The world has changed in many ways since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; among these, increased expectations about the nutrition and well-being we can achieve through the foods and beverages we choose to consume. This interest opens up more opportunities for functional beverage developers to design products in tune with consumer preferences and the reasons for their choices.
Less oriented toward what a brand represents, today's consumer purchasing habits focus on products that add value to their lifestyle, explains Richard Horwell, a representative of Brand Relations; he adds that there is a particular interest in health and functionality. Growth projections for the functional beverage market predict that the emphasis on taking care of our health will drive demand in the coming years.
Additionally, in the food and beverage market, we are increasingly seeing "tailor-made" offerings, as consumers seek specific solutions to their needs: energy, concentration, relaxation, digestive health, immune system strengthening, among many others.
As addressed in the previous article (http://www.sabores.com.sv/post/bebidas-hidratantes-salud-bienestar) of this series, functional foods must be viewed within the context of a healthy diet to capture their potential appeal. In a market with increased nutrition education and more active populations, functional beverages are lifestyle options or an alternative for hydration without resorting to sugary soft drinks with little nutritional value.
The addition of micronutrients to beverages can present technological challenges. For example, when formulating drinks with vitamin blends, it is essential to prevent interactions between other ingredients in the formula and incompatibilities among the vitamins themselves. It is also important to consider that some vitamins and minerals can leave off-flavors in beverages. Balancing the taste so that these 'unusual' notes go unnoticed becomes even more difficult in drinks with reduced sugar or no sugar at all.
Despite the wide variety of non-caloric sweeteners available, developers know that creating a final beverage with a pleasant sweetness, low in calories, and free of off-flavors requires a meticulous formulation process. At Sabores Cosco Central America, we offer solutions for vitamin-enriched beverage concepts across a broad range of healthy and delicious drinks that support various positioning strategies, such as:
- Antioxidants: drinks with juice and mineral salt blends, vitamins A, E, and C; accentuated with flavorings using traditional flavors like orange and carrot, tropical flavors like passion fruit, or an exotic blend of Polynesian fruits. All offerings are balanced for sugar-free beverages.
- Detox: base with fruit juice and green tea, added with Vitamin C, a touch of caffeine and sweetened with stevia (http://www.sabores.com.sv/bebidas). Our lemon-flavored offering with relaxing notes, green juice, or something similar, is perfect for any time of day. This base can also be flavored with an invigorating blend of natural matcha, green apple, and celery flavors, perfect for starting the day.
- Powdered Vitamin Blends: Our offering includes applications for powdered products including: Vitamin A, B-Complex Vitamins, Folic Acid, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Iron, Iodine, and Zinc.
It's natural to want to nourish ourselves properly and give our children the best possible nutrition. As we learn more about the relationship between health and diet, we examine our habits and evaluate the benefits of the foods we eat. Vitamin drinks respond to this search for functionality, as a rapidly growing category with excellent opportunities for innovation that elevates the concept of hydration.
About us
Sabores Cosco de Centroamérica offers innovative alternatives in flavors and ingredients. Our portfolio of applications for beverages and food is constantly expanding to provide timely responses to market demands. We have the technical tools to address the specific needs of flavor systems applications for beverages and food, designing customized proposals. Our technical advisory team provides support throughout the development process. We are confident that in Sabores Cosco de Centroamérica you will find a comprehensive partner for solutions for your products.
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