According to the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness industry reached a valuation of $4.5 trillion in 2022, with projections to reach $7 trillion by 2027. The global mental wellness market, meanwhile, will generate $20.09 billion in revenue in 2023, with an average growth rate expected to exceed 25%. Against this backdrop of a flourishing "new healing economy", young consumers are increasingly focused on self-reflection and self-care as key pursuits. For instance, the beverage brand Dydo leverages this trend by periodically partnering with functional health brands to co-develop targeted functional beverages designed for specific demographics. These products address needs such as fat reduction, sleep enhancement, and energy boosting. This discussion will delve into market data and global case studies to examine how beverage brands can transition from emphasizing health benefits to cultivating emotional connections, ultimately crafting products that provide young consumers with both mental satisfaction and a sense of well-being.

This topic focuses on brands like Danone Mizone, Vita and Pepsi. Research indicates that 72% of young consumers are more inclined to pay for "experiential occasions", with 64% citing emotional resonance as a key reason for repeat purchases. Building consumers' psychological motivation for consumption has become essential for brand success. Mizone has leveraged music festivals to create the role of a "vibe guardian", becoming the go-to for energy at social gatherings; Vitasoy collaborates with travel platforms to reinforce the convenience of "anytime, anywhere" outdoor consumption; Pepsi, meanwhile, partners with social platforms to blend online and offline experiences, adding new life to foodservice channels. How can brands harness emotional triggers and unique scenarios to become young consumers' "mindful allies"? This discussion will dive into how beverage brands can drive emotional connections through differentiated occasion-based marketing and seamless all-scenario experiences.

This discussion is reserved for Ito En and Suntory. 

According to data from Frost & Sullivan, the unsweetened tea market doubled in size in 2023, achieving an impressive growth rate of 110%. This far surpasses the overall beverage industry's growth of 6% and the RTD tea category's 19%. In April-May 2024, sales of unsweetened RTD tea rose by 14.26% year-over-year, with market share climbing by 26.17%, outperforming other segments by over 10% in sales growth. As the "Battle of the Teas" unfolds, can the unsweetened tea market continue to captivate consumers with its "fresh appeal"? Japan's early development of the unsweetened tea market offers invaluable lessons for China. As pioneers in the sector, Ito En and Suntory introduced the world's first canned oolong tea and green tea in the 1980s, addressing challenges such as sediment and impurities through technological innovation, and driving an evolution in tea consumption habits. Today, Ito En holds a 30.5% share of Japan's green tea beverage market, while Suntory commands a 39.5% share in oolong tea, both securing leading positions within the industry. This discussion seeks to provide brands with an in-depth understanding of the evolution of Japan's unsweetened tea market and offer insights into Ito En and Suntory's approaches to differentiated innovation, to inspire the development of China's unsweetened tea segment. 

Discussion Points:

1/Overview of Japan's Unsweetened Tea Market: How did Japan enter the era of unsweetened tea and cultivate RTD unsweetened tea consumption habits?

2/Differentiated Innovation: How have Ito En and Suntory leveraged technological advancements to lay the foundation for tea-based beverages and drive market growth?

3/Successful Case Studies: Which innovative products from Ito En and Suntory in the Chinese market serve as valuable models for local brands?

With Annual Revenue Up 400% Year-on-Year, How Has Sanzo Reversed the Carbonated Beverage Market’s Deceleration?

In 2024, the $30.94 billion market size and 16.53% CAGR of cactus-based beverages highlight their remarkable growth not only as a flavor trend but also as a flagship of functional health beverages. As a result, the topic of cactus beverages will be relaunched at FBIF 2025 with a fresh perspective after being canceled last year. We will delve into how cactus flavors are becoming a powerful tool for innovation in the beverage industry, uncovering the secrets behind their rapid expansion. Despite its relatively subtle aroma, color, and taste, how has cactus managed to capture market share through its unique health benefits and functional attributes?

The topic is reserved for researchers in plant-related studies such as those in the Spice and Beverage Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences. According to Ma Shang Ying data, during the period from March to September 2024, the year-on-year growth rate of plant-based beverages' sales has always been maintained at around 20%, and reached a peak of 42% in August. Plant-based beverages may be the next sugar-free tea. However, compared with "sugar-free tea", the market share of plant-based beverages is only one-third of it, and the blue ocean market still exists. This topic aims to start from plant research and use scientific power to interpret the flavor secrets behind each plant. From component analysis to flavor extraction, rethink the innovative application and development of plant-based beverages with stronger "natural" attributes and "efficacy" in beverages in the face of future consumer demands.

This topic is reserved for Woongjin. As one of South Korea's top three beverage companies, Woongjin quickly rose to prominence with its classic barley tea, capturing 80% of South Korea's market share. Building on this success, Woongjin introduced a series of plant-based beverages, including Hovenia dulcis, cassia seeds, and brown rice drinks, which were later brought to China by Uni-President. In 2017, Woongjin reported sales of KRW 222.5 billion (approximately RMB 1.363 billion) and an operating profit of KRW 14.2 billion (approximately RMB 87 million). Woongjin's plant-based drinks have left a lasting impression on consumers, establishing the brand as a formidable player in the plant-based beverage sector.

