Flavours and Textures: How Local Consumer Taste Palates Are Defining Global Soft Drinks

Analyst Insight by Jonas Feliciano, Beverage Analyst at Euromonitor International

As global soft drinks companies compete with local manufacturers for share in developing nations, textures and flavours that cater to domestic consumer tastes take centre stage.

For generations, “a Coke and a smile” (and an unparalleled international distribution arm featuring local bottlers, licensed manufacturers, and a deep retail presence) was enough to capture significant market share in developing nations. The idea was simple. Much like blue jeans and rock and roll, Western beverages represented a lifestyle for which consumers in these markets would pay a premium. As of 2012, however, things have changed—growing consumer sophistication has put the focus squarely on developing products specifically tailored to consumer taste, to develop products with flavours and textures that local consumers find both familiar and satisfying. And, more often than not, these preferences are outside of the carbonate category.

Home Cooking and Eating Habits: Global Survey Strategic Analysis

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 This report focuses largely on the “Eating and Drinking” section of Euromonitor International’s 2011 Annual Study of global consumers, and is enriched by strategic analysis, extensive desk research and illustrated with Euromonitor International market data. The aim is to explore how new trends are impacting home eating and cooking habits.

Hear Euromonitor Speak at Mexipan 2012

Date: August 22-25, 2012
Location: World Trade Center, Mexico City
Event Description: Mexipan is the leading, national trade fair for the baking, confectionery, pastry, chocolate and ice-cream sectors in Mexico which brings together all the main suppliers from these industries.

At the fair, the innovations, novelties and market tendencies are presented by the most important national and international companies. The latest technologies, raw materials and services are exhibited, and during the 4-day fair there are many opportunities to generate solid commercial relationships. The exhibition area is more than 16,000 square meters.

Monthly Economic Review of Commodity Markets: April 2012 Update

Countries & Consumers brings you the latest update on global commodity markets. In March 2012, global commodity prices of energy and food rose on a monthly basis, while metal prices declined marginally compared to February 2012. Political tensions in the Middle East kept upward pressure on global oil prices during the month, whereas signs of easing economic activity in China weighed on the prices of metals. Nevertheless, global commodity prices are expected to remain volatile during the short term.

Soft Drinks International Conference

Date: May 18-18, 2012
Location: London

The first-ever Soft Drinks International, International Soft Drinks Conference, is being held in celebration of 125 years of monthly publication since first being published as the British & Colonial Water Trade Journal in 1888, and will take place just two months prior to the London 2012 Olympics. 

Aimed at senior management, marketers and technologists from the global non-alcoholic industry, the event already has the support of many international trade associations, market consultancies and food research organizations, as well as leading manufacturers, brands and suppliers to the industry.

The conference will embrace the full extent of content normally covered by SDI, namely; drinks design and development, ingredients, processing, packaging, marketing and distribution. 

Euromonitor's Ratna Sita will present, "Identifying growth opportunities in mature markets," focusing on soft drinks performance in developed regions and examining growth opportunities and future prospects. Her presentation will also focus on the on-going importance of health and key considerations when launching new products in mature markets.  

For more information, please visit the Soft Drinks International website. 

 

Falling Input Costs Could Bolster Packaged Food Innovation in 2012

Analyst Insight by Lee Linthicum – Global Head of Food Research – Euromonitor International

After rising steadily from mid-2010 to mid-2011, the price of food inputs on global agricultural commodities markets remained elevated for the duration of 2011. In turn, this further squeezed margins for packaged food manufacturers already facing considerable pressures from a consolidating grocery retailing landscape worldwide and mounting private label encroachment.

Beverages: The Last Frontier of Branding

Globally, Consumer foodservice operators branded products to be easily recognizable: the Whopper or the Big Mac for example. However, soda fountains usually contain Coca-Cola or Pepsi products, products with no brand connection to the outlet. Michael Schaefer, head of consumer foodservice research at Euromonitor, states the picture of beverage branding is shifting. Starbucks was the forerunner in beverage branding, pioneering the Frappuccino drink, and thus branding all of their beverages ever since. While we will never see Coke or Pepsi branded drinks leave outlets, Schaefer states that branded beverages might give consumers one more reason to go to a restaurant.

This video is also available on 

Beverages Play a Key Role in Consumer Foodservice Recovery

Since the global economic recession, growth has been slow for the consumer foodservice industry. In order to grow sales in mature markets, foodservice operators are looking to take traffic from competitors and be relevant across all times of the day. Beverages are a great way to accomplish this, states Michael Schaefer, head of consumer foodservice research at Euromonitor International. In developed markets, for instance, coffee plays a big role in any push to draw in customers at breakfast time. In developed markets, operators are looking to expand to rural and second-tier cities to draw in more traffic. Here, beverages can help localize a fast food menu in an area that might not be familiar with a particular outlet.

This video is also available on 

 

Hear Euromonitor Speak at the 10th Annual World Food & Innovation Forum

Date: March 1, 2012
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Event Description: The 10th Annual Food Technology & Innovation Forum gathers the world leaders in food research and development, food innovation, and new food product development to debate, and shape the future of the food industry. This programme highlights the most effective strategies, tools and techniques to maximise food research and development to improve competitiveness and profitability in new market conditions.
Speaker: Izaskun Bengoechea, Research Manager at Euromonitor International, will present her findings about proactive strategies to differentiate and retail consumer loyalty.  

For more information, please click here. 

Value Growth Trends are Different from Volume Trends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Value growth trends differ from volume trends in soft drinks.