Beverages continue to play an important role on restaurant menus this year. From the functional to the health-conscious, hydration to happy hour, guests will be ordering off the drink menu this summer with wellness in mind. Colourful, fruity drinks are always popular once the warmer weather hits, but this year, tropical flavours are in hot demand, featuring banana, mango, dragonfruit, papaya, and coconut.
Healthy, functional beverages are still a priority, as Google searches for “prebiotic soda” rose 79 per cent and “fibre soda” searches increased by 42 per cent from December 2023 to December 2024. This year’s popular beverages centre around managing energy and stress, including infusions like CBD, THC, adaptogens, or nootropics.
With 32 per cent of consumers experiencing food allergies or intolerances, dairy alternatives are gaining speed. While 9 in 10 plant-milk buyers still drink traditional dairy, many opt to rotate in alternatives like oat, almond, pistachio, or macadamia in their coffee beverages or smoothies.
Consumers are also looking for ways to increase the health benefits of their coffee, adding functional ingredients like matcha, protein, CBD, and more to their hot and cold caffeinated (and non-caffeinated) beverages.
Research shows that in 2024, non-alcoholic drinks skyrocketed in sales, including spirit-free cocktails (+ 404 per cent), non-alcoholic spirits (+ 129 per cent), non-alcoholic wines (+ 28 per cent), and non-alcoholic beers (+ 17 per cent). Mocktails are one of the fastest-growing segments of the market, projected to grow 97 per cent more through 2028. Many consumers are opting for sugar-free versions of their favourite non-alcoholic cocktails, for a healthier version without compromising taste. Adding ingredients like lion’s mane and chamomile are also trending for a healthier take on mocktail menus.
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Though many consumers are choosing beverages with wellness in mind, people are looking for innovation from restaurants, with 40 per cent more likely to visit a restaurant with new flavours, and 33 per cent are willing to spend more at restaurants for those new flavours. Staying on trend with functional, innovative beverages can help operators increase guest cheques, add interest to their menus, broaden their social media audience, and boost sales.
