Functional drinks: a growing market
As a reminder, a functional drink is a non-alcoholic beverage with the status of a foodstuff (food or food supplement), enriched with specific ingredients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, plants, extracts…) and associated with a claimed health benefit¹.
The functional beverage market is expected to grow strongly in the coming years, thanks to a general awareness of the health benefits of these products. Consumers are more and more aware of the benefits of nutrients such as vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants. As a result, the demand for healthier beverages is increasing and boosting market growth¹.
Organization of the functional beverage market
The functional drinks market is segmented into several categories:
- Colas, lemonades, tonics
- Juices
- Teas, coffees and infusions
- Fermented non-alcoholic drinks
- Sports & energy drinks
- Flavored waters
Each of these categories can meet different promises, for example: energy / vitality, immunity, weight management, beauty, joint health … All thanks to specific nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, plant extracts or proteins. This phenomenon is also observed in the market for food supplements.
Successful promises in the functional beverage market
Sports drinks, a promise that works
Globally, the sports drinks market was $15.2 billion in 2021 and is estimated to reach $25.5 billion by 2031 with a +5.3% growth (CAGR)².
This evolution is explained by the democratization of sports nutrition in recent years, especially since the Covid crisis. Sport has thus become more accessible, and new athletes have quickly realized that optimal performance goes hand in hand with appropriate nutrition. Thus, the sports nutrition market has “foodified” to become accessible to everyone, as part of a healthier lifestyle. Sports drinks have not escaped this trend, and are more in demand as they have several benefits. They hydrate, which is essential for the proper functioning of the body, especially during physical activity. Moreover, they have specific benefits associated with the nutrients they contain. Sports drinks have a bright future ahead of them!
Other promises of the functional beverage market
As we can imagine, sports drinks are positioned around benefits such as hydration, recovery, physical performance or energy.
There are also other benefits that functional drinks can offer:
- Mental well-being (sleep, stress, moods)
- Vision
- Women’s / men’s health
- Beauty
- Joints, bones and muscles
Thus, functional drinks represent an excellent solution, owing to their range of benefits and their various formats and flavors.
Functional drinks: how to innovate with collagen?
Collagen is a constituent of various tissues (skin, cartilage, etc.). Thus, functional beverages enriched with collagen peptides can address many issues:
Protein enrichment
Collagen is a protein. It can contribute to the protein supply necessary for the proper functioning of the body. In addition, some collagens have essential properties, particularly for recovery after a physical effort.
Joint health
Collagen helps maintain good joint comfort. It ensures the flexibility and density of cartilage. Thus, Naticol® preserves joint mobility, to prevent the onset of musculoskeletal discomfort.
Beauty
Collagen is an essential structural component of the extracellular matrix of the dermis. It helps to maintain the skin’s firmness and limit the appearance of wrinkles. Thus, Naticol® collagen peptides help slow down the aging process and maintain the skin’s beauty by improving its hydration, elasticity, and radiance.
Whatever the promises they fulfill, our Naticol® collagen peptides are differentiated by :
- A neutral taste and odor so as not to alter the organoleptic qualities of the finished product
- Easy incorporation into liquid solutions
- Proven efficacy backed by clinical studies and scientific research.
Thus, Weishardt has developed the Naticol® range of powders that can be optimally integrated into all solutions (food or food supplements).
The market for functional drinks is therefore promising and a source of innovation. Collagen, a versatile ingredient, gives the opportunity to position itself on numerous trendy promises such as sport with hydration, recovery and protein enrichment, or beauty with healthy aging.
¹ Pharmanager, 2022
² Fact.MR . Sports Drink Market 2021 – 2031.
