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Food Industry News

Food and drink trends revealed


Food and drink trends revealed


"The snacking trend shows no signs of abating in 2020 with the Mintel Consumer Snacking UK 2019 report showing that 66 of adults snack at least once every day. "
Tony Hunter



The food and drink we consume is in a constant state of flux. Similar to the clothes we wear, food and drink has fashion trends too, continually changing and always adapting.

Over the last couple of years, items such as avocado and plant-based products have been making an appearance on our diner tables - as these are deemed as the ‘hottest’ (not literally!) food and drinks to order.

In order to keep up to date on the next biggest food and drink trends Wren Kitchens and Tony Hunter, a Food Futurist for Future Cubed have teamed to reveal the latest food and drink trends.

Top emerging food trends:

Meat/plant products

Plant-based meat products certainly were the flavour of 2019, but for some, going without meat is a bridge too far! Well, now we have hybrid/blended products that deliver on meat flavour, whilst incorporating the sustainability and health benefits of plant-based ingredients. These products will grow in popularity and represent a “soft entry” point for those who want to reduce their meat consumption but can’t go as far as a full plant-based diet.

Seaweed

We’re accustomed to seeing seaweed around our sushi but that’s just one of an enormous number of uses for this versatile food. In fact, seaweed has one of the highest protein contents of any food. Among other things, it’s claimed to have cognitive health and nervous system benefits, as well as helping children's development.

Foods for health, not just fuel

We are now increasingly looking for functional foods that will contribute to our overall wellness. This trend is being driven by the aging population and the increasing realization of what we eat influences our mental and physical health. It covers everything from fermented foods to ‘moon milk’ which is made from milk, spices and adaptogens (compounds promoting stress resistance) and it’s usually drunk before going to bed.

Gluten free

Even though gluten free diets are only a lifestyle choice, rather than a true health need for those not clinically gluten intolerant, the trend looks set to continue in 2020.

We’ve seen cauliflower in pizza crusts in 2019 but that’s just the tip of the iceberg of the possible alternative flours. This range includes banana, chickpea, Tigernut (a root vegetable), coconut, sorghum, quinoa and various nut flours including almond, cashew and macadamia. Even more exotic grains like Fonio, a grain native to Africa, could turn up as flour.

Snacks go healthy

The snacking trend shows no signs of abating in 2020 with the Mintel Consumer Snacking UK (2019) report showing that 66% of adults snack at least once every day. An Innova report shows that nearly a third of millennials replace meals with snacks because they’re busy, Gen-X consumers want to cut back on their sugar consumption and boomers simply want an overall healthier diet. All of this means that health-conscious, busy consumers are looking for convenient ways to satisfy their hunger and boost nutrition.

Top emerging drink trends:

“Clean” Keto

The main issues with the Keto diet are the potentially high amounts of saturated fats and low fiber content, leading to concerns over heart disease. To counter some of these claims "clean" keto is starting to be promoted. This version focuses on using avocados, nuts and seeds as fat sources, instead of "dirty" keto, centered around foods like beef brisket, butter, cheese and the ever-popular bacon.

Brain health

Wellness is a major overarching trend in Food and Beverage, and this includes mental as well as physical wellness. Enter Nootropics, or "smart drugs," which are substances that can boost brain performance, including cognition and memory.

The new “cool” is 0%

Getting drunk is no longer considered “cool” by younger generations and indeed they’re drinking less than the older generations, particularly boomers. But the usual substitute, soft drinks, are far from cool! Enter things such as “non-alcoholic spirits” and 0% beers.

Gut feelings are in!

Gut health is a massively growing area with more and more evidence accumulating on the link between the gut microbiome and everything from disease to general physical and mental health.

Full details can be seen here

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Ten Times Ten

Analytics, Modelling & Business Intelligence Specialists