SupplySide Global 2025: Functional flavors and hybrid hydration lead beverage innovation

At SupplySide Global 2025 in Las Vegas, US (Oct 29–30), ingredient suppliers across the food, beverage, health, and nutrition sectors gathered to showcase new ingredients and concepts targeting wellness and beyond. A standout theme at the event was the increasing innovation in flavor across drinkable applications, such as clear sodas and functional coffees. These concepts continue to gather pace as health-conscious consumers back away from alcohol-based options. However, they still seek fun formats that offer hydration and health promises.

We take a look at the beverage concepts brewing up excitement on the trade show floor.

One ingredient player bringing a host of flavorful concepts to the trade show was Gold Coast Ingredients, a US-based company celebrating 40 years of flavor innovation this year. Megan Byrnes, marketing manager, spoke with Food Ingredients First at the event. 

“We’ve brought several concepts to showcase here in Las Vegas. One is a brown butter toffee concept and the another is a chai tea that uses lion’s mane mushroom. Mushrooms are definitely a hot trend that we’re seeing pick up pace in functional beverages. Chai tea is particularly popular here [in the US], so we thought this would be a great flavor to feature. We’re also showcasing our hybrid hydration beverages with interesting flavors, such as limequat (key lime-kumquat), pluot (plum-apricot), and tangelo (tangerine-grapefruit).”

“We’re seeing huge interest in hydration beverages. This trend has gained momentum over the past year, as consumers have sought more functional hydration options.”

Byrnes observes low- and no-alcohol beverages continuing to gain popularity.

“Consumers are drinking less alcohol, particularly Millennials, who are more conscious about their weight, skin, and overall health. I’ve noticed an increase in people opting for non-alcoholic beverages and mocktails. For instance, non-alcoholic margaritas, with a blood orange flavor, are becoming trendy, not only in beverages but as we look at the confectionery space as well.”

Ashley Sidi, marketing manager at Treatt, highlights beverage concepts that align with the growing consumer demand for wellness and functionality.With the fall season upon us, Gold Coast Ingredients has been focusing on seasonal flavors in hot drinks. “We’re working on some innovative mashups like gingerbread coffee cake. There’s a lot of interest in combining popular flavor profiles to create something new and exciting. We’re seeing interest in floral flavors and honey-based ingredients. There’s still significant space for those flavors to grow and further infiltrate into NPD,” Byrnes adds. 

The company anticipates an increase in functional beverages, particularly those containing ingredients that provide skin health or cognitive benefits. 

Wellness & functional concepts

Global ingredient supplier Treatt showcased several innovative beverage concepts that align with the growing consumer demand for wellness and functionality. 

Highlights included a mango chipotle prebiotic soda, which features the company’s mango distillates and chipotle Treattaromes, paired with its Brix Booster for sugar reduction. Meanwhile, an apple cinnamon coffee soda, which is a clear beverage featuring coffee Treattaromes essence, Brix Booster, and cinnamon, offered a new take on a fusion drink. 

The company also showcased a chamomile banana brûlée tea, a dessert-like drink with natural sweetness and a lighter, indulgent profile, showcasing Treatt’s ability to combine flavor complexity with clean labels.

Ashley Sidi, marketing manager at Treatt, told us: “One of the things we really wanted to showcase is our ingredients in beverages that have a wellness and functionality aspect. We have put together these three concepts to illustrate how we approach complex ideas.”

“At Treatt, our ingredient portfolio empowers brands to create bold, unexpected flavor experiences. We love showing customers how our natural extracts, distillates, and flavor ingredients can come together in innovative ways that challenge convention, like crafting authentic tropical or coffee taste profiles in formats you wouldn’t typically expect. Our goal is to spark new ideas and inspire formulators to think differently about what’s possible with Treatt ingredients and technologies.”

“Gut health is also a significant innovation area for Treatt,” says Sidi. “We wanted to show that with our prebiotic soda, which uses natural flavor ingredients to demonstrate how our portfolio can elevate something complex, healthy, and functional while still maintaining amazing taste. It’s a great example of how Treatt helps brands make wellness delicious, proving that functionality and flavor can go hand in hand.”

