Bottled water is more than just plain old bottled water these days. Now there is alkaline water, ionized water, natural functional water, and infused water. That’s just for starters.
Today, consumers are looking for bottled water that also contains ingredients that make it healthier than simply water itself, such a vitamins and minerals. They also are seeking out drinks that provide a touch of healthy flavor to the water. In general, consumers are demanding quality and new exciting tastes in their bottled water.
Read More »As a result, new innovative products are joining the market at a fast pace.
More popular than sodas
Bottled water outsold sodas for the first time in 2016 and has continued to do so for every year since then. The big difference now, however, is that the variety of bottled water is growing strongly as new choices flood the market, all claiming to be healthier for you.
The demand is so strong that the global health drinks market is expected to grow by more than 7 percent annually over the next five years. The market is one of the most rapidly growing in the world, according to a recent report from Mordor Intelligence, a market research company.
The main reason behind this new trend is that more and more consumers are linking eating the right food and drinking the right beverages to their health. People are moving toward adopting a lifestyle that is healthy and helps them keep fit. At the same time they are cutting down on the chances of contracting lifestyle diseases by eating the right food and drinks, the report notes.
Not unexpectedly, therefore, consumers increasingly are looking for functional and nutritional beverage products beyond water alone that they believe are healthy and could help the body’s immunity and defenses as well as keep them in good shape.
Major market trends
Here is a look at the major trends in the health drinks market.
Functional drinks
Functional drinks are mostly water, but they usually are alkaline and contain ingredients that include vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, amino acids, and probiotics.
• Among the leading products in the field of functional drinks is Alkaline88 which is said to provide excellent hydration with a good 8.8pH balance. Drinking such alkaline water might have benefits for patients who suffer from heartburn and reflux disease, medical researchers say.
The drinks also have ingredients that are easy to understand and free of buffers, the company says. For example, Alkaline88 ionized water contains only Pink Himalayan rock salt and purified water. A major new and expanding field for these drinks is airports, where they are available in nine major U.S. air terminals. As the airline industry has rebounded, the time is right for the company to enter this market, says Ricky Wright, CEO and president of the Alkaline Water Company.
Hundreds of millions of passengers will be able to obtain Deliciously Smooth Alkaline 88 when they pass through airports to destinations around the globe, he adds. The company also is undertaking a major drive to sell more and more drinks online in addition to regular grocery channels, Wright says. The manufacturer of the drinks, The Alkaline Water Company, recently unveiled a number of new natural A88CBD functional drinks. They include Relax, Rest, Relief, Refresh, Reenergize, and Resistance. Each product has its own natural flavoring.
• Another company that is focusing on functional water is Essentia Water recently bought by Nestle. The emphasis on functional water is part of a transformation of its global bottled water sales. The company says it is committed to healthy hydration drinks that have a smooth taste and provide the best pH at 9.8.
• Some bottled water is naturally alkaline rather than processed. Among them is Icelandic Glacial water which comes from the Olfus spring in Iceland. With a pH level of 8.4, it is a popular drink and comes in a variety of flavors.
Infused drinks
Infused drinks are essentially water that is soaked in fruits, vegetables and herbs.
One brand made by The Alkaline Water Company includes a pressurized area in the bottle cap. When the consumer turns it open, fresh flavor and functionality are said to be infused into the water.
Flavors include vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Most popular flavors are said to be lime, lemon, mint, and cucumber.
Among the benefits of infused water is that its taste is superior to that of regular water; it contains no calories; it can improve your mood; and it assists in improving the metabolism of your body.
Recipe
You can make your own infused water by adding your favorite fruit to bottled water. Cut the fruit into slices and add them to the water. Leave it for an hour or two so that it can infuse into the water.
You can use ginger and cinnamon as well as fruits such as tangerine, strawberry, apple, and mango—or, of course, whatever is your favorite fruit.
Fitness drinks
There are a wide range of fitness drinks, some of which are healthier than others. They usually contain water flavored with fruit and other ingredients including vitamins and minerals.
Fitness drinks are said to provide energy and rapid hydration. They usually include antioxidants such as Vitamins E and C.
Among the leading makers of fitness drinks is Celsius, which recently announced a new flavor called Tropical Vibe that is flavored with starfruit and pineapple. This new flavor follows Peach Vibe introduced earlier. The drinks have no preservatives, no artificial color or flavors, and zero sugar. Seven vitamins are included.
