Sales of meal-replacement drinks have surged in recent years, with brands like Huel taking full advantage of current consumer interest, but is this a foodie phase or a trend that’s just getting started?
Falling into loyalists and reluctants, Generation Z consumers value reliability and brand experience, remaining avid trendwatchers, looking for products on social channels that appeal to their price and quality expectations.
Nudge interventions have been a favourite of public policy for years, making small changes to food environments to persuade consumers to eat more healthily and sustainably without impacting choice. But which nudge interventions do consumers respond to...
In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we see how high orange juice prices have led to the development of mandarin orange juice, and the rise of generative AI has led to the creation of an AI cookbook. Furthermore, we see a rebranding from Mallow &...
Using a combination of social psychology and economic models, a new UK study shows fair trade product sales increased in popularity during an economic downturn while organic product sales dropped, indicating a divide between the two labels’ favourability...
Less is apparently more when it comes to the amount of sugar used in the creation of the perfect chocolate bar. So will manufacturers reduce the amount of sugar they use in the making of this sweet treat and will consumers welcome the change?
Palm oil is cheap to produce in large quantities but unsustainable production methods, notably deforestation, means the bad can far outweigh the good. As a result, brands are increasingly distancing themselves from the use of irresponsible palm oil in...
Hybrid dairy, whereby conventional dairy is blended with plant-based ingredients, holds ‘considerable appeal’ as a category, according to Mintel, but innovation is rare. What can industry do to win new consumers?
This week’s trend tracker includes a variety of new beverage flavours, including a refreshing prickly pear juice and a Valentine’s gin from the Cornish coast. There’s also have an incredibly indulgent collaboration from KitKat and a chocolatey pairing...
A recent survey has found that efforts to improve health and wellbeing last an average of just 19 days as old habits die hard and temptation, in the form of fatty foods and sweet treats, win out. But why are lifestyle changes so tough to stick to and...
Insects are not only thought to contain at least as much protein as conventional meat, but are also more environmentally sustainable. However, their novelty on the market poses challenges in consumer acceptance. How do start-ups persuade consumers to...
The Irish Food Board (Bord Bia) recently released the results of a dairy consumer attitudes survey that sheds light into shoppers’ perceptions, desires, and preferences.
Nudge interventions across the world have been used to try to influence consumers to buy and consume more fruit and vegetables. But which interventions, which take place across many contexts, consumer groups, and settings, are the most successful?
The continent’s agtech sector is rife with challenges but the potential rewards are huge, Sherief Kesseba, managing partner at Climate Resilient Africa Fund (CRAF), tells AgTechNavigator.
Emerging technologies such as 3D food printing (3DFP) are unlocking opportunities to develop nutrient-rich and personalised plant-based substitutes for traditional meat, say researchers.
Danone has become the latest manufacturer to release a range of high-protein dairy products in the UK. But can high-protein yogurts - that typically contain thickeners, starches and sweeteners - really be considered ‘healthy’?
From confectionery to cakes, breakfast cereals to beer, sugar is a huge part of the modern diet, but why is the cost of one of our most indulgent ingredients increasing and how will this affect both food manufacturers and consumers?
An NPD round-up dedicated to chocolate? Yes please. In this edition you’ll read about a Easter-themed chocolate from Lir and Guinness; a new Aero bar flavour; and a white chocolate ice cream mixed in with ‘Scandinavian mountain cranberries’. Yum.
Foodtech company, Hailia, is taking a ‘waste not want not’ approach to seafood production by utilising more of every fish caught and repurposing what might once have been cast off.
An experimental study on consumer perceptions found that European shoppers have little appetite for animal-free dairy alternatives, though positive associations with the products’ perceived environmental benefits can enable manufacturers and retailers...
Norm perceptions – what one perceives as ‘normal’ – differs between both individuals and groups of consumers, including when it comes to meat consumption. One’s meat consumption habits can affect these perceptions. A new study explores how different groups...
Consumers' focus on value during months of high inflation has impacted the wellness market in 2023, but GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and clean-label and protein-rich products are poised to grow the space in 2024, Sherry Frey, VP of total wellness for...
In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we have a range of bread made with regenerative agriculture-derived flour. We also have desserts, Valentine's Day doughnuts, a new range of fully loaded brownie tray bakes, and a new version of that classic...
