Stephanie Cernivec

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.

Color can significantly affect the initial perception of taste, which leads to a consumer picking up the product or not.

In the past, consumers generally designated protein for bodybuilders and athletes. Today, it’s seen as an essential part of the average person’s daily diet.

Beverage manufacturers are investing in automated inspection solutions throughout the production process to ensure their beverages are safe.

In the fleet management world, the question no longer is whether beverage companies should implement telematics — it’s how.

Increased data proliferation allows vendors to personalize the vending experience for consumers and — from an operational standpoint — track which products are most popular where and respond accordingly.

Driven by the convenience factor, single-serve K-Cups are the fastest-growing non-RTD coffee segment.