The beverage industry is changing in three key ways to meet the demands of millennial consumers:
1. Beverages are becoming more health conscious, with millennials prioritizing natural, organic, and low chemical ingredients. Brands are highlighting these attributes to appeal to millennials.
2. Millennials want beverages from brands that are ethically sourced and sustainable. They research how brands treat employees, source ingredients, and handle packaging waste.
3. Social media has influenced packaging and branding, with millennials seeking beverages that photograph well online. Upscale, attractive labels are important to showcase on platforms like Instagram.
2. If you need proof of the impact that millennials are having on the
food and beverage industry, here’s a story that might provide it
for you.
A lifestyle reporter for the Washington Post hosted a holiday
party for her spouse’s employees at his law firm (pre-Covid, of
course.) As most of her husband’s staff attending the event were
millennials (those born between the years of 1981-1996), she wanted
to ensure she had a liquor and beverage selection that would be
commensurate with their tastes and preferences. She texted a
new associate attorney she’d come to know, a 30-year-old
graduate of Georgetown’s prestigious law school, for ideas of
beverage selections she should put on the list for her shopping
expedition.
3.
4. First, he told her, there’s no need to go physically shopping for
the supplies. “You should download an app like Drizly, and they’ll
find everything and deliver it for you,” he informed her. Second, he
informed her, you’ll want to make sure anything you buy has the
“ethically bottled and sourced” stamps of approval, because
nearly everyone he knew at the firm only consumes beverages
they know have been humanely distilled and prepared. Third, she
should try to also factor in beverages that had “more natural
ingredients” and that was ideally labeled “organic” if possible,
“especially for mixers,” he said. And finally, “oh and you know, make
sure it looks good, too.”
5. “Looks good?” she thought. What does that even mean? “We take
lots of pictures of what we’re drinking to post on our IG feed. So,
you know, more upscale looking bottles and labels, that sort of
thing,” he offered.
Whereas past baby boomers tended to drink the most dominant
brands of liquor and beverages and Generation X drank whatever
was cheapest and easiest to purchase, the mysteries of the
millennial generation and how they choose to allocate their
purchasing power continue to both abound and astound the
food and beverage industry, not to mention all the rest of the
population.
6. But making up 25% of the current population means that paying
attention to and incorporating their preferences is a MUST for
beverage companies to stay progressive and profitable.
Here’s a look at the TOP 3 ways the industry is changing to meet
those millennial demands.
7. Health Conscious
No generation before has valued a life-long commitment to
health and well-being to the extent that millennials do. A recent
Forrester study indicates that 9 out of 10 millennials say that
buying food and beverage products that are healthy is a top
priority to them, and they put their money where their mouth is:
millennials currently account for over half of the organic foods
purchased today.
8. The millennial generation is uniquely conscious and aware of
everything they put in their body, and everywhere they choose to
spend their money. They are significantly aware of both the
ingredients that go into their consumables as well as where it
came from, how it was produced, and how it was packaged. They
will often reject beverages made with inferior quality or brands
that don’t have a commitment to health and humanity.
9. What does this mean for the beverage industry? Not just a
change in what products they offer but also how they advertise
their products and how they prepare them. Health centered
beverages like Kombucha and other fermented drinks that
provide an added health benefit were up 21% in sales in 2020, and
even alcohol brands are making the pivot. Brands like White Claw
have seen an enormous gain in popularity due to their tagline
“Made Pure” and their legit boast that they are made with nearly
all-natural ingredients and gluten-free alcohol. To stay
competitive, beverage brands need to act on the millennials
commitment to health by providing products that speak to this
preference, and directly address factors like natural ingredients,
less chemicals, and less preservatives.
10. Drink Ethically
The good news about millennials? They are the most brand loyal
generation in recent history. According to Forrester, 80% of
millennials will stay faithful to a brand, provided that brand lives
up to a commitment for health and ethics. Millennials have
increased access to product information and how it is prepared
and do their research. They want to purchase from brands that
share their commitment to the environment, sustainability, and
humane treatment of employees, animals, and the land.
11. 73% of millennials are willing to pay more for a product they know
comes from a brand committed to sustainability and are much
more likely to buy from a beverage brand that is transparent
about their ingredients, how they treat their employees, and how
they source and create their packaging. Know more visit here :
https://www.groupfio.com/top-3-ways-the-beverage-industry-is-
changing/