Outlook 2023: Consumer Trends

Website Link (Article by Elizabeth Brewster) If you’re looking for the main driving force behind the latest trends in consumer behavior, look no further than that timeworn cliché from the 1990s: “It’s the economy, stupid.” As global consumers settle into a new normal in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than two-thirds (67%), on

What Science Says About the Potential Healing Effects of Essential Oils

Website Link (Article by Megan Schmidt) Essential oils smell great. But what do researchers have to say about the health benefits of essential oils? Are they really safe remedies for anxiety, stress, pain and other health problems? Since the dawn of civilization, people have turned to the power of plants for healing purposes. But one

From saffron beer to kefir water, the new crop of NPD embracing unique functional ingredients

Website Link (Article By Oliver Morrison) Despite cost and inflation concerns, trend reports note rising demand among many consumers for foods with functionality, such as those that can help bolster the immune system. Many brands are responding. Among European consumers, 3 in 4 believe they better understand what works for their health and wellbeing, leading

From mood-boosting algae to plant-based ‘egg’ powder: Which innovations caught our eye at FiE 2022?

Website Link (Article by Flora Southey) Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) 2022 is in Paris this week, and FoodNavigator is on the ground speaking to newcomers to the B2B market. Over a period of three days, ingredients companies are lining the show floor at the Paris Expo Porte de Versaille in the city’s 15th​ arrondissement. Some

Study links nut consumption to improved cognitive function

Website Link (Article by Nikki Hancocks) Higher habitual nut consumption is positively associated with cognitive function, especially among old adults, according to an observational study of 1,000 Qatari adults. Globally, cognitive impairments including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, have become a major concern. The total number of people with dementia has increased from 20.2 million in 1990

ADM eyes eight emerging trends

Website Link (Article by Eric Schroeder) Plant-based lifestyles, clean and transparent sourcing, and sustainable goodness are among the eight trends ADM sees fueling current and future global growth. Drawing on research from its Outside Voice consumer insights platform, the company’s top trends for 2022 point the way for ADM’s innovation, renovation and development platforms, the

How packaging influences shopper’s perception of health

Website Link (Article by Nikki Hancocks) New research provides insights into which elements of packaging have the biggest impact on the consumer’s perception of product healthiness, and how the demographics of the consumer will impact these perceptions. Packaging plays a key role in impulse purchases and a key issue for companies developing functional foods is to

Consumers demand more choice and innovation in low and no alcohol drinks

Website Link (Article by Rachel Arthur) Despite the growth of the low and no alcohol category, only a third of consumers say they are satisfied with current products on the market, according to a new survey. So what can be done to improve them? Research carried out by flavour and fragrance company Givaudan across 6,000

Trending plant proteins

Website Link (Article by Jeff Gelski) Surging, emerging and flourishing all could describe the plant protein category. Pea protein continues to increase in popularity and may keep surging for the rest of this decade. Other protein sources, like lupin bean, are emerging, and plant protein sales in general are flourishing. Selecting the appropriate protein source

The five post-pandemic consumer trends that are impacting the bakery space

Website Link (Article by Gill Hyslop) COVID-10 has changed the way the world works and in particular, brought forth a seismic change in consumer habits and preferences. This, says Puratos, has implications for all players in the bakery, patisserie and chocolate sectors. Drawing on insights from the company’s Taste Tomorrow platform – which monitors advanced