Hydration innovation

Constant innovation is crucial if we are to keep pace with changing consumer expectations and lifestyles. In order to continuously provide new added value products for consumers, the Product Technology Centre Water team works closely with our teams from Marketing, Quality, Supply chain and Operations work closely with the Product Technology Centre Water team and the other Research facilities of the Nestlé Group.

The Product Technology Centre, in Vittel France, is the nerve centre of our innovations. On top of the latest equipments, the various necessary know-how and skills are brought together there and allow us to develop the healthy hydration products of tomorrow.

Developing new water-based beverages relies upon a deep understanding of the ingredients that we can add to our water: mineral, vitamins, natural plant extracts, flavourings, sugar, etc.
We are very attentive to reducing sugar content as much as possible so that our beverages contain all the beneficial ingredients without additional calories.
Our internal guidelines for flavoured water limit our maximal total sugar content to 50 grams per litre, including a maximum fructose content of 25 grams per litre.

When creating new added value formulas, our Product Technology Centre conducts a sensory analysis with a panel of experts and develops the samples needed at every stage of our product development.
Furthermore, consistent quality protocols allow us to guarantee the complete stability of the newly-released products throughout their entire shelf-life.

Finally, we apply our 60/40+ testing methodology, which aims to ensure that the taste of our product is preferred by at least 60% of consumers compared to the directly competing product on the market, and in addition to that, we strive to always provide superior nutritional benefits to the consumer.

One of our recent product launches was Nestlé Fitness in Italy. The beverage is made up of natural mineral water and fruit juice and contains active fibres and magnesium, which help women stay in shape and feel their best all day long.

Everywhere in the world, we are introducing products to encourage children to drink more water in substitution of sugar-sweetened beverages. Under the Nestlé brand umbrella, we've released a round-shaped 0.33 l (11.1 oz) water bottle to make hydration more fun and appealing to kids.

To help children as they grow, in Latin America we have also launched a calcium-enriched Nestlé Pure Life extension, with a touch of natural fruit juice: in addition to being low in calories, the new drink provides up to 25% of the recommended daily intake of calcium.