Drinks that are healthier for you quench the thirst of consumers

While consumers continue to put their focus on improving their overall health and well-being in general, the beverage category that is ready to drink has undergone significant changes in the last couple of years. Drinks that are healthier for you have grown in popularity, and numerous brands have stepped up to satisfy the needs of those seeking drinks that can help address their health concerns.

The reduction of sugar has frequently been an easy way for people to improve their well-being and health. Swoon is one of the companies that offer tasty sugar-free options with their lemonade and Iced teas.

“I founded Swoon in response to my search for a better option, with the mission to provide a zero-sugar beverage for consumers that also tastes great,” said co-founder Jennifer Ross, who is an insulin-dependent type 1 diabetic.

Another area of health care that many consumers are currently focusing on is improving the health of their guts by drinking functional beverages, particularly. One of the leaders in the category is Olipop, which provides both traditional and distinctive flavors of prebiotic drinks designed to treat digestive issues.

“The nutritional profile, combined with the taste — is truly the catalyst for changing consumer behavior,” said Ben Goodwin, the company’s chief executive officer, founder, and formulator, on the reasons these kinds of healthier drinks are attracting shoppers’ attention.

Sugar reduction is a key component of healthier beverages.

Even though healthier options for drinks are the top choice for consumers the flavor of sugar is one of the most important ways that brands can ensure customers are satisfied with their drinks, according to Ross. This is among the obstacles to creating beverages that address consumers’ health concerns and drinks that are enjoyable.

“Ensuring you’re prioritizing taste has to be a key factor when it comes to creating a better-for-you product; that’s what’s going to get people excited,” she explained.

When Swoon began to create its first drink that is healthier for you, called the Classic Lemonade – Ross said that the company was focused on finding organic sweeteners made from plants that could recreate the sweet, classic lemonade taste using healthier ingredients.

“Swoon is a healthy take on previously indulgent classics,” Ross added. Ross. “While most drinks on the shelf either lack exciting, taste-bud-catching flavor or derive their taste from massive amounts of sugar, Swoon offers delicious, coveted zero-sugar takes on drinks like lemonade and iced tea.”

Although the brand wants to highlight its status as a new and improved version of drinks that are familiar, Swoon is also looking at ways to stand out from other healthy drinks available. The low sugar content of its lemonades as well as iced teas is crucial to highlight and explain to customers, however the company doesn’t intend for its entire line to be identified as a diet or diabetic-only beverage, Ross said that it is determined to expand into new markets and locations for retail in the hopes of eliminating 1 billion g of sugar out of the chain.

“As a type-1 diabetic, I’ve tried every better-for-you and sugar-free beverage under the sun,” Ross said. Ross. “In recent years, it’s been incredible to watch the growth of the category and marked improvement upon it, as consumers become increasingly aware of the health implications of products with high-sugar content,” Ross said. Ross.

Prebiotic sodas are causing disruption to the industry

The sales of sodas were a little lower. However, the outbreak caused consumers to search for the familiar items at the grocery store that could offer security and peace in a stressful and uncertain period, including sodas. When people were adjusting to the new normal and lifestyle, they began to search for alternatives to traditional sodas, which would be healthier drinks.

“Soda is a $42 billion industry – but consumers in the past decade have become acutely aware of the health implications of the notoriously high-in-sugar drinks,” said Goodwin.

The launch of Olipop in 2018 has was a sign that the brand is ready for the needs of those customers. The clinically proven supplement targets the microbiome in order to promote digestive health by utilizing plant-based fibers, prebiotics, and other botanical ingredients. It is also low in sugar, and has 35 to 50 calories each bottle.

Prebiotic beverages “provided the first better-for-you soda option that not only aligned with consumers’ health goals but actually provided the nostalgic taste they craved,” Goodwin added.

In reality the Olipop’s Classic Root Beer flavor has been able to surpass Keurig Dr. Pepper’s A&W brand as the most popular single-serve root beer in brands have advantages on the market, startups and emerging brands are taking over this market by providing healthier alternatives to beverages.

Goodwin also agreed with Ross the sentiment that it’s crucial for brands to promote more healthful beverage benefits, while maintaining appealing packaging and high-end flavor.

“It was integral that the design be light, colorful and playful to illustrate that the soda tastes unquestionably delicious,” the spokesperson said. “The juxtaposition of the lighthearted graphics with the detailing of ingredients sends a powerful message that Olipop is the future of healthy soda, that you’ll truly enjoy.”