As the beverage industry is now seeing a slow decline in the sales of alcoholic drinks, it was only a matter of time before non-alcoholic drinks started to become more popular. Big brands like Sapporo are even beginning to be affected, which is why the Japanese beer brand is introducing a new alcohol-free beverage by the name of Sapporo+.
This beer-like drink is sold in a can and is said to suppress an increase in blood sugar levels after a meal. This is thanks to the inclusion of a dietary fiber derived from corn called dextrin. Since this product boasts a specific health benefit, it has even received tokuho certification in Japan as a non-alcoholic beer.
Although this is a beer-free product, Sapporo+ will be labeled as a drink for adults over the age of 20 and it will be displayed in the alcohol section to deter minors.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Non-alcoholic Beverages
- The rise of non-alcoholic beverages presents opportunities for companies to innovate and create health-conscious products such as Sapporo+.
- Functional Beverages
- Sapporo+ highlights the trend of functional beverages with added health benefits and presents opportunities for companies to innovate in this space.
- Alternative Drinks
- Sapporo+ represents the trend towards alternative drinks and presents opportunities for companies to explore new ingredients and formulations for non-alcoholic options.
Where This Applies
- Beverage
- Sapporo+ showcases the potential for companies in the beverage industry to innovate with non-alcoholic, functional, and alternative drinks.
- Health and Wellness
- The rise of health-conscious non-alcoholic beverages like Sapporo+ provides opportunities for companies in the health and wellness industry to explore the intersection of food and health.
- Retail
- With the shift towards non-alcoholic drinks, retailers have the opportunity to innovate by creating unique in-store displays and marketing campaigns for products like Sapporo+.
