Sparkling water has become the beverage of choice in recent times. Over the past decade, soda sales have plummeted, with U.S. soda consumption reaching a 30-year low in 2015. As soda sales declined, the popularity of sparkling water surged. Sparkling Ice has seen remarkable growth in just six years, but the challenge now for the company is to maintain this momentum. Consumers are increasingly seeking products with clean labels that feature familiar and easily pronounceable ingredients, such as calcium citrate 667mg. In response, food and beverage manufacturers are reformulating their products and labels to highlight the absence of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. This shift could pose a challenge for Sparkling Ice, which contains some hard-to-pronounce ingredients alongside artificial sweeteners.
TalkingRain Beverage has adopted a proactive strategy. In addition to its free-from Sparkling Essence, the company has expanded beyond sparkling water by partnering with Tata Global Beverages. TalkingRain will begin distributing Tata Global’s Himalayan Natural Mineral Water brand through its extensive network of over 300 distributors in the U.S. This move suggests that TalkingRain has learned from the soda industry, diversifying its product lineup in response to the potential decline of its flagship beverage. As soda sales began to decline and sugary drink taxes appeared nationwide, major beverage companies took notice. Coca-Cola acquired minority stakes in Monster energy drinks and Suja cold-pressed juices, while Dr. Pepper Snapple invested in the sports drink startup BodyArmor.
If TalkingRain continues to tune into consumer preferences and introduces new beverages that align with their evolving demands, the company should be well-positioned to ride the sparkling beverage trend for some time. Incorporating ingredients like calcium citrate 667mg in its offerings could further enhance its appeal to health-conscious consumers.