RTD Trends 2022 

As 2022 has just begun, it’s time to think about the upcoming year and what it has in store for the beverage industry.

After almost two years of a pandemic, the current situation still has influence on the trends in this segment. From bold flavors to digestive health to simplicity – 2022 is going to be an exciting year for RTD manufacturers.  

Strong and bold flavors  

 In recent years, the trend in terms of flavor variations has been more in the natural, nuanced direction. According to WorldTeaNews, light citrus notes as an example are now being replaced by bold, dominant flavors in 2022. Demand for strong and also familiar flavors like watermelon, apple or strawberry is increasing. Besides that, more herbal botanicals are also gaining momentum: aniseed, rosemary or turmeric are increasingly common in premium beverages. Since premium is also often associated with naturalness and quality, the quality of ingredients, not quantity, is shaping consumer perceptions of the beverages value. This also explains why drinks with simple, natural ingredients remain in favor with consumers.  (Source: WorldTeaNews, 2021)  

 Digestive Health  

 According to GlobalData, 74% of people globally agree that they find botanicals with digestive benefits appealing. While in the beginning of the pandemic, consumers were looking for immune system boosting products, this demand is starting to shift. As consumers are learning how interconnected health is within our bodies, the request for products supporting gut health is strongly increasing. What does that mean for the beverage segment in 2022? Natural ingredients such as botanicals that support gut microbiota will be celebrated and will be of interest to consumers who want to boost their overall health.   

Wellness through low- and no-alcohol options   

As health and wellness is one of the main topics in times like these, more and more people start or even continue to prefer low- and no-alcohol alternatives over classic drinks. Brands are reacting by launching low-alcohol and alcohol-free versions of many drinks, and this is now prevalent across categories, from cider to beer, wine and spirits as well as pre-mixed ready-to-drink beverages. With health being the main motivation, brands are also starting to look towards catering to consumers with even more specific requirements and preferences, creating organic and natural alternatives. (Source: Mintel, 2021). Low-alcohol drinks such as hard seltzer will grow even more in popularity as consumers continue to evaluate their relationship with alcohol and reduce their intake for health reasons. Our botanical ingredients add premium twists to hard seltzer drinks by giving them a more natural and healthier image. 

Our botanical range can support in all three trends, if you want to find out how, please contact us: sales@martin-bauer.com  

Related topics  

Botanical Ice Tea 

Functional Botanicals