Drinking in the Benefits

Published :  April 20, 2023

H ealthier foods and beverages, exercise, managing stress—putting a focus on individual health means something different for everyone. No matter how they define it, though, 64% of people consider healthfulness an important influence when buying food and beverages.1 Here are some of the health highlights when it comes to beneficial beverages.

65% of consumers seek functional benefits from food and drink.1

The power of functional energy

The increasing awareness around health is projected to be a big driver for functional beverages, growing from $137 billion in 2022 to $147 billion in 2023.2 Functional beverages provide a way for consumers to support their health efforts in a variety of ways, from immunity and metabolism support to electrolyte replenishment. CELSIUS® delivers functional benefits through ingredients like vitamins, chromium, and green tea extract and is clinically proven to accelerate metabolism and provide essential energy. Adding on to the benefits, delicious flavors like Sparkling Mango Passionfruit and Raspberry Acai Green Tea are made with no artificial preservatives or flavors and no aspartame or high fructose corn syrup.

'Gluten-Free' is the leading claim across top 500 QSR, fast-casual, and full-service restaurants.3

Fuel for active lifestyles

For some consumers, health awareness simply means trying to eat more mindfully. For others, it includes specific dietary needs/preferences such as gluten avoidance. It is estimated that almost 340 million people in the U.S. have an intolerance to gluten.4 For consumers looking to build muscle in their exercise regimen, protein-rich shakes like Muscle Milk® fit the bill while also satisfying the growing need for gluten free options. Each ready-to-drink shake offers 25 grams of protein for on-the-go convenience and is NSF Certified for Sport. For athletic performance that requires proper focus and hydration, Gatorade® Fast Twitch® provides a boost with 200mg of caffeine, electrolytes, and zero sugar. Like all Gatorade brand beverages, Fast Twitch also supports a gluten free lifestyle.

Millennials (51%) and Generation X (45%) show the greatest interest in healthy options compared to other generational groups.1

When assessing the overall beverage menu, keep in mind that consumers are looking for opportunities to support their health in a variety of ways. Says Darren Seifer, NPD food and beverage analyst, “Consumers are actively creating their own dietary and mental health programs. Through self-education and readily available products, they are choosing the best aspects of diets and lifestyles that work for them.”5 With lower sugar options like Pure Leaf® Subtly Sweet Teas, zero sugar refreshment like bubly™ sparkling water, and functional beverages including CELSIUS® and Gatorade®, PepsiCo has something to satisfy everyone.

Sources:

1BusinessDIT.com, Renolon Health-Conscious Consumer Statistics, 2.21.23

2Globe Newswire, 1.4.23

3Technomic Ignite Menu Data, Q2 2020-Q2 2022

4World Population Review, Gluten Intolerance by Country 2023

5NPD, Consumers Now Take a Holistic Approach to Their Health and Focus on Both Mental and Physical Well-Being, 1.23.23