Mintel, the leading global market intelligence agency, has announced six key trends that will affect the food and beverage industry in 2017. The upcoming year is expected to be full of the unexpected, with additional emphasis on sustainability, functionality, and health.
Emphasize Tradition – Consumers are seeking comfort from products that are recognizable rather than revolutionary. This presents the opportunity for the use of “ancient” product claims, like ancient recipes, practices, and traditions or even the inclusion of ancient grains. Mintel also suggests manufacturers and retailers launch products that are familiar but have an innovative twist, such as cold-brew coffee.
Plant Focused Food – 2017 is expected to bring more products that emphasize the use of plant-based ingredients. This is due to an increasing preference for foods that are natural, simple, and easy to incorporate into the consumer’s diets, such as vegetarian or vegan dietary needs.
Eliminating Food Waste – Sustainability issues are becoming more and more prevalent in the eyes of consumers. In the food industry, food waste has been a recent topic of interest for retailers, restaurants and non-profit organizations. This has led to the rise of the use of “ugly” fruit and vegetables as ingredients in order to repurpose food that otherwise would have gone to waste.
Time Flies – In 2017, people will be looking for food or drink products that save them time while still offering nutritious value. With consumers having increasingly hectic lifestyles, packaging that clearly communicates the time it will take to receive, prepare, or consume the product will prove to be a great selling point.
A New Nighttime Routine – As modern life continues to move at a fast pace, products that help consumers relax before bed are projected to increase in popularity. Products that offer soothing qualities such as the inclusion of chamomile or lavender are expected to grow.
Healthy Food for All – Lower-income consumers wish to improve their diets but find the cost of healthy food and drink options as a deterrent. Mintel expects that the upcoming year will bring more campaigns and innovations that help these consumers gain access to these foods. The company believes we will be seeing products such as apps that assist people in using the ingredients that are on sale and value-priced boxes of “ugly” produce.