Every January, people across the country think about their resolutions and goals to achieve for the coming year. These days, it’s common for New Year’s resolutions to include health and wellness goals, which means consumers will be reaching for foods and beverages that support their endeavors. For café, restaurant, and smoothie shop operators, this means serving up the wellness-category options customers are looking for.
This year, prevalent trends include drinks with functional ingredients, non-dairy alternatives, and immunity-boosting offerings as the nation continues to navigate the COVID landscape.
Functional Ingredients
Functional ingredients are typically defined as ingredients that offer some potential positive health benefits beyond their base nutritional value, for example, those that aid digestion, increase mental alertness, reduce fatigue, or relieve stress. Within the café industry, popular examples include matcha and other green tea-based beverages, drinks with added turmeric, and herbal offerings that contain ingredients like ginger, lemon, ginseng, and mint.
As a supplier, Houston’s carries a wide range of products that align with this trend, including hot & iced teas, frappes, and smoothies from trusted partners like David Rio, Cappuccine, Monin, Smith Teamaker, Two Leaves and a Bud, Numi, and Mocafe.
Alternatives to Dairy
It’s no secret that non-dairy milk alternatives have exploded in popularity over the past few years. For some consumers, digestive sensitivity is the primary reason they reach for a dairy-free option; others may be looking to cut back on the amount of animal products they consume. Whatever the underlying motivation, non-dairy plant-based options are now essentials in every café.
Houston’s carries a plethora of plant-based milks in alignment with the diversity of demand within the industry: oat, almond, macadamia, coconut, and soy milks from well-respected brands like Oatly, Almond Breeze, Pacific Foods, milkadamia, Planet Oat, and others.
Immunity Boost
In years past, products that bolster immunity were a common seasonal trend, with customers ramping up their Vitamin C intake over the winter months. Now, with the impacts of COVID continuing into another year, immunity boosting consumables look to be a trend for all seasons.
Coffee and smoothie shop operators can elevate their offerings with flavorless “immunity boost” syrups, like those offered by Monin and DaVinci Gourmet. One or two pumps added to a smoothie, lemonade, or iced tea can add essential vitamins and minerals without altering the flavor profile of the beverage. Some smoothie bases and mixes even contain antioxidant ingredients or superfood blends which incorporate carrot, beet, ginger, cucumber, acai, and other halo-effect fruits and veggies.
Whichever wellness and immunity trends customers look for to fulfill their resolutions, Houston’s has the products and service to help owners and operators find the right alignment with their menus. Review our portfolio of wellness and immunity offerings.
