Hard soda and hard seltzer lead this list of biggest beverages trends of the year not because one or the other is the savior of the beer category, but rather because they represent innovation that is reaching new consumers. Is Bubba the Bud drinker jumping to these new, trendy drinks? Probably not. But his wife might. And if Bubba now needs to buy a six-pack of Henry's Hard every time he gets himself a case of Budweiser, the entire industry wins.
The story of bottled water has been told many times, many ways, but almost always with the conclusion that consumers are seeking healthier ways to quench their thirst. Increasingly, that's extending to how we hydrate (coconut water and aloe vera), how we consume protein (smoothies and protein waters) and even how we manage our immune system (kombucha and pressed juices). Are convenience stores really the place consumers should be seeking a cure for what ails them? Maybe not, but as long as Coca-Cola markets Aloe Gloe and Suja Probiotic Water, Pepsi keeps buying drinks such as KeVita Kombucha and Dr Pepper Snapple Group invests in brands such as Bai and Hydrive, this is the way the industry is going.
Bottled water won't be denied. As a trending beverage, it's owned the better-for-you space with its simple proposition: nothing. No calories, no additives, no sugars, no chemicals. Sure, that's changed a little with sparkling, flavors and other enhancements (caffeine, protein, vitamins and more) finding growth. But in general, the proposition remains the same: simple and effective. No wonder SodaStream, the home carbonated-soft-drink brewer, has refocused its marketing campaign to "water made exciting."
Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee isn't new, but it's definitely being rebranded. Once the bastion of Starbucks Frappuccino and similar, dairy-heavy products, RTD coffee is being recreated in the guise of iced coffee and cold brew. Clearly one of the most active categories on this year's NACS Show floor—with brands such as Dunkin Donuts, High Brew, Stok, Shamrock Farms and Califia—RTD coffee promises to be an active area of innovation and marketing in the coming year.
In November, three California cities—San Francisco, Oakland and Albany—and Boulder, Colo., joined Philadelphia and Berkeley, Calif., in placing taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages. Subsequently, Cook County, Illinois, which includes Chicago, added a tax of its own without turning to voters. The taxes will affect everything from soft drinks and energy drinks to sports drinks and iced tea. Is your community next? Is the nation?
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CSP’s Top 202 details the largest chains in the convenience-store industry and the biggest M&A stories of the past year. Welcome to a deep dive into the c-store landscape.
Category sales performance in Beverages, Candy, General Merchandise, Packaged Food/Foodservice and Snacks.
The industry’s largest distributors by sales volume
Corporate retail news affecting the convenience-store industry
The latest information on products and trends in the convenience-store and foodservice industries.
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