Platform for the food and beverage industry
After an unreleased year like 2021 where food companies remained under constant pressure from the effects of the corona pandemic, a new year is now upon us. But what will be the trends for the food industry this year?
Responsibility over our planet, is a shared responsibility. A thought that more and more consumers are becoming convinced of. This means that they are also increasingly looking out for products and services in the food segment from suppliers they label as sustainable. Anyone who, as a brand, wants to withstand this stricter gaze from consumers will have to make responsible choices and communicate transparently in order to gain trust. A tool that can help here, for example, is an Eco-score, following the example of the Nutri-score for healthy food products, which tells something about how sustainably a product was created but also how the packaging can be recycled afterwards. One Belgian retail chain has already started handing out such points.
More and more products are popping up on the shelves of retail chains that are plant-based. Consumers are belabeling these products as healthier and better for the planet. That does not mean, however, that they may be tasteless. There must be an authentic taste and mouthfeel in return to be widely accepted. Food companies are even welcome to take this a step further and bring technology to the table. Think cell-based meat or proteins that come from the air or services such as personalized nutrition. 40% of consumers say they are open to these innovations now that they have tasted what effect it has on plant-based products. Half of consumers believe this could be the future of the food industry.
The pandemic also made us all think about how we want to eat outside. As a result, consumer demands have gone into crescendo. We expect to see technology that can help create a safer environment. From QR codes that call up the menu to contactless technology to pick up food. Concepts that have become so popular in recent months that now half of consumers worldwide say they are interested in trying new technology concepts. They are thinking, for example, of delivery via drones. Something they expect not only from their restaurants or retail chains, but also from food brands themselves. They are looking forward to home-based services that can provide more social connection.
Love goes through the stomach, but so does health. Two-thirds of consumers worldwide believe that a balanced diet is the key to holistic well-being. Immunity levels and energy levels in particular, they say, stand or fall with nutrition. And while they may not always know exactly which ingredients will have the greatest impact on their health and well-being next, they are ready to listen. Successful nutrition brands will be those companies that engage in constructive dialogue about this with their customers to help them understand the full potential of ingredients on their health.
Consumers increasingly value functionality, freshness and authenticity of local food products. Those who discovered local suppliers during the pandemic plan to continue buying from them in the future. Especially the importance of the freshness factor increased tremendously in recent months, especially as we ate more and more at home. International brands are trying to respond to this in different ways. By telling a story about the origin of their products and ingredients or by delivering them with flavor profiles according to the region.
