2020 was the year of focaccia bread, quarantine day drinking, and Tik Tok trends. While we saw the rise of seltzers and spicy flavors in 2021, what’s 2022 going to bring? According to the predications of Whole Foods trend analysis: lots of hits and maybe a few potential misses. The analysis is conducted by a Trends Council of over 50 local and global buyers, culinary experts, and team members making predictions based on decades of experience and expertise in product sourcing and studying consumer preferences, as well as in-depth workshopping with emerging and existing brands.
Try the hottest new trends in the beverage industry out for yourself, and keep your eye on the shelves for these upcoming players:
Non Alcoholic Beverages
Dominated by nonalcoholic beer like Heineken 0.0, this facet of the industry is rapidly expanding. According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the category is expected to grow 35% by 2023. Whole Foods Markets cites the mocktail craze will hit record growth in 2021. Whether due to the rise in “California Sobriety” or societal and diet changes to overall drinking habits, there are no debate mocktails are #trending.
2. Espresso Martinis and other Coffee Flavored Alcoholic Beverages
Espresso Martinis are BACK! If we’re honest, they never left. Still, the generation that created the original Four Loko is now all of legal drinking age and opting for the more sophisticated tastes of coffee-flavored beverages. While vodka Red Bulls have long been the go-to, tastes are evolving as with nutritional concerns over the regulation of energy drinks as supplements. No one was sitting in their childhood bedroom pounding energy mixed drinks alone during the COVID19 era. New drinkers are slowly shaping the industry. Expect other Gen Z trends to be prevalent in the alcohol industry, especially in expanding innovations like alternative milk and sustainability in the coffee malt-flavored beverage category. Pabst Blue Ribbon has had a hold on this market, but as the young, fresh new drinkers find their taste, this product category is one to keep your eye on.
3. Hibiscus
The colorful plant common to teas has been around for centuries, but according to Whole Foods, expect to see vibrantly colored foods and drinks as the flavor trends in popularity this year. Personally, I’m hoping to see Hibiscus Rose or Hard Kombucha flying off the shelves at Trader Joe’s everywhere. This flavor perfectly exemplifies the growing trend of colored alcoholic beverages, with sales of Chambord, Aperol, and Pampelle Grapefruit Apéritif growing in the past year. A beautifully colored cocktail is just so Instagrammable. Probiotic drinks like kombucha are also on the rise, with added health benefits being listed to consumers as important.
4. Local Brews
As many consumers were shut inside for most of the pandemic, the importance and appreciation of local businesses grew. Consumers can’t get enough of locally sourced ingredients and brews in 2022. The seltzer boom of 2020 has led to mega saturation in the market. If you take a look at cooler shelves, the options are overwhelming. Similar crazes happened with e-cigarettes and vape products; as the product category finds its footing, the excess brands will shake out. As a consumer, support your local and big favorites before they leave the shelf.
5. Celebrity Status
While 2021 saw the beginning of the rise of premium canned cocktails, expect the drink to be the choice of the stars in 2022. Hotel chains like the Marriott have jumped on, and with the general love of celebrity wine labels, the future for this product is inevitable.
Cheers to that!
https://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/food-and-drink/drink-trends-2022
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