As consumer food trends continue to evolve into 2023, it’s important to keep tabs on these to inspire your menus and provide your customers with the latest, most innovative offerings.
At the heart of these trends globally are health and sustainability. Consumers want to eat ‘cleaner’ foods with minimal ingredients and reduce their carbon footprint.
The following are a few key trends that could inspire your food offerings through this year, and into the next.
‘Cleaner’ food: Shortening the list of ingredients
Consumers are calling for natural food options, that are healthy, sustainable and free of artificial ingredients, in a turn against ultra-processed and high-fat, sugar and salt foods.
Look for products with natural sweeteners and salt substitutes, as well as products with fewer, all-natural ingredients.
Many companies are also starting to produce plant-based foods with minimally processed ingredients – these options will continue to grow in years to come as consumer demand for plant-based, clean-label options increases. Some of the most popular features of clean-label plant-based foods from consumer conversations include vegan, gluten-free, natural, fewer ingredients, organic and healthy.
‘Cleaner’ foods are also increasingly important for children and teenage consumers, as parents focus in on food labels with healthier ingredients. There’s a growing interest in foods which contain vitamins, all-natural ingredients, and vegetables – and those which cut down on sugar, fat and salt contents.
Carbon reducing foods
Consumers are doing more to reduce their carbon footprint – including paying more attention to the carbon miles the foods they intake are producing.
Sustainability is playing a key role in today’s food consumption, as many are turning to plant-based options. Traditional dishes interpreted vegan or plant-based are anticipated to be a growing part of our food culture.
Consider also adding local food products to your menu when in season and foods that are considered to be carbon neutral – or better yet, ‘carbon negative’ or ‘carbon active.’
Seafood alternatives
Consider starting to introduce seafood alternatives into your dishes to provide consumers with a sustainable option.
According to Spoonshot’s Food & Beverage Intelligence, interest in alternative foods has grown by over 3.5 times between Jan 2016 and April 2022. And while consumers have decreased their consumption of meat due to health and environmental issues, they have increased interest in fish and seafood because of their perceived health benefits.
However, the fish population is declining, and businesses that are starting to realise the possibility of a future with limited access to fish are investing in solutions. The most talked about seafood alternative dishes include fish and chips, sushi, crab cakes and tacos. Some popular ingredients in alternative seafood products include soybeans, fava beans, peas, haricot beans, and green lentils. And companies are starting to turn to algae to help get the flavour and nutrition right.
We are here to help.
If you need help finding the latest innovative products, or new food or drink concepts that will help you meet the needs of your consumer – please contact us for any support at 01252 705214 or hello@pelicanprocurement.co.uk.
Sources: Spoonshot Food & Beverage 2023 Trends Report, The Food Institute, The Food People
