Category
Lifestyle
Performance Powders
Trend cluster
Category
Alternative
Indulgence
As foodie culture expands, connoisseurs opt for obscure drinkables.
4.0
Trend score
Trend
What is the Alternative Indulgence trend?
Alternative Indulgence: The rise in social media-obsessed foodies constantly on the lookout for unusual flavor pairings is being supported by a rise in beverages that center around imitating a familiar flavor or fusing two unlikely matches. Chosen as an alternative to sodas and calorie-laden indulgences, the varieties satisfy the evolving consumer palate with varieties that would have been pigeonholed as unappetizing in years past, but are experiencing praise from curious experimentalists obsessed with uncovering the next big wave in food and flavor.
Trend themes
Themes within the Alternative Indulgence trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Alternative Beverages
As consumers seek new flavor experiences, alternative beverages are emerging to satisfy adventurous palates.
02
Health-Conscious Options
Low-calorie and nutritionally-enhanced alternatives are gaining popularity as consumers prioritize health.
03
Combination Flavors
Combining flavors that are not traditionally paired, such as soda and soy milk, is emerging as a new trend in drinkable indulgences.
Industry implications
What the Alternative Indulgence trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Beverage
Diversifying the beverage market with unique and innovative flavor options presents an opportunity for businesses looking to tap into the growing demand for alternative drinks.
For
Food
The popularity of food-inspired beverages highlights the potential for food companies to expand their product offerings into the beverage category.
For
Health and Wellness
Developing low-calorie and nutritionally-enhanced beverages can attract health-conscious consumers and provide an opening for brands to enter the health and wellness market.
Trend signals
Trend signals for Alternative Indulgence
Trend score 4.0 out of 10, from popularity 61%, activity 51%, freshness 8%.
Popularity61%
Activity51%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Alternative Indulgence trend
7 featured examples from Sep 29, 2013 to Apr 16, 2015CategoryLifestyle
Breakfast-Inspired Beverages
Cereal Tea by Aaron Geman Flavors Milk with Childhood Favorites
The beverage industry can explore innovative ways to incorporate popular cereal flavors into their products.
CategoryPop Culture
Food-Flavored Sodas
Lester's Fixins Food Sodas Include Bacon, Buffalo Wing and PB and J
Opportunity for beverage companies to introduce innovative food-flavored soda products.
CategoryLifestyle
Soda-Flavored Soy Milks
Kikkoman's Flavored Soy Milk is Made to Taste Just Like Cola
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introduce innovative flavors to the soy milk market to attract a wider range of consumers and differentiate from competitors.
CategoryLifestyle
Diet Fruit-Flavored Pop Slurpees
The Newest Slurpee Unveiled is the Diet Coke Cherry
The beverage industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by creating more low-calorie frozen beverages to meet the demand of health-conscious consumers.
CategoryLifestyle
Yogurt-Flavored Water
Suntory's Newest Water Flavor Takes After a Dairy Treat
The yogurt-flavored water trend opens up new possibilities for beverage manufacturers to create innovative products that cater to changing consumer tastes and preferences.
CategoryLifestyle
Hot Cocoa-Inspired Drinks
The TruMoo Chocolate Marshmallow Milk Brings a Touch of Winter to Summer
The dairy industry can capitalize on cocoa-inspired cold beverage trend by developing new products that align with this trend.
CategoryLifestyle
Cookie-Flavored Milks
This Cookie Milk is Smooth and Free of Crumbs
Beverage companies can capitalize on the trend towards sweet and indulgent flavors with their own creative twists.
