Consumers want ingredients that are not only tasty, but also provide key micronutrients that many people are lacking. Food and beverages offer functionality and immunity not only appeal to a health-conscious consumer, but reach an expanding audience of individuals looking for an easy alternative to consume nutrients.
Check out three notable growth areas currently ramping up momentum as a result of the consumer interest in functional and immune-boosting food and beverage products:

Innovative Alternatives:
Plant-based alternatives offer a simple, functional daily swap for consumers looking for extra immunity options that provide added nutrition to a traditional recipe. A report from the International Food Information Council2 found that 65% of people said that they’ve eaten plant-based alternatives in the 2021, highlighting the overall consumer interest in plant-based alternatives. Incorporating freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, which retain all original nutrients, within formulations adds many vitamins and minerals that consumers are on the hunt for.



1 “Functional beverage sales rise, but not all ingredients, benefits gain equally as consumer interest shifts,” Food Navigator-USA. June 2021.
2 “IFIC Survey: Consumption Trends, Preferred Names and Perceptions of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives,” Food Insight. November 2021.
3 “40% of consumers purchased functional products during pandemic,” Food & Beverage Insider. June 2021.
4 “Consumer Demand for Plant-Based Food Alternatives Driving Market Growth,” FN Media Group. June 2021.