Seasonal creamers are in high demand as coffee drinkers embrace festive flavors like pumpkin, cinnamon and vanilla during the colder months. Popular choices featured this year include Chobani's Cinnamon Coffee Cake and Cookie Butter creamers, Starbucks' Chestnut Praline, and limited-edition offerings from Coffee mate and Sprouts.

Coca-Cola fans have been campaigning for the return of Tab, the company's first diet soda, even going so far as to put up a billboard outside Coca-Cola's Atlanta headquarters. However, Tab has never completely disappeared and is available at the Beverage Lab at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta. The lab offers free samples of Tab and New Coke as part of the general admission experience.

Bubbl'r and Amez Infusions are capitalizing on the growing demand for low-sugar, high-energy functional drinks as consumers seek healthier options. Bubbl'r, an antioxidant sparkling water, and Amez Infusions' new High Caf Tea are alternatives to traditional caffeinated beverages.

Beverage companies are setting ambitious post-consumer recycled (PCR) content goals, with some brands, such as Chlorophyll Water and Waiākea, already using 100% rPET bottles. Larger companies, such as Keurig Dr Pepper and Primo Brands, have set targets to achieve 25-50% recycled or renewable content in their packaging within the next decade. However, all face significant hurdles, including limited supply, higher costs, and the need for improved recycling infrastructure to make these goals attainable.

AI literacy has become a critical job requirement for marketers, with some companies implementing strict deadlines for employees to master the skill. This shift is reshaping hiring criteria and daily operations, as seen at Claritas, where employees have 18 months to become proficient in AI. Marketers are encouraged to focus on creating more content to improve visibility in AI search, rather than relying on clever hacks.

Michael Del Pozzo, president of North America commercial and customer at PepsiCo, discusses innovation and consumer trends in a podcast interview. He highlights PepsiCo's efforts in functional ingredients with products like Pepsi Prebiotic Cola and Gatorade Lower Sugar, as well as the importance of packaging innovation, such as premium glass bottles, and the operational challenges of achieving a clean label for its brands.

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