The year in foodservice beverages has been the year of the smoothie, with major and minor chains adding the beverage with a healthy positioning, nutritional ingredients and creative flavorings. That said, coffee remains the segmentís stalwart.
Recently, coffee drink manufacturers have entered the energy market with enhanced formulations, such as Starbucks’ Coffee Double Shot, a ready-to-drink, shot-sized coffee drink with a double dose of caffeine.
As functional benefits become increasingly important to consumers, manufacturers have been quick to work these claims into their products. Coffee has seen notable development in this area, as it already provides energy through caffeine and offers fertile ground for additional functional claims.
A new Finnish study with more than 14,600 people, published in the March 10, 2004 issue of JAMA, shows that women who drank three to four cups of coffee daily had a 29% reduced risk of adult onset diabetes.