FMCG Gurus -FMCG Gurus – The Next Wave of Refreshment – Non-Alcoholic Beverages 2026 – Global Report 2026

FMCG Gurus – The Next Wave of Refreshment – Non-Alcoholic Beverages 2026 – Global Report 2026

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FMCG Gurus – The Next Wave of Refreshment – Non-Alcoholic Beverages 2026 – Global Report 2026

 Geographies: Global  Industries: Category Insight, Non-Alcoholic Beverages  Published Date: 2026

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FMCG Gurus – The Next Wave of Refreshment – Non-Alcoholic Beverages 2026 – Global Report 2026

Report Description:

This report explores the evolving Non-Alcoholic Beverages market in 2026, examining how changing wellness priorities, functional nutrition, and premiumization are reshaping consumer expectations. As consumers seek beverages that support hydration, sustained energy, and everyday wellbeing, brands must balance functionality, indulgence, and natural positioning while responding to demand for higher-quality products.

At the same time, the boundaries between traditional soft drinks, functional beverages, and sports nutrition continue to blur. Consumers are looking for products that combine refreshment with convenient wellness benefits, while premium cues such as natural ingredients, clean-label formulations, and authentic production methods are becoming increasingly important in shaping perceptions of quality and value.

For brands, success will depend on strengthening existing category perceptions rather than attempting to redefine them. Delivering credible functional benefits, natural ingredients, and premium experiences that align with established consumer expectations will be key to driving long-term growth and engagement.

This report will look at the following areas:

  • How changing consumption habits, wellness priorities, and everyday routines are reshaping demand across the non-alcoholic beverage market.The growing role of hydration, sustained energy, functionality, and premiumization in influencing beverage choice.
  • How consumers evaluate health, naturalness, ingredient quality, nutritional labeling, and transparency across different beverage categories.
  • The continued convergence of traditional beverages and sports nutrition, creating opportunities for functional and protein-based innovation.
  • The importance of premium positioning through natural ingredients, clean-label formulations, authenticity, and quality cues.
  • How consumption occasions, treating behaviours, food pairing, and emotional wellbeing are creating new opportunities for product positioning.
  • Why natural claims, vitamins and minerals, botanicals, and functional ingredients are becoming increasingly influential in driving purchase and premium value.

Who this is for:

This report is designed for beverage manufacturers, soft drink brands, functional beverage companies, ingredient suppliers, retailers, sports nutrition businesses, and wellness-focused organisations seeking to understand the evolving drivers of consumer behaviour within the global non-alcoholic beverage market. It is particularly relevant for brands looking to align innovation, product development, and communication strategies with growing demand for products that combine refreshment, functionality, naturalness, and premium quality.

The report will also support marketers, innovation teams, product developers, commercial leaders, and strategic decision-makers operating across soft drinks, bottled water, juices, functional beverages, sports nutrition, dairy alternatives, and wider beverage categories where consumer expectations around health, enjoyment, and everyday wellbeing continue to evolve.

FMCG Gurus – The Next Wave of Refreshment – Non-Alcoholic Beverages 2026 – Global Report 2026

Report Description:

This report explores the evolving Non-Alcoholic Beverages market in 2026, examining how changing wellness priorities, functional nutrition, and premiumization are reshaping consumer expectations. As consumers seek beverages that support hydration, sustained energy, and everyday wellbeing, brands must balance functionality, indulgence, and natural positioning while responding to demand for higher-quality products.

At the same time, the boundaries between traditional soft drinks, functional beverages, and sports nutrition continue to blur. Consumers are looking for products that combine refreshment with convenient wellness benefits, while premium cues such as natural ingredients, clean-label formulations, and authentic production methods are becoming increasingly important in shaping perceptions of quality and value.

For brands, success will depend on strengthening existing category perceptions rather than attempting to redefine them. Delivering credible functional benefits, natural ingredients, and premium experiences that align with established consumer expectations will be key to driving long-term growth and engagement.

This report will look at the following areas:

  • How changing consumption habits, wellness priorities, and everyday routines are reshaping demand across the non-alcoholic beverage market.The growing role of hydration, sustained energy, functionality, and premiumization in influencing beverage choice.
  • How consumers evaluate health, naturalness, ingredient quality, nutritional labeling, and transparency across different beverage categories.
  • The continued convergence of traditional beverages and sports nutrition, creating opportunities for functional and protein-based innovation.
  • The importance of premium positioning through natural ingredients, clean-label formulations, authenticity, and quality cues.
  • How consumption occasions, treating behaviours, food pairing, and emotional wellbeing are creating new opportunities for product positioning.
  • Why natural claims, vitamins and minerals, botanicals, and functional ingredients are becoming increasingly influential in driving purchase and premium value.

