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Driving the Future of Beverages:
Key Coffee Trends for 2020 and Beyond

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, with almost 10 million tons consumed every year. The growth of the coffee market can be attributed to new trends in the category – but staying abreast of them is key. As consumer preferences continue to grow and change, what are the top trends within the category, and how can bottlers and distributors make sure they capitalize on them?

Trend 1: RTD

Ready-to-drink, or RTD, beverages are continuing their meteoric rise, and RTD coffee is having a particular growth moment. Taking the world’s favorite energy-boosting beverage and putting it in a convenient, on-the-go format is a winning strategy, and canned or bottled products also offer great opportunities for branding and shelf standout. The global market for RTD coffee was valued at $22.44 billion in 2019, and is projected to reach $42.36 billion by 2027.

Trend 2: CHILLED

Generation X prefer their coffee iced, and as are they are driving the third wave coffee movement, they are a market segment we can’t afford to overlook. Demand for iced coffee has been driven by the need for convenient beverage options on-the-go, with product variety around flavors, milk variants and pack sizes proving key to driving sales.

Trend 3: FUNCTIONAL BENEFITS

According to market research experts Mintel, functional benefits are high on the list of attributes that consumers look for in ready-to-drink cold coffee. RTD coffee consumers want options that include antioxidants (47%), promote brain health (40%), are anti-inflammatory (35%) or have added probiotics (30%). Functional benefits can take coffee beyond a morning or afternoon pick-me-up, with more than two in five (42%) of RTD coffee consumers said their ideal bottled/canned cold coffee drink would help them relax, while over one third (35%) are interested in products with added protein.

Trend 4: INDIVIDUAL TASTES

Consumers are looking for brands that offer something a bit different – looking beyond the ‘big names’ that dominate our shelves for products that offer benefits and flavors tailored to their particular needs and tastes. Whether these are specialist ingredients that perform a health function, or on-trend flavor combinations that offer a change-up in the daily routine, consumers will be looking for truly stand-out coffee products.

Trend 5: SPECIALIST MILKS

Linked to the better-for-you beverage movement, non-dairy milks are growing in popularity, with consumers increasingly choosing beverages containing alternatives such as oat, soy or almond milk. According to Mintel, more than one third (36%) of RTD coffee consumers surveyed said their ideal RTD coffee would contain non-dairy milk.

Brand Spotlight: Boost Coffee

Hitting a number of major upcoming trends in the coffee market, beverage brand Boost Drinks’ new offering, Boost Coffee, is set to be a game-changer in the RTD coffee category. 

 

From humble beginnings in 2001, Boost has set its sights on creating beverage products that meet consumer needs, with a range of energy drinks covering protein drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks – and, now completing the performance line-up, Boost Coffee.

 

A great tasting, top quality chilled coffee at a fraction of the price of the brand leader, Boost Coffee has already proved itself a leader in the fast-growing ready to drink coffee category. The two flavor variants, Boost Iced Coffee Caffe Latte and Boost Double Espresso, offer a smooth-tasting, quality product that offers extended shelf life compared to other brands.

 

Simon Gray, founder and managing director at Boost, said: “Chilled coffee is the fastest growing functional drink category in the Symbol and Indies channel. At Boost, we saw the potential to create a standout, quality product in what is already a high performing category. 

 

“It will allow us to enhance our functional drinks positioning and continue to proudly support independent retailers as we have done since 2001. We’re confident our products will continue to challenge the market and be enjoyed by consumers.”

Meet Beverage Partners International (BPI)

Today’s consumers want unique, relevant, and inspiring brands. They are thirsty for new concepts and new tastes, and they are looking for well-crafted brands that can cater to increasingly specialized market segments. The future of beverages lies in identifying these emerging micro-trends and monopolizing the opportunities they offer – whether a new functional health ingredient, a specific consumption opportunity during the day, or a new take on an existing beverage category.

 

That’s where BPI comes in. 

 

BPI’s portfolio contains some of the global beverage industry’s most innovative brands, and with an extensive network connecting some of the largest independent bottlers and brands in the world, it has the means to deliver them. By implementing our vast experience and knowledge, we hope to help you enjoy the same success.

If you are a Bottler or a Distributor, we invite you to contact BPI and join us for a unique opportunity to revolutionize your beverage business.

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    About BPI

    We have created an extensive network of some of the largest independent bottlers and brands in the world.

     

    Consumers are now looking for the most unique, relevant, and inspiring brands.

     

    BPI aims to present a portfolio of the most innovative brands in the beverage industry.

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