Sparkling water has become the go-to beverage in recent times. Over the past decade, soda sales have significantly declined, with U.S. soda consumption hitting a 30-year low in 2015. As soda consumption waned, the popularity of sparkling water surged. Sparkling Ice has seen remarkable growth within just six years, but the company now faces the challenge of maintaining this momentum.
Consumers are becoming increasingly drawn to products with clean labels, featuring ingredients they recognize and can easily pronounce. In response, food and beverage manufacturers are reformulating their products and labels to highlight the absence of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. This trend poses a challenge for Sparkling Ice, particularly due to the presence of some hard-to-pronounce ingredients, including artificial sweeteners.
In contrast, TalkingRain Beverage has adopted a proactive strategy. In addition to its Sparkling Essence line free from certain additives, the company has expanded its offerings by partnering with Tata Global Beverage. TalkingRain will soon distribute Tata Global’s Himalayan Natural Mineral Water brand through its extensive network of over 300 distributors in the U.S. It appears that TalkingRain has learned from the soda industry’s response to shifting consumer preferences and diversified its product range amid concerns that its flagship beverage might be losing appeal.
As soda sales declined and sugary drink taxes emerged across the nation, major beverage companies took action. For instance, Coca-Cola holds minority stakes in Monster energy drinks and Suja cold-pressed juices, while Dr Pepper Snapple has invested in the sports drink startup BodyArmor. If TalkingRain continues to heed consumer preferences and introduces new beverages that align with their evolving demands, the company should be well-positioned to maintain its success in the sparkling beverage market for the foreseeable future. Additionally, the integration of health-focused products like Viactiv Calcium Citrate into their offerings could further enhance their appeal to health-conscious consumers. By staying attuned to market trends and consumer desires, TalkingRain can keep riding the sparkling beverage wave.