As the pandemic put an extra halo on bottled water, the category has continued to show growth across many segments, particularly sparkling as more consumers switch to the format in the name of health and wellness.

The numbers don’t lie — botanical ingredients are gaining favor in the food and beverage market. Interest in botanicals is on the rise for various reasons, which has only been boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, experts note.

Most recently, demand for plant-based, clean-label and reduced-sugar functional beverages has been high, according to experts. Hydrocolloids help address all of these needs.

Brothers Josh and Jeremy Issak set out on a mission to give tea the front seat and bring affordable, organic, real-brewed tea to the people. In 2019, the brothers launched their flagship line of organic specialty teas: Seven Teas.

Although the pandemic presented a challenge for many beverage categories, it seems to have offered an opportunity for the sports and performance drinks segment.

Founded in 1922, Shamrock Dairy, now Shamrock Farms, is innovating its portfolio of dairy products to deliver high-quality beverages for consumers’ evolving needs.

Vegan consumers might have gotten the plant-based diet movement started, but demand has perpetuated thanks primarily to growing consumer interest in health and sustainability, experts say.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, retailers have worked hard to adapt by making their stores as safe and convenient as possible for consumers. In the limited-assortment stores category, drug stores and discount retailers are finding where they fit in this eCommerce evolution.

With the desire for “instant gratification” prevalent throughout the United States and beyond, eCommerce is giving shoppers exactly what they want. Just-in-time delivery is one of the biggest trends in beverage distribution, says Doug Eden, president of IntelliShift, a division of VTS, Commack, N.Y.

To maintain steady growth, retailers are paying close attention to industry trends — and responding quickly, experts say.