31 May Demand for Functional Beverages in Chicago Grows
Beverages are the next in line of a long line of consumable products to be modified to meet a variety of wellness-related needs. Functional beverages, a segment in the rapidly growing nonalcoholic beverage market, are expected to grow to $1.6 trillion in sales by 2025. The fastest growing category in the nonalcoholic beverage market, functional beverages include ready-to-drink (RTD) coffees and teas, and relaxation, hydration or energy drinks.
To stay at the front of the pack and keep up with market demand, beverage manufacturers need to continually offer consumers new and exciting flavors and options. Christina Wood, Sales and Marketing Director at OptiBiotix Health Plc, recently spoke about the expected demand. “Whether vitamin or ‘enhanced’ water to fend off illness, energy drinks to combat fatigue or sports drinks to aid exercise, they [functional beverages] provide the multipurpose value expected by today’s informed [consumers].”
Chicago consumers also expect to be able to easily purchase their preferred choice at any time of the day and almost anywhere. In 2019, it’s easy for employers to make sure their employees have access to different functional beverages 24/7 in their break room vending machine or micro-market.
RTD Cold Teas
Enjoy a variety of healthy and organic teas made with Fair Trade ingredients. There is an option for everyone from unsweetened to sweetened teas made with organic sweeteners and tea with or without fruit flavors.
Enhanced Fruit Drinks
The term ‘juice’ takes on a new meaning when it comes to enhanced fruit drinks. Today, these beverages are made from unique ingredients like the coffee fruit and have no artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors.
Fruit Infused Flat or Carbonated Bottled Water
Bottled flat or carbonated water with fruit infused flavors offer the benefits of plain bottled water without any diet sweeteners or sugars. They are zero calorie, zero preservative, vegan, gluten-free and kosher.
Sparkling or Flat Mineral Water
Mineral water offers additional health benefits when compared to traditional bottled water. As mineral water’s name suggests, there are extra minerals such as calcium and magnesium in the water that Chicago individuals need.
Coconut Water
Coconut water is a new, healthy choice for staying hydrated. It’s naturally gluten-free, lactose-free, and dairy-free beverage with potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus that hydrates.
Before finalizing a break room beverages menu, Chicago employers have the opportunity to learn their employees’ beverage preferences by offering a product sampling event. Employees are more likely to spend money on an item if they know how it tastes. Hosting a product sampling event also applies to snacks and fresh food.
Remove the barrier and keep employees on-site with a fully stocked break room. Whether it’s healthy or traditional snacks and beverages, delicious fresh food, or a cafe-style coffee service we can help create a space everyone wants to visit. For more information, please contact Fox Vending at (800) 694-2800.