According to the Zhouli Tianguan, ancient China had designated "Beverage Masters" responsible for crafting beverages like the six winter brews and six summer infusions. In the Ming dynasty, classic texts like Agricultural Administration defined "thirst-quenching water" as "beverages", while during the Sui and Tang dynasties, these drinks were called "yinzi". Over 100 traditional medicinal tea recipes for summer heat relief are recorded in ancient Chinese texts—for example, Yinshan Zhengyao describes a "Litchi Syrup Water" that could relieve thirst, and Widely Manual of Aromatic Plants mentions a method for creating thirst-quenching water by pressing lemon juice and boiling it with sugar. The Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica mentions that Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty instructed the Hanlin Academy to hold a beverage competition, which crowned "Perilla Infusion" as the top drink. Additionally, Tales of WuLin records that people in the Song Dynasty liked to drink "snow-soaked bean water" to cool down the summer.

The FBIF2025 Classics Revival Competition will invite leading ingredient companies to delve into ancient texts and draw inspiration from traditional "ancient drink" recipes. The challenge is to creatively craft a modern "ancient drink" with an innovative twist, offering brands a comprehensive ingredient solution for "plant-based drink" product development. Audience members will be able to taste these creations on-site and evaluate them across sensory dimensions, including flavor, color, and aroma, ultimately voting for their favorite "ancient drink". Join FBIF2025 Drink Talks to witness the revival of ancient flavors with a modern twist!

In 2024, the global flavored water market reached a value of $37.61 billion and is expected to grow to $60.39 billion by 2032. Although the adoption rate of flavored water in China has not yet surpassed that of regular bottled water, the "Water +" concept is gaining traction and evolving rapidly. Consumers are increasingly seeking more flavorful experiences while quenching their thirst, and flavored water adds value to drinking water by skillfully combining functionality with appealing formats, catering to both health and taste preferences. This discussion will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the "Water+" concept, examining how brands can strategically leverage precise market positioning to address consumers' evolving hydration demands.

In the international market, birch sap and maple sap have long been established as beverages, including brands like Ulan (Belarus), Dovgan (Germany), Sap! (Canada), and Treo (USA). In 2017, we explored the commercial potential of birch sap at FBIF. Today, the birch sap market in China is experiencing rapid growth, with annual sales surpassing 100 million RMB in the past year and achieving a nearly 600% year-on-year increase. For instance, brands like Jiahua are leveraging this remarkable growth momentum to lead the birch sap category. What lies ahead for birch sap in China? How can this successful model be replicated to expand market share effectively? This panel discussion will delve into the growth logic of birch sap from the perspectives of both domestic and international brands and suppliers, providing concrete strategic directions.

In the first quarter of 2024, juice sales in China increased by 20.8%, with spending by young consumers born in the 1990s on pure fruit and vegetable juices and functional beverages rising by 16%, significantly outpacing the overall market growth. The UK juice brand MOJU identified the “functionalization” trend as early as 2015, introducing the UK’s first full-fruit smoothie shots utilizing High Pressure Processing (HPP) technology to deliver precise, supplement-like doses to consumers. Established nine years ago, MOJU now holds a 62% share of the UK functional juice market, with 2023 revenue reaching €13.9 million, achieving the highest growth rate in the UK juice beverage sector. This discussion will provide Chinese beverage brands with insights into the UK juice market and share lessons from MOJU's brand journey as a reference for the "Fruit + Vegetable" functional blend category in China.

By 2033, the global children's food and beverage market is projected to exceed $253.3 billion, with an annual growth rate of 6.2%. Notably, China's market boasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%. Children's beverages are gradually emerging as an important growth driver in the beverage industry. Tim Tam Tummy's children's kombucha provides 3 billion live probiotics and daily vitamin C for kids. PLEZi Nutrition's fruit and vegetable juices enhance children's immunity and growth by incorporating added nutrients. True Citrus's True Lemon Kids series meets daily requirements for vitamins A, C, and E while featuring low sugar content and clean labels.

In this expansive blue ocean market, how can brands win consumer trust in the children's beverage sector through ingredient optimization and innovative formulations? This discussion will offer in-depth guidance for brands—from ingredient innovation and formula development to promotional strategies—to help them seize the first-mover advantage in the children's beverage market.

From a definitional standpoint, functional beverages refer to drinks that help regulate bodily functions by adjusting nutritional components and their content ratios. They include multiple subcategories such as energy drinks, vitamin drinks, mineral drinks, sports drinks, probiotic drinks, and immune-enhancing beverages. According to data from Precedence Research, from 2022 to 2030, the global functional beverage market size is expected to reach $129.3 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.94%. The functional beverage market is transitioning from the dominance of energy and sports drinks to a focus on diverse needs such as gut health, beauty maintenance, weight management, sleep improvement, and fat reduction.

Facing fierce competition and diversified consumer demands, brands need not only to meet consumers' diverse expectations in taste and product categories but also to achieve breakthroughs in healthy ingredients and functional benefits. For example, VINA's functional soda centers on brain and gut health, helping to balance multiple neurotransmitters in the body. Mighty Pop, on the other hand, has launched a prebiotic soda in the United States, with each bottle containing 1 billion live bacteria. In the future, how to provide consumers with an ideal functional experience under diversified demands will become an important topic for brands.

AI is emerging as a powerful driver in the beverage industry, with Hell Energy Drink leading the way by launching HELL AI, the world’s first energy drink fully designed by artificial intelligence. From analyzing consumer preferences to customizing formulations, AI has not only accelerated product development but also created innovative flavors that meet market demands. How will the energy drink market evolve in the future? And how will the widespread application of AI propel the energy drink industry into an era of intelligent innovation? This discussion aims to uncover insights and provide answers to these questions.