At Graceland, we deliver delight™, and we are focused on supplying exceptional ingredients to innovative consumer packaged food, foodservice, and other food companies who develop, manufacture, and market their own products and brands. Supplying exceptional ingredients is a top priority, but we also feel it is essential to stay in tune with the latest consumer, food, ingredient, and industry trends to better support our customers and the customers they serve. Each year, Innova Market Insights releases its top ten trends for the food and beverage industry. Let’s explore these a bit!
Innova Market Insights is a global knowledge leader in the food and beverage industry. They use advanced data analytics to convert industry-leading market research into meaningful guidance on present and future food manufacturing trends. This is music to our ears – and we food ingredient suppliers LOVE learning what trends are affecting our customers and the food and beverage industry as a whole.
This year, Innova Market Insights’ top ten trends provide an in-depth look into how the food and beverage industry has progressively evolved. As COVID-19 transforms all of our shopping and eating habits, staying ahead of the curve and keeping on top of the changing food and beverage landscape is of paramount importance.
Let’s delve into Innova Market Insights* trends #10 to #5
#10 – Age of the Influencer: A slow shift to more reliable influencers is occurring. Look out for broader diversity of influencers across social channels and e-commerce platforms. 40% of consumers said they don’t believe vloggers, bloggers, or influencers are honest about the products they promote. Innova believes more science-based information is becoming available and consumers will figure out who they trust.
#9 – Modern Nostalgia: Consumers are increasingly interested in knowing where products come from, along with a yearning for safety and security.
#8 – Product Mashups: When Trends Collide: Hybrid innovation is seeing sustained popularity as consumers favor food and beverages that broaden dimensions of indulgence. Product mashups is all about how hybrid innovation is enjoying ongoing popularity and how this is contributing to further evolution of the discovery trend. According to Innova Market Insights’ latest study, 3 in 5 global consumers say they are interested in trying new sensory experiences. Think indulgent snacks but with healthier, guilt-free recipes and exciting flavor discoveries.
#7 – Mood: The Next Occasion: The NPD Group is seeing staggering growth and claims on packaging that relate to specific mood platforms. Consumers of all ages are embracing nutrition that balances physical, mental & emotional aspects. Mental health is more important than ever, with 44% of consumers saying they have taken specific steps to improve their mental and emotional well-being.
#6 – Nutrition Hacking: Technology is addressing demands for food & beverage with enhanced nutrition value, sustainability, or ethical impact. 80% of consumers believe in progress in food and beverages through science. Technology is addressing the demand for products with enhanced nutritional value or sustainability or better ethical impact.
#5 – In Tune with Immune: Ongoing anxiety stemming from COVID-19 will continue to push consumers forward, prioritizing their immune health. According to Innova’s Consumer Survey 2020, six out of ten global consumers are increasingly looking for food and beverage products that support their immune health, with one in three saying that concerns about immune health increased in 2020 over 2019. Immunity-boosting ingredients will play a significant role for the coming year, with an awareness of the antioxidant content and potential immune health benefits of snacks featuring dark chocolate and superfruits.
The food and beverage industry continues to evolve, and the COVID-19 pandemic has been a driving force behind many of this year’s trends. Consumers are placing an increased focus on immune health and immunity-boosting ingredients, along with nutritional (physical, mental, emotional), guilt-free options. There is a growing demand for science-backed information, food safety and security. Consumers want to know where their products are coming from and find comfort in knowing their products are made safely, ethically, and sustainably.
Are one of these trends catching your eye? Let’s Innovate!
Learn more about our products, our process, our growers, and our services.
*Innova Market Insights: https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/innova-identifies-top-10-food-and-beverage-trends-to-accelerate-innovation-in-2021/