Who this is for:

This report is designed for beverage manufacturers, soft drink brands, functional beverage companies, ingredient suppliers, retailers, sports nutrition businesses, and wellness-focused organisations seeking to understand the evolving drivers of consumer behaviour within the global non-alcoholic beverage market. It is particularly relevant for brands looking to align innovation, product development, and communication strategies with growing demand for products that combine refreshment, functionality, naturalness, and premium quality.

The report will also support marketers, innovation teams, product developers, commercial leaders, and strategic decision-makers operating across soft drinks, bottled water, juices, functional beverages, sports nutrition, dairy alternatives, and wider beverage categories where consumer expectations around health, enjoyment, and everyday wellbeing continue to evolve.

How This Report Can Benefit the Industry:

  • Target audience clarity: Understand how evolving consumer priorities around hydration, functionality, indulgence, naturalness, and premium quality influence beverage purchasing and consumption occasions.
  • Innovation enablement: Identify opportunities for functional beverages, sports nutrition crossover products, botanical innovation, premium positioning, and clean-label formulations that align with changing consumer expectations.
  • Proof to Align Teams: Build internal alignment around how wellness, ingredient integrity, premium cues, and functional claims are shaping the future direction of the global beverage market.
  • Launch with confidence: Support product development, positioning, and communication strategies with consumer insights into hydration, naturalness, functionality, premiumization, and everyday consumption behaviours.
  • Speed to market: Accelerate innovation by identifying emerging opportunities across traditional soft drinks, functional beverages, sports nutrition, and premium refreshment categories before consumer expectations become market standards.

Files included in this report:

  • FMCG-Gurus-The-Next-Wave-of-Refreshment-Non-Alcoholic-Beverages-2026-Global-Report-2026-.pdf
  • FMCG-Gurus-The-Next-Wave-of-Refreshment-Non-Alcoholic-Beverages-2026-Global-Report-2026-.pptx
  • If you are a user, click here to login and download the report.

Report Agenda and Insights available:

Consumption habits and
  • [NAB787] On average, how often do you drink the following beverages? Please select the answer that best fits Please note for these questions, we are talking about consumption and NOT purchasing - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB787] On average, how often do you drink the following beverages? Please select the answer that best fits Please note for these questions, we are talking about consumption and NOT purchasing - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB207] You state that you drink the following beverages. Have your consumption habits changed over the last six months? - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB787] On average, how often do you drink the following beverages? Please select the answer that best fits Please note for these questions, we are talking about consumption and NOT purchasing - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB787] On average, how often do you drink the following beverages? Please select the answer that best fits Please note for these questions, we are talking about consumption and NOT purchasing - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB207] You state that you drink the following beverages. Have your consumption habits changed over the last six months? - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB482] Do you deem the following types of products to be unhealthy or healthy? - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB088] Typically, how often do you check nutritional labeling/nutri-score labeling when drinking the following types of beverages? Please select the answer that best fits - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB598] What kind of information do you check for on nutritional labeling/nutri-score labeling? Please select all that apply - 2021, 2024, 2026
Motivations and priorities
  • [NAB754] We would now like you to think about what makes a beverage appear more premium/higher quality. For each type of beverage, please select all the features that you think makes a beverage more premium/higher quality - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB061] Do you look out for any of the following claims/pledges when beverage products Please select all that apply - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB195] Did you ever buy products that have functional benefits such as helping improve your digestive system, aiding muscle recovery or that are high in vitamins and minerals? - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB195] Did you ever buy products that have functional benefits such as helping improve your digestive system, aiding muscle recovery or that are high in vitamins and minerals? - 2021, 2019, 2024, 2026
Importance and influence of
  • [NAB061] Do you look out for any of the following claims/pledges when beverage products Please select all that apply - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB496] How important are sustainability claims/pledges when choosing what beverage products to buy? - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB641] How appealing are the following claims when related to the following type of products? - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB641] How appealing are the following claims when related to the following type of products? - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB418] Would the use of botanicals/botanical flavors make you increase your consumption of beverages? - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB641] How appealing are the following claims when related to the following type of products? - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB641] How appealing are the following claims when related to the following type of products? - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB167] How appealing are the following claims when related to the following type of products? - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB167] How appealing are the following claims when related to the following type of products? - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB418] Would the use of botanicals/botanical flavors make you increase your consumption of beverages? - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB131] What benefits do you associate with botanical ingredients? - 2021, 2024, 2026
  • [NAB167] How appealing are the following claims when related to the following type of products? - 2021, 2024, 2026

Files included in this report:

  • FMCG-Gurus-The-Next-Wave-of-Refreshment-Non-Alcoholic-Beverages-2026-Global-Report-2026-.pdf
  • FMCG-Gurus-The-Next-Wave-of-Refreshment-Non-Alcoholic-Beverages-2026-Global-Report-2026-.pptx
  • If you are a user, click here to login and download the report.