By Matthias Laudico and Charlotte Mizrahi, Co-Founders of Ley Line Labs
The non-alcoholic beverage space is rapidly evolving, and with it, creative new product formats and flavors are emerging. As founders working closely with functional and non-alcoholic beverage brands, we see several exciting trends shaping this industry. These trends reflect a growing consumer interest in customization, functionality, and sensory experience. Here’s an inside look at the most promising directions for non-alcoholic beverages.
Fun with Formats
Powders
Powders are becoming a popular choice for brands launching with limited capital, offering a lower barrier to entry due to lower production and shipping costs. With a longer shelf life, powders are versatile and well-suited to functional applications beyond traditional hydration or nutrition mixes. While powders are often associated with green supplements or electrolyte drinks, their potential for other functional benefits is vast and relatively untapped.
Tinctures and Concentrates
Small-format options like tinctures and concentrates allow consumers to control their drink’s flavor and strength, making for a personalized experience. This versatility makes them popular with both amateur mixologists and curious consumers, encouraging creativity and experimentation. Tinctures and concentrates are compact, which reduces shipping costs, and their small size makes them easy for consumers to store or take on the go.
Sachets and Infusion Kits
Sachets and infusion kits, though requiring slightly more preparation, offer consumers a visually engaging experience. These products are designed to steep in the liquid of choice, imparting both flavor and a colorful aesthetic. Dried fruits, botanicals, and herbs included in sachets make them a unique and visually appealing option, ideal for consumers who enjoy the display-worthy elements of beverage preparation.
A recent Dry Atlas survey showed that consumers are embracing these new formats:
- Droppers (such as bitters and tinctures) topped the list with 67% of respondents favoring them.
- Sachets (like SAYSO) are also popular, with one-third of respondents showing interest.
- Powders and Concentrates each received interest from one-quarter of readers.
Only 17% of those surveyed said they preferred to stick to the more traditional bottles and cans.
Future Flavors
Spill the Tea
Incorporating tea into ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages is an emerging trend. Whether tea takes the lead in flavor or serves as an accent, it can add a layer of complexity, cultural relevance, and a natural caffeine boost if desired. Teas allow brands to introduce diverse, regional flavors while also appealing to the wellness-focused consumer.
Buzzword Brews
Fermented beverages, popularized by kombucha, continue to capture consumer interest for their layered flavor profiles. With fermentation techniques traditionally used in alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic brands are finding innovative ways to apply these methods, bringing depth and a slightly adventurous element to their offerings. This trend reflects the growing consumer demand for complexity and flavor in non-alcoholic drinks.
The Takeaway
As consumer interest in non-alcoholic beverages continues to grow, brands that embrace unique formats and flavors stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape. Formats that encourage interaction, like tinctures and sachets, can enhance the drink-making experience, while fermented beverages and tea-based drinks introduce flavors that resonate with today’s wellness-oriented consumer. Together, these trends show that the future of non-alcoholic beverages is vibrant, innovative, and ripe with potential for both consumers and brands.
About Ley Line Labs
Ley Line Labs is a CPG product development collective that offers the flexibility of an agency with the full service capabilities of a larger firm. At our core, we focus on efficiently building beautiful products, while supporting small businesses on both the brand and service provider side. Passionate about product, productivity, and people, we’re in it to make cool things and work with founders we believe in. Our process is full flavored and full service—we piece together the full CPG puzzle, starting with market analysis, branding, and formulation. When the data’s determined and the product’s polished, we coordinate with manufacturing, compliance, distribution, and media experts for a product launch that matches the brand’s goals and ethos. We live for libations and everything that gets them from brain to bottle.
For more from Matthias and Charlotte, connect with them on LinkedIn.
