Social trends are constantly changing in line with global events. One of the most significant events of the past couple of years is the Covid-19 pandemic, which has changed society’s outlook on life. For example, when it comes to consuming beverages, there’s a wider focus on health and well-being. Naturally, this has led to a shift in beverages that cafes are selling in an effort to attract customers.
Bubble Tea
Bubble tea was created in the 1980s, but it’s only recently seen a boom in popularity over the last few years. According to Allied Market Research, the bubble tea market is predicted to grow to around $4.3 billion between now and 2027. With over 200 flavors that can be customized in several different ways, there’s no wonder the Gen-Z population is in love with this fun drink.
Sustainable Packaged Drinks
Consumers are constantly searching for sustainable options for their beverages, which is why there’s been a surge in the availability of boxed wines in stores. Cafes are also striving to adopt sustainable drink policies, especially in the growing takeout space. For example, cafes can use a 100% recyclable milkshake cup, and they can offer incentives like a milkshake cup collection to entice their customers to recycle.
CBD-Infusions
CBD-infused drinks were beginning to emerge in 2022, but they were only available in niche cocktail bars. Now, these drinks have entered the mainstream space, with the alcoholic and non-alcoholic markets looking to capitalize.
If you didn’t know already, CBD-infused products aren’t designed to get people “high”. Instead, they’ve been proven to hold many health benefits like reducing anti-inflammatory and helping with relaxation.
Celebrity Branded
Celebrity endorsement isn’t groundbreaking or new, but it’s expected that there’ll be more viral drinks coming out during and after 2023. When it comes to non-alcoholic beverages, one of the most notable celebrity-endorsed drinks comes from YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI, who collaborated to release Prime Hydration.
Alcoholic beverages are also seeing an increase in celebrity endorsement. In particular, the wine industry is focusing on notable name partnerships. Most recently, Kylie Minogue, John Legend, Cameron Diaz, and Brad Pitt have tapped into this growing market.
Fermented Drinks
The world is much more in-tune with the body’s health, which is why there’s a focus on getting the right amount of nutrients. With this in mind, there’s been an explosion in the availability of fermented beverages. Examples of these drinks include kefir, kvass, ginger beer, and kombucha, which all contain healthy gut microbiomes.
According to Meticulous Research, the fermented drink market cap is expected to reach a whopping $1,001.58 billion in 2023.
The food and beverage industry may still be struggling to grapple with the impact of the last couple of years but there’s one thing abundantly clear – consumers are much more interested now with healthy beverages than they ever have been before. If your business can introduce one or more of these trending drinks, you’ll likely see an increase in sales going into the remainder of Q2 and into Q3.