BEVERAGE TRENDS WORTH TASTING

Beverage & Food Gurus presents Beverage Trends Worth Tasting, a hands-on Innovation Degustation created for New Zealand beverage innovators, founders, R&D teams, marketers, category managers and commercial leaders. Join the BFG team at The Annex, Auckland, on Tuesday 23 March 2027 for an expert-led tasting of 20 curated non-alcoholic beverages from the USA, selected to showcase emerging ideas, ingredients, formats and consumer trends shaping the future of beverages. What to expect Each session will feature a guided tasting across four broad areas of beverage innovation, with five products explored in each. The BFG team will unpack why they matter: what consumer need they are responding to, what makes the formulation interesting, how the product is positioned, and the relevance for the New Zealand market. The tasting will explore themes including: Function & Everyday Wellness How beverage brands are moving beyond basic refreshment through new functional ingredients, nutritional benefits and evolving wellness propositions. Energy, Performance & Modern Lifestyles The changing face of energy, hydration, focus and performance beverages, including new ingredients, formats and occasions. Flavour, Texture & Sensory Innovation Unexpected flavours, global influences, new textures, indulgence, nostalgia and the sensory ideas being used to create more distinctive beverage experiences. New Formats, Categories & Consumer Signals Products that challenge traditional beverage categories through new formats, positioning, occasions, packaging and emerging consumer behaviours. Session options The event will run as two identical sessions on Tuesday 23 March 2027: Morning Session 9:00am – 12:00pm Afternoon Session 1:00pm – 4:00pm What’s included Your ticket includes: • Guided tasting of 20 curated US non-alcoholic beverages • Expert commentary and analysis from the BFG team • Discussion of emerging beverage trends and consumer signals • Insight into ingredients, formulation, flavour, claims and positioning • Printed Innovation Booklet featuring product information, trend insights and space for notes • Networking with food and beverage industry peers Innovation Degustation Sample Pack A limited number of Innovation Degustation Sample Packs will also be available as an optional add-on with your ticket. Each pack will include the products featured in the tasting, giving you the opportunity to take the experience back to your wider team, revisit the products and continue the discussion after the event. Sample packs will be couriered to a New Zealand address following the event. GET TICKETS NOW Early Bird Ticket $250 + GST Limited to the first 15 tickets sold in each session. Standard Ticket $300 + GST Please select either the morning or afternoon session when purchasing your ticket. Innovation Degustation Sample Pack $200 + GST Available only with the purchase of an event ticket.