Beverage Industry 201X

It will be interesting for those in the beverage industry to see what products thrive in the present economic economy and which do not fare as well. Reports of consumers cutting back, tightening purse strings and embracing thrift are common. Some consumer products seem to be 'recession proof', and they are not necessarily the products we expect to see in this category. Candy, for instance, falls into a group of consumer goods that historically survive economic downturns well. Candy is certainly not a necessity for any consumer. It is clearly a luxury item. So, why would not budget minded consumers make candy one of the first items to cross off the shopping list? The answer is that candy does not often even make the shopping list. It is an impulse buy and something many shoppers choose to 'treat' themselves or their family. The candy bars are flying off the shelves but the high-end candy in the elaborate packaging candy is not. It seems that beverages will fall into the candy category in an economic downturn also. Consumers will look for known and trusted brands that make them feel good for a reasonable price. They probably will not be looking to cut their usual soda and iced tea purchases out of the budget because these items are little luxuries that they will want to hold onto. They will even be eager to try new beverages that fit into their sense of appropriateness. Consumers will want something special as long as it is not too eccentric. The beverage industry may need to adapt to this new consumer mindset and create packaging and colors that are unique and tempting but not showy. As always, the industry will need to rely heavily on market research to discover just how much pampering consumers in various demographics are allowing themselves. As higher end brands, luxury beverages may face difficult challenges. Conspicuous consumption is no longer in vogue so we may see fewer purchases in the beverage industry of 'designer' drinks and more sales of luxury drinks that do not display too much glam. Premium brand manufacturers in the beverage industry to should be able to capitalize on this situation if they can react quickly. Consumers may be foregoing high-ticket items but they will still want to enjoy some of life's little luxuries. Customers buying premium products are still approachable, but they will probably put more thought into their purchasing decisions. Those in the beverage industry can use this as an opportunity to increase sales if they make the right decisions on branding, packaging and marketing.

Energy Drink Company

Starting an energy drink company is easier than most people think. Contract manufactures eliminate the need for most equipment. The most important thing to consider when developing an energy drink is creating a brand identity. However, before creating a brand, the energy drink company must know the target demographic. It is easier to develop a better beverage that speaks to consumers and can connect with it. The target demographic may dictate everything from the packaging design to the flavor of a product. Understanding the customer is the first step in successful beverage development. Ingredients Due to their ingredients, energy drinks have a variety of physiological and psychological effects, improving mental and cognitive performances as well as increasing alertness, subjectively. The caffeine content of energy drinks is a major selling point to many customers. Generally, energy drinks include methylxanthines, vitamin B and herbs. Other common ingredients are guarana, acai and taurine, plus various forms of ginseng, maltodextrin, carbonated water, inositol, carnitine, creatine, glucuronolactone and ginkgo biloba. Some contain high levels of sugar, while other brands offer artificially sweetened "diet" versions. When choosing a beverage manufacturer it is important to know what type of product processing, packaging and closure the beverage manufacturer offers. Identifying the correct manufacturer that can handle both the processing and the packaging requires significant up front research. Once one identifies a beverage manufacturer that can support the filling processes, packaging and closures requirements for the beverage product, the next important thing to think about is location. It is important to choose a beverage manufacturer that is geographically convenient for the distribution network. Selection of the right beverage distributor can lead to good sales. Beverage distributors are the fastest way to get a beverage on the shelves of major retailers and in many instances, are the only way. Some distributors have great relationships with their retailers and get instant distribution of thousands of accounts, provided the brand offers the necessary marketing support the new beverage. In the dynamic beverage can industry of today, advanced printing technology allows some can manufacturers to print on cans almost as well as they can on paper labels. This has made the aluminum can a more popular choice than ever for beverage manufacturers. Sleek beverage cans are increasingly popular in the industry because they utilize innovative shapes to attract the attention of consumers. The latest production technologies can produce asymmetrical designs, in different sizes and shapes, with fine detail and significant expansion capability. An aluminum beverage can has an internal coating to prevent the contents from coming in direct contact with the aluminum, thereby maintaining the integrity of the beverage.