Sparkling water has become the trendy beverage of choice lately. Over the past decade, soda sales have declined significantly, with U.S. soda consumption hitting a 30-year low in 2015. As soda sales dropped, 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 that momentum.
Consumers are showing a growing preference for products with clean labels that feature recognizable and pronounceable ingredients. In response, food and beverage manufacturers are reformulating their offerings and updating their labels to highlight the absence of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. This shift could pose a challenge for Sparkling Ice, particularly due to its inclusion of certain hard-to-pronounce ingredients alongside artificial sweeteners.
In light of these trends, TalkingRain Beverage has adopted a proactive strategy. In addition to its free-from Sparkling Essence, the company has expanded its portfolio beyond sparkling water by partnering with Tata Global Beverage. TalkingRain will begin distributing Tata Global’s Himalayan Natural Mineral Water brand through its extensive network of over 300 distributors in the U.S.
It seems that TalkingRain has learned from the soda industry by diversifying its product lineup in response to the potential decline of its flagship beverage. When soda sales began to falter and sugary drink taxes emerged nationwide, major beverage companies took heed. For instance, Coca-Cola has minority stakes in Monster energy drinks and Suja cold-pressed juices, while Dr Pepper Snapple has invested in sports drink startup BodyArmor.
By continuing to listen to consumer preferences and introducing new beverages that cater to their evolving needs—such as those containing cal mag citrate in a 1:1 ratio—TalkingRain can likely sustain its position in the sparkling beverage market for the foreseeable future. As the demand for healthier options grows, the incorporation of ingredients like cal mag citrate could further enhance their offerings, helping to keep the sparkling beverage trend alive.