailing questions about the sustainability of the planet, consumer interest in these measures is gaining steam. “The Sustainability Imperative,” an Oct. 12 global insight post from New York-based Nielsen, notes that more consumers are adopting sustainable behaviors and expect the same measures from corporations.