Category
Lifestyle
Assisted Choices
Trend cluster
Category
Elevated
Soda
The traditional soda is enhanced with nutritious ingredients.
3.3
Trend score
Trend
What is the Elevated Soda trend?
Elevated Soda: With traditional soda sales down in North America, brands in this space are revamping their offerings by infusing nutritional elements into them. From CBD infusions to zero-sugar options, these products come as the "wellness" movement increasingly motivates purchase decisions.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the Elevated Soda trend
The decline of popularity in the soda space comes as consumers look for more than flavor when purchasing food and beverage items. Preferences like health and mental benefits are on the rise, particularly as consumers are faced with a host of options in the ever-expanding sparkling beverage market. As consumer values increasingly turn to the prioritization of health and wellness, brands in all categories must follow suit.
Trend themes
Themes within the Elevated Soda trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Nutrition-Infused Sodas
Brands are infusing nutritional elements into traditional sodas, including zero-sugar options and CBD infusions, as consumers prioritize health and wellness in their food and beverage purchases.
02
Alternative Energy Beverages
As consumers seek out ways to maintain an active lifestyle, growing popularity of low-calorie, sugar-free, and naturally-sourced caffeine sparkling sodas have disrupted the traditional energy drink market.
03
Alcohol-Based Sodas
Alternative to alcoholic beverages filled with calories and artificial preservatives, zero-sugar spiked sodas infused with organic alcohol and superfoods, have entered the market as an emerging trend.
Industry implications
What the Elevated Soda trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry
Soft drink companies can leverage the trend towards healthier soda options infused with nutritious ingredients to stay relevant in a highly competitive industry.
For
Energy Drink Industry
Energy drink brands can cater to consumers looking for natural and low-calorie options with alternatives like CBD infused or low-sugar sparkling sodas.
For
Alcoholic Beverage Industry
Alcohol brands can tap into the emerging trend of zero-sugar spiked sodas infused with organic alcohol and superfoods, to appeal to health-conscious consumers looking for low-calorie options.
Workshop question
How could your brand cater to the growth of the "wellness" market?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Elevated Soda
Trend score 3.3 out of 10, from popularity 53%, activity 37%, freshness 9%.
Popularity53%
Activity37%
Freshness9%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Elevated Soda trend
6 featured examples from Feb 20, 2018 to Mar 6, 2020CategoryLifestyle
CBD-Infused Sodas
Jones Soda Debuted A Fizzy Cannabis Beverage in a Re-Branding Effort
The beverage industry can leverage the trend towards CBD-infused drinks to innovate and capture market share, offering consumers new options for functional beverages.
CategoryLifestyle
Soda-Flavored Energy Drinks
'Coca-Cola Energy' Shares Caffeine from Naturally Derived Sources
The launch of Coca-Cola Energy highlights the ongoing innovation and competition in the ever-growing energy drink market.
CategoryLifestyle
Zero-Sugar Spiked Sodas
Crook & Marker's Spiked Sodas are Infused with Organic Alcohol
Alcoholic beverage companies can innovate by introducing healthier and more natural options that appeal to consumers who are conscious about their health and wellness.
CategoryLifestyle
Low-Calorie Energy Sodas
The New Mtn Dew Kickstart Ultra Original Has No Added Sugar
Opportunity for beverage manufacturers to create and market new low-calorie and vitamin-infused drinks to appeal to health-conscious consumers.
CategoryLifestyle
Cocktail-Focused Ginger Sodas
The Q Mixers Hibiscus Ginger Beer will be Available at Target
The Q Mixers Hibiscus Ginger Beer introduces a new flavor in the beverage mixers industry, fostering potential for innovative mixer brands and expanding product offerings.
CategoryMarketing
Juice-Infused Sugar-Free Sodas
The Fanta Raspberry Zero Sugar is Made with Fruit Juice
Opportunity to innovate new and healthier product lines with low-sugar options.
