Every year, the food market embraces a wonderful array of trends and styles. Combining old favourites with new techniques and flavours, foodies rejoice in trying the latest combinations, ingredients and cuisines.
For food brands, incorporating the latest trends into product ranges and menus is always an exciting task. When working with marketing experts, like https://www.ceres-pr.co.uk/, you can find innovative ways to align the latest food breakthroughs with your brand. By doing so, you’ll have new and exciting products and services to launch and ground-breaking marketing content to increase awareness amongst your target audience.
Of course, this summer’s food trends are a little different to what we might have imagined a few months ago. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have been forced to modify or suspend their operations. In many instances, the availability of key ingredients has diminished, which means product lines have been streamlined. Furthermore, resale opportunities in venues, such as restaurants, cafes and even some stores, has been significantly curtailed.
However, many food brands have found engaging ways to capitalise on this year’s trends, even in spite of the trading anomalies presented by COVID-19. To ensure your brand is staying on trend and providing your customers with food innovations, take a look at what people will be eating this summer…
- Plant-Based Meals
The trend towards plant-based ingredients and meals isn’t necessarily new but it’s certainly picking up speed. A greater awareness of environmental issues has encouraged many consumers to actively seek out non-meat based products. As vegan products become more mainstream, the vast majority of major food producers are incorporating plant-based items into their core product ranges.
Summer is a great time to introduce new vegan products, simply because of the variety of produce that’s available. With so many tantalising natural products in season over the summer months, you can even use locally sourced ingredients to create a sustainable, plant-based product or meal.
- Garden-to-Plate
As well as looking for natural, plant-based options, consumers are taking it upon themselves to grow their own food. While some food companies might baulk at the idea of consumers growing their own ingredients, savvy businesses are making the most of the opportunity to engage with their target audience.
When consumers are actively interested in growing produce, there are a variety of ways you can encourage and support them as a food business. Giving people an insight into how you source or grow your own ingredients can enhance your green credentials, create trust between your brand and consumers, and educate people who want to learn more.
- Functional drinks
Beverage manufacturers have an exciting few months to look forward to, with many new concoctions ready to hit the shelves. The rise of ‘functional drinks’ leans on the trend for healthy, natural ingredients and offers consumers the chance to enhance their health via on-the-go drinks options.
Many functional drinks contain ingredients that have proven health benefits, such as honey, turmeric and ginger. While smoothies and juices have used these types of ingredients for years, today’s functional drinks are predominantly geared towards the specific health benefits of these functional ingredients. Look out for ‘functional drink shots’ and beverages packed with micronutrients in 2020, because you’re going to be seeing a lot of them!
- High Fat Foods
The craze for low-fat food is well and truly over, as evidenced by the increasing demand for wholesome fats. While consumers are still wary of saturated fats due to their harmful properties, a better understanding of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats means more people are eager to incorporate them into their diet.
Known for keeping you feeling full for longer, the increased satiety in fatty foods means they’re ideal for people who want to embrace healthier eating habits. When combined with other food trends, it’s easy to see why so many people are switching to diets with a higher fat content.
- No-Waste Portions
On-the-go snacks are routinely served in convenient single-portion sizes, but this is a theme that’s going to be replicated in a variety of environments. As well as seeing food products in portion-sized packages in supermarkets, you’ll see portion-sized snacks in bars and restaurants up and down the UK when they’re able to reopen.
The emphasis on no-waste servings is a winner in terms of environmental issues but the smaller portions are also set to be popular with those who want to enjoy their favourite foods without facing the temptation to indulge too much.
Embracing Food Trends
As a food business, you’ll already have your fingers on the pulse when it comes to the latest trends. However, it’s important to let your target audience know how you’re incorporating new food trends into your products and services. With the right marketing strategy and an array of engaging content, your take on the latest trends could send your business soaring.