“We’ve created a turmeric ginger wellness shot, which also fits into the growing gut health trend, further aligned with Innova Market Insights’ #2 trend for 2026, ‘Gut Health Hub.’”

Additionally, Sidi believes the “sober-curious” movement is “definitely here to stay.” Kelly Polte, application scientist at Prinova, discusses the company’s Peach Mango Clear Whey RTM beverage and Paloma RTD Energy Drink.

“As a result, the company is also experimenting with a ‘CosNOpolitan’ — a non-alcoholic version of a Cosmopolitan cocktail, and a ‘Bloody Maria,’ which is our non-alcoholic take on a Bloody Mary,” she shares. “These concepts showcase how Treatt’s natural extracts, distillates, and flavor ingredients pair seamlessly to elevate non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages — delivering depth, aroma, and complexity without the alcohol. They reflect the growing consumer demand for sophisticated, adult-style drinks that offer the same multisensory experience and layered flavor of traditional cocktails, but in a lighter, more mindful format. With our portfolio, brands can recreate the nuanced notes of spirits, spice, and citrus while staying true to natural, clean label expectations.”

Commenting on the international differences in drink preferences between the US and Europe, Sidi explains: “In the US, consumers are generally more willing to spend a bit more on healthier sodas and beverages with added benefits, such as gut health support. In Europe, those trends are emerging but remain more fragmented. Flavor preferences also vary — US consumers tend to favor slightly sweeter profiles, while in the UK, it’s often best to dial that sweetness back for a more balanced taste.” She adds, “Because our sales, marketing, and insights teams are based across North America, the UK, Europe, and China, we’re able to draw on a truly global perspective. That broad geographical spread gives us a rich and exciting suite of actionable insights helping us guide our customers’ product development wherever they are in the world.”

Clear & clean energy offerings

Prinova showcased its functional nutrition capabilities in beverage concepts targeting rising consumer demand for protein and energy. The company highlighted two drink concepts: Peach Mango Clear Whey RTM beverage, a refreshing clear whey concept driven by clean taste and protein trends, and the Paloma RTD Energy Drink. 

The Paloma RTD Energy Drink, hailed as a mocktail-inspired energy beverage, is formulated with Prinova’s Enhanced Energy Blend. Designed to fuel body and mind, the blend combines caffeine, Panax ginseng extract, L-carnitine, and guarana seed extract to support increased energy, mental focus, and endurance. Inspired by the growing “sober-curious” movement highlighted in Prinova’s trends research, this alcohol-free innovation offers a “sophisticated and functional alternative” to traditional beverages.

Kelly Polte, application scientist at Prinova, told us: “Clear protein has really taken off because consumers want something lighter and more refreshing than a traditional shake. These concepts are designed to show that consumers can replace their usual canned beverage or even their daily coffee, offering a fun, crisp, sometimes carbonated protein option for that afternoon pick-me-up. It’s all about creating a new occasion to drink protein.”

“We’re also seeing that people are demanding more from their energy drinks. They want clean energy with real functionality — effective caffeine levels, vitamins, and minerals — without alcohol or excess sugar. Our Paloma-flavored energy drink is a great example of this. It offers a familiar flavor with a functional twist, appealing to those who want a flavorful, uplifting beverage experience without alcohol.”Mane’s Kaleidoscope Lemonade is a vibrant, lychee–tamarind beverage concept featuring natural colors and botanically derived flavor systems.

Balancing sweetness & taste

French flavor house Mane displayed its flavor solutions and technologies that can support product development and enhance overall taste experiences. Visitors to Mane’s stand were invited to experience “Sweet Talk,” a multi-sensory journey into the future of sweetness and balance. 

The ingredient supplier showcased its bold creations, such as a dirty soda white chocolate treat and a kaleidoscope lemonade. The kaleidoscope lemonade concept features Mane’s Powerdy PR Natural Tamarind Flavor, Natural Lychee Flavor WONF, C-Capture Spirulina Extract, and C-Capture Vegetable Juice Color.

According to Mane, lychee and tamarind flavors are both on the rise — lychee is up 8.8% and tamarind 8.1% in new product launches year-over-year.

A spokesperson on the stand said these ingredients bring “exotic, colorful appeal to beverages that celebrate indulgence and enjoyment.”