Drinktec 2025: a look at the future of the beverage sector
Drinktec 2025, the most important event in the global drinks and liquid food sector, will be held from 15th to 19th September in Munich. It is a trade fair which has gradually become a point of reference for producers, technology suppliers, start-ups and other sector operators, establishing itself year by year as the place where the future of the beverage industry is shaped.
With exhibitors from around 60 countries, Drinktec offers a unique perspective on beverage production: from the sourcing of raw ingredients to their transformation, from filling and packing to distribution and the recycling and reuse of resources. Whatever your area of interest: soft or alcoholic drinks, mineral waters, functional beverages or plant-based alternatives, this event is crucial for anyone involved in the beverage industry.
A trade fair supporting innovation
Based on figures from previous editions, over 94% of visitors attend Drinktec in order to learn about new innovative solutions and get inspiration for their own production processes. This same drive towards innovation will play a central part in the 2025 edition too, which will serve as an international stage for exclusive previews of new developments involving technology, ingredients, packaging and business models.
The driving force behind this event is not only its capacity to showcase a wide range of technical solutions but also the fact that it provides an excellent opportunity for debate and discussion on themes which are set to transform the industry: changing customer tastes, sustainability legislation issues and the circular economy.
Key themes for 2025: Circularity & Resource Management and Data2Value
Drinktec 2025 has identified two key themes that reflect the global challenges faced by the sector:
- Circularity & Resource Management: efficient resource management not only involves packaging, it includes every phase of the production process. From the recovery of residual materials to reducing energy consumption, from the choice of organic raw ingredients to innovative recycling solutions, the circular economy is now an integral part of industrial strategies. Beverage firms now have to cater for customers who are increasingly attentive to the environmental impact of their choices. This is reflected by increased demand for lighter packaging, reuse systems and deposit return schemes, as well as growing interest in productive processes which reduce hydrological and carbon footprints. Drinktec 2025 will devote space to all these solutions and show how sustainability and efficiency can work effectively side by side;
- Data2Value: digitalisation is the other key area and data use has now become a strategic necessity. Through Data2Value, Drinktec 2025 explores ways in which data (gathered by sensors, monitoring systems and digital platforms), can be transformed into tangible value. For example, artificial intelligence and machine learning allow production processes to be analysed in real time, so anomalies can be identified, operational downtime eliminated and products can be customised according to consumer preferences. Technologies such as the use of digital twins allow the simulation of complex investments, reducing risks and increasing the security of strategic decisions. These tools are not only the prerogative of multinationals; small and medium businesses can also exploit them to optimise production, improve food security and create new market niches.
Liquidrome: a new format for idea sharing
One of the most interesting new features at this year’s Drinktec will be Liquidrome, a parallel program designed to stimulate dialogue between researchers, visitors and exhibitors. A space will be created inside pavilion C4 devoted to the exchange of knowledge and networking, with a special focus on start-ups, who play a central role in a sector that depends on innovative ideas and break-out solutions.
Liquidrome is intended as a meeting point between the academic and business worlds (with the aim of encouraging interaction and the subsequent emergence of new partnerships), able to give life to new industrial projects.
Consumer trends: health, customisation and functionality
One of the most dynamic aspects of the beverage sector is the rapid evolution of customer tastes and requirements. The demand for healthier products, which are also functional and personalised is re-shaping the global market.
The ‘Lifestyle and health’ theme (present in the Drinktec programme), reflects this transformation. Beverages enriched with proteins, natural ingredients, plant-based alternatives and functional recipes are establishing themselves as drivers of growth, especially in mature markets.
This focus on health translates into growing interest in sugar reduction, vitamin enrichment and beverages with specific benefits such as improved gut health or immune system support.
The growing popularity of plant-based beverages shows how the border between food and nutraceuticals is becoming increasingly blurred, opening the way to new business opportunities and partnerships between food and beverage companies and the pharmaceutical sector.
Digitalisation and artificial intelligence in production
The fourth industrial revolution is having a direct impact on the beverage industry. The introduction of predictive analysis and smart maintenance systems reduces machine downtime and increases production efficiency.
AI can also be used in lesss obvious ways. For example, in machinery cleaning and sterilisastion processes, where machine learning algorithms can automatically adapt procedures according to the level of contamination detected, thereby reducing the amount of water and detergent required.
Another key theme is product customisation. Thanks to the use of data analysis, companies are able to develop an increasingly wide range of flavours and formulations in reponse to individual preferences or emerging trends in the various local markets.
Drinktec 2025 as a catalyst for the future
The 2025 edition will not only provide an overview of the sector’s current situation, it also aims to anticipate its future direction. The combination of sustainability, digitalisation and product innovation is the key to meeting global challenges such as population growth, scarcity of resources, climate change and changing consumer preferences.
In that sense, Drinktec is more than just a trade fair; it represents an ecosystem in which companies, organisations and research centres can collaborate in order to rewrite the rules of the game, creating a common language and a shared vision.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
