It seems that food and beverage trends tend to move on every year, so what is ‘in’ at the moment? Well, we’ve broken down the main themes below!
Table of Contents
Personalization
Firstly, people are looking for personalization with their products, and this means that beverage services and small food outlets are doing very well. As a result of their success, big brands are doing all they can to keep up. While some focus on the visual appeal and unique nature of items, others go for true personalization. For example, those who make coffee are putting shapes into the top of the beverages. As a USP, people take pictures, share to social media, tell friends, and soon enough, the shop has a queue out the door.
Coffee And Baristas
With this in mind, baristas are finding success as coffee, and other beverages continue to grow. In 2020, there are some particular trends to keep an eye on:
- A new demand for iced coffee
- The dominance of almond milk
- A potential competitor with oat milk
- The return of black coffee
- Improved accuracy of espresso grinders
Coffee shops are opening up every day, and most offer online shops where you can purchase brewing equipment, whole beans, grounds, and other branded items. Aroma Coffee was launched in 1965 and is still running strong, while newer, more innovative products have now hit the market, like those seen here at https://www.buncoffee.com.au.
Healthy Alternatives
For Millennials, in particular, there’s a need for healthy substitutes for some of the classics. We saw an example above with oat and almond milk for coffee, but this extends to plant-based proteins instead of meats. Meanwhile, others are replacing their dairy with grain milk. With the sheer amount of information available these days, we’re taking note of what enters our bodies – this has even led to zero-alcohol or reduced-alcohol beer and cocktails.
Sustainable Solutions
Although it comes as no surprise, customers love (and almost demand!) the innovation of some companies when it comes to sustainability. According to some reports, the number of people who make decisions based on the environment and sustainability increased by one-quarter from 2019 to 2020.
In 2020, we expect a few trends to come to the fore, including edible packaging. Of course, the rise of sustainable packaging will also continue with takeout boxes and reusable cups. As time goes on, consumers are also paying attention to the processes of manufacturers, which means they’re looking for zero waste cooking and ingredients that are sourced responsibly.
Cbd Infusions
In 2019, Ben and Jerry’s surprised everybody by supporting the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in food products. Not only did they support the use of CBDs in food, they even claimed that CBD ice cream is a real possibility. Whether or not this comes to fruition, we do believe that companies will tell a story with CBD and try to get around the legalities wherever possible to achieve this. As a growing industry, and one in which consumers have a keen interest, we think it’s only a matter of time before we see big companies investing in this area.
The Purpose Of Food
For the longest time, we chose foods depending on their smell, look, and taste. Now, our attention is switching, and we seem to prefer foods that have a purpose. Do they help the body to fight illness? Reduce the chances of getting a certain disease? Encourage good health? Great, we’ll add them to the grocery list.
Recently, the growth of technology has also allowed manufacturers to improve the taste of foods packed with probiotics, fiber, and other helpful ingredients. As a result, even huge names like Nestle are tapping into the medical or nutritional therapy side of products and ingredients.
Other Potential Food And Beverage Trends For 2020 And Beyond Include:
- Plant-based foods
- Nostalgia (taste of our childhood)
- Nitro beverages (now used in Starbucks)
- A desire for ‘ugly’ produce