by FoodPress
The world of food and drink is constantly changing and people are far more creative and experimental with their food habits than every before. We are seeing more variations in dietary requirements, lifestyles, and eating patterns all the time. Trends are always changing, and in a competitive industry, it’s difficult to keep up! So we’ve rounded up 3 of the biggest consumer trends for food and drink set to soar in 2022 – and they all happen to begin with F.
Food Transparency
In recent years, food transparency has become paramount in the food and drink industry (Sestra, 2021). Food transparency refers to sharing open information about the contents of food and drink products and where these ingredients were sourced and how they were made. With the rise of global awareness of climate change and the impact of animal agriculture, people are more conscious of their eating and consumption habits than ever before. Creating products that align with consumers values is essential in today’s market. The International Trade Commission found that sustainable food products had seen growth of 18.3% in the last five years. Transparency is about enabling customers to trust a product and brand. Aside from packaging, it’s important that transparency is consistent across the entire brand experience.
Functional Foods
With the impact of Covid-19, our experiences have led many to consider the value of their health and immunity. Many people are taking their education of nutrition into their own hands, with more people focusing on “gut health” as a driver of their eating habits (Food Dive, 2022). In 2022, the “superfood” trend continues to grow, with an expected focus on prebiotics and fermented food that are easy on the gut. Consumers have also placed an emphasis on making conscious food choices to benefit their overall wellbeing, including micronutrients to boost immunity, improve sleep, and manage stress. Focusing on the ingredients within food and drink products are being scrutinised more than every before, so making an extra effort to consider health-conscious ingredient alternatives may help to grow your consumer base.
Flexitarianism
Flexitarianism is the hot new trend for cutting down on consumption of animal products (Paste Magazine, 2021). A flexitarian focuses on a plant-based diet similar to vegetarians and vegans, but allows for occasional consumption of animal products making it a less strict diet to follow. It’s becoming popular as a lifestyle that helps to tackle the issues of sustainability whilst remaining realistic and easily maintainable – particularly for those looking to gradually transition away from meat and other animal products. For flexitarians, plant-based alternatives are the biggest sellers, the most popular including plant-based meat, cheese and milk substitutes. The aim for these products is to look, taste, smell and feel like the real thing but without the environmental impact – so marketing similarity is crucial.
