Consumer trends continue to move toward allowing ourselves to have better, faster, and better value by outsourcing homemade items (or at least skipping a few steps). Rather than investing time and effort into things they formerly did for themselves, consumers are looking to retailers to readily provide the latest food trends with pre-packaged convenience.
To this end, brands can look to increase their value for customers through complementary branding strategies. It’s only logical to keep a pulse on the food trends out there to seek opportunities. Although the food world is a place of rapidly changing tastes, both in fine dining and everyday home cooking, there are certain trends that are worth our attention. Here are a few of our favorites.
Discovering Complementary Branding Potential Through Food Trends
More Home Cooking
As meal kits and subscription services continued to soar in 2018, more people took advantage of them and cooked at home rather than eating out. In addition to meal kits for every diet and taste preference, more grocery stores are offering online ordering, curbside pickup, and even home delivery. These changes make it easier for busy working adults to grab groceries on the way home, or come home to a meal box on their doorstep, and prepare more meals at home.
Plant-Based Dishes
Driven by customer preferences, increased awareness of the environmental impacts of eating meat, and the desire to innovate, more chefs are getting creative with vegetables in the kitchen. From “meatless Monday” in home kitchens, to fine dining restaurants offering truly elevated plant-focused plates, taking a break from meat is definitely on the rise.
Fermentation Nation
As consumers continue to become more health-conscious, and more research emerges about the importance of our gut bacteria, fermented and other gut-friendly foods are a growing trend. Whether it’s a surge in courses on homemade sauerkraut, fine dining restaurants making their own kimchi, or a bevy of new kombucha products in the beverage aisle, it’s clear that eating with our guts in mind is a top food trend.
Big Brands Get Creative
Large food brands, seeing the success of artisanal products and unique flavors, are upping their game in the creativity department. This means anything from sriracha ketchup to Thai curry potato chips, and it’s a trend that seems likely to continue. While some worry about the future of small-scale producers, many customers are excited to have more access to exciting foods.
Reducing Waste
Whether it’s in the kitchen or in packaging, chefs and brands are looking to let their customers know that they care about the environment and are working to reduce waste. For chefs, that might mean using vegetable scraps in creative ways, giving kitchen waste to farmers to feed livestock, or advocating for “nose-to-tail” meat eating. Brands might tout their cutting-edge packaging designs that reduce plastic use or use compostable materials. Either way, they’re sure to broadcast it loud and clear for their eco-conscious customers.
Feeling inspired? Let us know which of these trends you think has long-term complementary potential!