The presence of star ingredients will drive purchasing and packaging decisions, Innova Market Insights reveals in its Top Ten Trends for food and beverages in 2024.
Cacao fruit, or cocoa fruit, is drawn from the same pod as cocoa beans. Normally thrown away, the juice, pulp and peel of the pod can be used as a sweetener in a range of products. Across Europe and beyond, cacao fruit has appeared recently in a range...
With farmers facing pressures to adopt more sustainable farming practices - or move to a different farming system altogether - who should support producers during their transition? In the UK, the responsibility falls broadly on the shoulders of all agri-food...
Despite some progress being made, price parity between meat and plant-based meat products has still not been achieved everywhere. Price remains a key consumer concern when it comes to plant-based meat. But why do plant-based meat producers struggle to...
There’s a lot of opportunity for sustainable omega-3 suppliers in the seafood alternatives arena as the world searches for ways to feed a population of 10 billion by the year 2050.
Inflation in recent years has impacted nearly everyone, with rising prices putting a strain on the cost of living. However, according to a new report, food is being hit harder than most sectors, at least in the UK, while beverage seems to have escaped...
Which new products are hitting the shelves? In our latest NPD round-up, look at a new menopause infusion made with hibiscus, rosehip and passion flower; a ‘veggie spin’ on the classic macaroni cheese and bacon dish; and a flavour mashup between Baileys...
American consumers say they are cutting out processed foods from their diet, despite many not fully understanding what they are, Alyssa Pike, senior manager of nutrition communications at the International Food Information Council (IFIC), shared during...
Talk about a ‘protein transition’ is rife in the world of food. But what exactly is a protein transition? A study by Nature Food identifies three narratives through which a protein transition is interpreted, and three potential drivers of change.
Increased production costs and changes in consumer preferences have both played a key role in how the industry evolved and developed in 2023, so what are these changes and how will they affect the industry going forward?
Consumers are increasingly focusing on their health without compromising on taste, which is why healthy indulgence has become a serious trend. Millennials (Gen Y) and Centennials (Gen Z) are looking for foods and beverages that are tasty, good for you,...
It is said ‘we eat first with our eyes’. The colour of food and drink can have a major influence over what we choose to consume, so which pigments are expected to whet appetites in 2024?
Colour is an important part of what appeals to consumers about food, making it stand out on the shelf and enhancing the perception of taste. Food colourants, therefore, have a vital job to do. Fermentation, which can produce vegan, kosher and halal colourants...
While the alternative protein scene continues to pursue widespread uptake and acceptance, in 2024, expect to see new and evolving concepts, technologies and regulatory support to progress towards attaining resilient food systems.
For those who are blind and partially sighted, buying food and beverages often poses problems. Knowing the ingredients of a product, whether it contains allergens, or often simply what it is, can often be difficult when packaging does not communicate...
A new era of convenience will emerge in 2024 as ever-evolving augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technology streamlines consumers’ meal planning, shopping and cooking habits.
Off the back of shifting political landscapes, evolving biotech-led categories and regulatory changes in 2023, we look at how these influence food additives in 2024 and what further changes we can expect to see.
In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we have KitKat's new 70% dark chocolate, which will run for a limited time in the UK. We also have a new cocktail range released in paper bottles and an exciting new investment for Italian food brand Crosta...
Consumers are paying more attention to what’s on their plate, including when it comes to plant-based meat. The more they query ingredients lists, processing methods, and nutrition profile, the more influence they will have on the category, suppliers suggest.
Key trends to watch in 2024 will include next-gen alt protein solutions, sustainability with substantiation, medicines for the mind and active ageing solutions.
Upcycling food is a good way of putting food to use that may otherwise have gone to waste. However, not all consumers will eat food that has been upcycled. A new study takes a broad look at 37 research articles on consumer acceptance, or lack thereof,...
Poised to grow to $50.47bn by 2030, the global canned seafood market is driven by consumer demand for nutrient-rich foods, like protein and fatty acids, and longer shelf-life, per Grandview Research data. Notably, canned tuna, with its high nutritional...
It's January - meaning the spotlight is well and truly on the low and no alcohol category. The latest data from IWSR sets the scene and pinpoints where future growth is most likely to come from.
