Euromonitor International has identified the top five non-alcoholic drink trends in 15 countries throughout North and South America.
Overall. South America will see growth in most categories in non-alcoholic beverages, as many consumers seek healthier beverages such as bottled water, juice and tea. Mature North American countries will see expanding opportunities in beverages such as coconut water and liquid concentrates such as Mio, Dasani Drops and Nesfruta, according to a news release summarizing the findings.
Other highlighted trends include:
• Bottled water gains popularity in Latin America with the exception of Chile.
• RTD tea emerges as the fastest-growing category in Venezuela and Ecuador.
• Coffee has the highest per capita consumption in Brazil (behind Europe). Foodservice has also played a role in coffee consumption, with McDonald's entry into retail coffee in Canada and Starbuck's entry into Colombia.
• Carbonates show high per capita consumption in Argentina. However, Uruguay's consumption has decreased, as the population is shifting toward older segments that may be influencing lesser consumption. In Mexico, Coca-Cola has started delivering directly to homes.
"Consumers in the Americas are continually looking for added convenience and greater health benefits in their beverage choices. Coffee and tea pods, along with liquid concentrates, are bringing both convenience and novelty to Canada and the United States," said senior analyst Kay Tamillow. "Meanwhile, the health and wellness trend continues to push dynamism in non-alcoholic drinks, especially in emerging markets in Latin America. Increased demand for functional drinks and more natural ingredients is driving a fast pace to innovation and new product launches across the region."
