Archer Daniels Midland Company has recently released its perspective on the trends that will shape the industry of foods and beverages in the coming year. These are based on the research carried out by ADM’s proprietary OutsideVoice consumer insights platform. These are based on the changes in behavior and societal priorities that have taken many changes since the beginning of the pandemic.
The President of Nutrition at ADM says, “The global health crisis has changed consumer preferences in new and unexpected ways. We are seeing a heightened demand for foods and beverages to support the immune system, enhance our mood and reduce our environmental impact, driven in part by our emerging human tensions. This has provided a unique opportunity for brands to develop disruptive new products that will forever change the way we eat and drink. It’s going to be a year of innovation, marked by significant breakthroughs in nutrition.”
The five food trends given by ADM are as follows:
1. A more proactive approach to nourishing the mind and body: The research shows 31-50% of consumers are preferring to foods that and are nutritious and beneficial to their health. Most of the consumers are choosing foods the are related to health and wellness. This is creating new opportunities for food companies to produce more nutrient-based and immunity-boosting foods.
2. Sustainability is the key: People are becoming more and more focused on protecting their planet and becoming eco-friendly. 32% of people buy products that have proven to be safe for the environment. In this background, the demands for the merchandise that show ecological safeness are going to be in demand. Practices like regenerable and renewable energy sources, special feed to reduce methane emissions in livestock etc. are going to be taking the center stage.
3. Importance of Microbiome increases: Studies have shown that the gut microbiome has numerous benefits to the health like the immune system, mental health, and weight management. In recent times, around 25% of people suffer from digestive health issues. So, the companies emphasizing this bacterium will have a lot of scope in the market. The consumers whose interests as seen earlier are leaning toward health and wellness will be preferring the foods and beverages that include this bacterium.
4. Plant-based foods are grabbing attention: More plants- consumers are trying to eat more foods that are plant-based. Many alternatives for meat and proteins are being discovered these days. They are all taking a new turn with 3-D printing of proteins and plant-based meats and alternatives for dairy products like plant-based yogurt, cheese, milk, etc. Therefore, plant-based alternatives are going to be a huge demand in the market.
5. Costumers trust transparency: Customers are being more conscious of their intake of foods and beverages. They expect more transparency in food labels and information about the products in detail. People are preferring foods produced locally as they can source information on the manufacture of food products easily that way. The demand for cleaner and healthier foods are increasing by the day.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the choices and preferences of consumers drastically. While this is difficult to cope up with, it is also providing companies opportunities to put forth their products with the new demands.