When it comes to food and beverages, color affect aesthetics, flavor and identification, perception, and anticipated taste.

Beverage ingredient suppliers are ramping up production capacities to keep pace with demand.

Sparkling Ice, part of Preston, Wash.-based Talking Rain Beverage Co., announced a brand refresh by introducing a new formula featuring naturally sourced colors and flavors, in addition to an updated logo and packaging design. With this new formulation, Sparkling Ice has successfully transitioned to natural colors while maintaining the vibrant look and long shelf life that Sparkling Ice is known for, it says.

As consumers consistently look for ways to eat and drink healthier, they want what they put in their mouths to contain recognizable ingredients.

Today, beverage manufacturers are singing the praises of this versatile, functional vegetable that is being blended into cold-pressed juices, kombuchas, shrubs, lattes and even cocktails.

Several companies are planning for the future by moving into new manufacturing facilities to better serve their customers.

To aid beverage manufacturers, color suppliers are working to develop stable and vibrant natural color solutions as more consumers seek clean-label beverages.

ADM/Matsutani, the joint venture between Archer Daniels Midland Co., Matsutani Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. and Matsutani America Inc., highlights the capabilities of its Fibersol soluble dietary fiber ingredient to help beverage-makers meet the pending regulatory changes regarding added sugars and consumers’ nutritional demands.

The NFL playoffs are in full swing, but for a majority of football fans, they are left waiting for next year. From now until the draft takes place at the end of April in Philadelphia, super fans will be keeping a watchful eye on mock draft predictions. Although these football analysts invest a lot of time and research into these mock drafts, prognosticating the outcomes for 32 different teams is no easy feat.

With a growing interest in getting back to nature, consumer demand for natural ingredients has flourished. As beverage-makers formulate new products, more now are choosing natural colors to appeal to this consumer desire.