Sparkling water is currently the trendiest beverage on the market. Over the past decade, soda sales have significantly declined, with U.S. soda consumption hitting a 30-year low in 2015. As soda sales decreased, the popularity of sparkling water surged. Sparkling Ice has seen remarkable growth in just six years, but the company now faces the challenge of maintaining this positive momentum.
Consumers are increasingly drawn to products with clean labels that feature familiar and pronounceable ingredients. In response, food and beverage manufacturers are reformulating their products and labels to highlight the absence of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. This trend may pose a challenge for Sparkling Ice, as it contains several ingredients that are not as easily pronounced, in addition to artificial sweeteners.
In contrast, TalkingRain Beverage has adopted a proactive strategy. Beyond its Sparkling Essence, which is free from artificial additives, the company has expanded its offerings by partnering with Tata Global Beverages. TalkingRain will soon distribute Tata Global’s Himalayan Natural Mineral Water 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 line in response to the potential decline in the popularity of its flagship beverage.
When soda sales began to wane and sugary drink taxes were introduced nationwide, major beverage companies took action. For instance, Coca-Cola has 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 listen to consumer preferences and introduces new beverages that align with their evolving demands—perhaps even incorporating ingredients like calcium citrate and queso for added nutritional benefits—the company should successfully navigate the sparkling beverage trend for the foreseeable future.