Speciality Food April 2025

8 @specialityfood Customers are putting health first The recent Consumer Horizon Report from analyst, Vypr, has recognised that the landscape in retail is changing, as shoppers continue to prioritise their health and wellbeing These changes, it says, are creating fresh opportunities for retailers and brands to strengthen their connections with consumers, while shifting their focus to appeal to today’s buyers. Consumers, the report explains, are looking to tackle a range of health concerns using these products, the most common being digestive health, followed by supporting the immune system and heart health. Those aged 18 to 24 favoured functional food and drink that boost their energy and metabolism levels. Taste is marginally more important than price in the functional arena, and people reducing their meat intake or following a diet for sports activities are generally more willing to pay a premium. Consumers are more trusting about health claims on packaging too, with 46% of consumers saying they put trust in functional food information on-pack, and women generally believing the claims more than men. Key concerns highlighted were increased focus on getting better sleep (25%), mental health and wellbeing (23%) and boosting energy (20%). Eighteen per cent of those asked said they were turning to chamomile tea to help them get quality sleep in the evenings, and 16% say they were supplementing with magnesium. To improve mental health and focus, 24% of those surveyed said they’re reaching for more antioxidant-rich foods such as berries and leafy greens while 21% were snacking on nuts and seeds for their health benefits, and 21% considered coffee helpful for energy and mental clarity. At the same time, Vypr found many consumers are actively cutting back on food and drink they consider as having a negative impact on their health – 25% have reduced their intake of highly processed foods, 19% are consuming fewer energy drinks and high-fat foods, and 18% are choosing to drink less alcohol. “Despite a growing number of health-focused products on the market, consumers continue to opt for simple, widely available foods and drinks over emerging health trends,” said Vypr founder, Ben Davies. “For example, when it comes to energy, 38% of consumers choose bananas, followed by energy drinks (33%) and coffee (25%). Meanwhile, fewer than 10% are interested in trying newer, lesser-known energy- boosting ingredients such as guava, yerba mate and goji berries.” Retailers and manufacturers face a growing challenge in meeting these evolving health priorities while maintaining affordability. Ben said, “The key issue is ensuring healthier options remain accessible. The challenge for brands is to innovate at scale without driving up costs, as affordability remains a major factor for UK households.” A new report by think tank Green Alliance calls for the Government to set a timeline for mandatory reporting by companies to motivate them to invest in nature restoration. This new reporting would make visible for the first time the impact UK businesses have on nature, the extent of their dependence on it and the nature-related risks they face. As well as holding businesses accountable, the report says the UK needs a new economic indicator to enhance or supersede gross domestic product (GDP). The UK is one of the most nature- depleted countries in the world, the report finds. This asset damage and the impact of nature degradation worldwide is predicted to suppress GDP by as much as six per cent by the 2030s, and polling shows that Music technology company Audoo, has partnered with GEMA, the German performing rights society, to launch a world-first ‘Music Impact Study’ to quantify the commercial value of background music in gastronomy and retail spaces using accurately tracked data. The pioneering study, powered by GEMA, found that background music is an economic factor that can be measured scientifically. By comparing footfall and spending in commercial spaces, with and without background music, the study revealed that the use of background music increases sales in retail by an average of 8% and in gastronomy by an average of 5.4%. The economic benefits of Businesses should report on nature risk a majority of the public in England think big companies and the government aren’t doing enough to protect the natural environment. Heather Plumpton, head of research at Green Alliance and an author of the new report, said, “The UK’s severe and continuing nature decline is evidence our economic system is dysfunctional. We perversely destroy natural assets we depend on heavily for future growth and national wellbeing. Businesses rely on nature to make profits but don’t necessarily value it properly, as incentives to look after it aren’t embedded in the system. We’ve set out immediate and longer- term steps ministers should take to recognise nature’s proper value, so we can begin turn the tide on nature loss here in the UK.” Music matters in retail using background music prove that a music license is a worthwhile “investment”. “The fact that background music influences customer behaviour, customer retention and spending positively has been investigated many times, but there have been no concrete figures on the increase in sales so far. GEMA's ‘Music Impact Study’ closes this research gap”, said project manager Sonja Schoenfeld. The success of the research underscores the value of precise music usage tracking and its potential impact on businesses. GEMA has described the research as a significant milestone and recommends that other rights societies engage in similar research.