3 minute read
Create spectacular Ready-To-Drink beverages with clean-label colours
Demand for Ready-To-Drink products (RTDs) is on the rise. Exberry Coloring Foods can help manufacturers create eye-catching, on-trend products while maintaining the clean ingredient lists that today’s shoppers expect. Alison Donaldson, technical sales manager at GNT Group, explains some of the secrets to success in the modern ready-to-drink sector.
While the pandemic-induced alcohol bans may have impeded their momentum, Ready-To-Drink products (RTDs) such as hard seltzers, premix cocktails and other flavoured alcoholic beverages are proving hugely popular among South African consumers. Euromonitor data shows sales growth rates in the country were vibrant in both on-trade and retail channels before 2020.1
In fact, the RTD sector is becoming an increasingly important part of the alcohol market worldwide. According to IWSR, RTDs posted double-digit global growth in 2020 and are set for a 10.2% CAGR over the 2021 to 2025 period.2 The drinks market analysis firm suggests their success is down to growing consumer demand for refreshing, flavourful and longer-toconsume drinks.3
Hard seltzers are at the very heart of the trend. These alcoholic sparkling waters benefit from a better-for-you image with nearly seven out of 10 hard seltzer drinkers worldwide saying health drives their alcoholic beverage drink choice.4 Many hard seltzers have lower calorie and sugar levels than other alcoholic drinks and they can provide a light, fun and fresh choice with exciting flavours.
Colour is a crucial part of many of these drinks’ appeal. While some hard seltzers look like sparkling water, others feature bright or pastel shades to complement fruity and botanical flavours. Colour can elevate the drinking experience for any RTD and help it to stand out from the crowd. It can even influence enjoyment of the flavour with pinks, reds and purples associated with enhanced sweetness perception.5
Nonetheless, it is essential to provide reassurance that colouring ingredients come from a trustworthy source – particularly in better-for-you options such as hard seltzers. Today, seven in ten South African consumers say it is important that food and drink products contain natural colouring.6
Exberry can provide the ideal solution. These Coloring Foods are made from edible, non-GMO fruit, vegetables and plants using physical processing methods such as chopping and boiling. They can be listed on the ingredient label in a way that is easy to understand, such as "colouring food (concentrate of beetroot and carrot)" or simply “concentrates (beetroot and carrot).” As a result, they offer widespread consumer acceptance. Recent research carried out by FMCG Gurus shows 77% of South African consumers find the idea of products coloured with the concentrated juice from fruit, vegetables and plants to be appealing or very appealing.7
Exberry colours are highly versatile too, and can be used for almost any food and beverage application. In addition to RTDs, they can be used to create spectacular gins, rums, ciders, spritzers, mixing syrups and even beers.
At GNT, we have extensive experience creating colourful alcoholic beverages. Our experts can provide assistance to manufacturers through each step of the commercialisation process, from colour selection and stability testing all the way through to regulatory support and upscaling. We can even provide inspiration for new products, with their team ready to offer insights on market trends and concept innovation.
Exberry Coloring Foods are perfectly placed to help manufacturers meet the rising demand for innovative alcoholic beverages, providing spectacular visual impact alongside clean and clear label declarations. •
REFERENCES 1 Euromonitor 'RTDs in South Africa' (2021) 2 IWSR 'Global beverage alcohol expected to gain +3% volume in 2021' (2021) 3 IWSR 'Beverage Alcohol in 2020 Performs Better than Expected' (2020) 4 Mintel 'Dry January is just one month but BFY alcohol drinks appeal throughout the year' (2021) 5 Spence, C. et al. 'On tasty colours and colourful tastes? Assessing, explaining, and utilizing crossmodal correspondences between colours and basic tastes' Flavour (July 2015) 6 FMCG Gurus 'South Africa Clean Label Survey' (2021) 7 FMCG Gurus 'South Africa Clean Label Survey' (2021)
GNT - www.exberry.com
