Speciality Food January 2024

7 specialityfoodmagazine.com global cuisine, and the familiarity of homegrown classics. “Try mixing up your Sunday roasts, English breakfasts, or even desserts such as crumbles with interesting global flavours.” 8 MAXIMISING VALUE FMCG Gurus’ trends report shows more than half of global consumers are looking to reduce their spend on food and drink. The report believes they will adopt habits in line with economic downturns, and that brand loyalty will decrease, with consumers being more open to exploring different products. “Brands should respond by introducing packaging advancements to prolong the shelf life of products,” says Kate Kehoe, who also says that although cutbacks in daily essentials are being seen, customers across most categories are still “seeking more high-end indulgences through retail channels.” And that it’s “vital that these indulgences remain reasonably priced and do not lead to post-consumption guilt.” 9 TREAT MOMENTS TikTok creators have brought ‘little treat’ culture into the zeitgeist, says Whole Foods Market. “We know firsthand the power of a treat, like an impulse macaron buy or a fizzy, functional and flavour-forward drink.” Brands are getting in on the trend, it says, by considering both cost and format, “like individual serving packages that add joy without breaking a budget.” 10 PREMIUM PLAYFUL DRINKS “In the forthcoming year alcohol brands will deliver premiumised products for consumers wanting to feel inspired, indulgent and discerning, even if they possess little industry knowledge,” says Stylus. Many of these products will be driven by social media. As Bidfood notes in its 2024 trends report, consumers can’t resist taking pictures of their cocktails to post on their accounts, with 43% of 18 to 35-year-olds doing this every time. “To leverage this trend, operators are starting to take their cocktail offerings to the next level, creating imaginative, theatrical and themed serves.” More of this innovation should also trickle into the RTD cocktail and mixed drinks sector, which is growing rapidly. 11 A NATURAL BOOST Consumers are demanding more from their coffee and soft drinks, seeking products that claim to boost their health as well as delivering on flavour. There are lots of new ways for them to get their pick-me-up, says Whole Foods Market, which predicts functional coffee and sodas will continue to grow as a category in 2024. “Combining a boost with benefits has never been easier thanks to new coffee and energy drinks with added mushrooms, probiotics and more.” 12 CLEAN AND CONSERVE Brands across sectors are promoting water conservation, says Whole Foods Market’s report, and consumers are listening. “New water brands use water from fruit by-products which would otherwise be discarded. As well as the growing trend of regenerative agriculture, non-governmental organisations are also showing their support of farmed oysters, leveraging aquaculture to filter water and help restore coastal ecosystems.” It’s worth looking at your non-consumable offering in store too – seeking out water conscious products such as dry shampoos, shampoo bars and laundry detergent sheets. 13 KEEP IT FUN During the cost-of-living crisis, everyone’s looking for something to cheer them up. Something exciting and out of the ordinary. Bidfood believes food retailers and producers have a part to play here in 2024 by bringing a hint of fun to their products and environment. “Colour, playful presentation, novel styling and a touch of theatre will certainly tick the boxes to offer the experience desired,” it says. “Mixing flavours is another way of adding novelty, and can really elevate a dish. In fact, 70% of consumers find the idea of flavour contrasts appealing, with sweet and sour being the most popular.” 14 PLANT-BASED GOES BACK TO ITS ROOTS In 2023 some products aimed at the vegan/vegetarian market disappeared from shelves, as companies failed to pivot and respond to increasing consumer desire to eat ‘real’ food that’s as minimally processed as possible. Whole Foods Market says retailers wanting to stay ahead of the game should be stocking food that puts the ‘veggie’ back into vegetarian. “We’re seeing new and emerging protein- forward products with mushrooms, walnuts, tempeh and legumes in place of complex meat alternatives,” it reveals. 15 KNOW YOUR NOODLES “Shoppers have been finding ways to dress up instant ramen at home for years now,” says Whole Foods Market, “but as brands step up their game, noodle lovers can take on less of the workload. Even better, brands are creating more gourmet options to rival the classics, without certain preservatives and added MSG.”