Food and beverage market research has been the mainstay of both existing and upcoming businesses in this sector. For any major business decision- a new product launch, a new marketing campaign, or a service rollout, a thorough study of the current market conditions and expected future trends is required. Mere instinct-based decisions (especially when they involve investments) can prove to be a big gamble. Traditional market research has its advantages and limitations. It poses the risk of portraying a one-sided picture. Big data and AI-driven research and predictive algorithms, on the other hand, provide a holistic vision and concrete future insights. Here are the top 5 data-backed food industry trends for 2022:-
The Farm to Fork journey
More than ever before, consumers expect to know exactly what they are consuming in terms of the ingredients, the processing/packaging techniques, and the nutritional value. Social media and search engines have empowered consumers with a vast repository of information. As a brand, you can instill the required trust only if you are forthright about your ingredients sourcing, purity, hygiene, clean labels, nutritional information, and so on. Furthermore, sustainability has become a global talking point, and you can only flourish as a brand when you adopt eco-friendly and sustainable supply chain practices.
Plant-based consumables
One of the most important postulates of 2022 food and beverage market research is that vegetarianism and veganism will gain further popularity. Chickpeas, soy, oats, quinoa, almonds, etc., are popular, but there is still a considerable market deficit as far as vegan protein and vegan dairy are concerned. The onus on brands and researchers is to make mock meat and plant-based dairy products more affordable, less processed, more nutritious, and appealing to the taste buds.
Easier and enhanced home cooking
With frequent lockdowns worldwide, consumers resorted to home cooking like never before. Even the most die-hard, outdoor dining/takeaway enthusiasts have taken an affinity to home-prepped meals. This has generated massive demand for convenience cooking products- DIY kits, prepped ingredient hampers, ergonomic cookware, and more. Connoisseurs are also looking for ingredients that impart restaurant flavors in home-cooked meals.
Wellness-oriented consumption
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the massive spike in demand for healthy food and beverages is completely unprecedented. What was earlier restricted to a small percentage of fitness enthusiasts has become a massive mainstream movement, expected to continue well into the foreseeable future. The following categories will remain in high demand all through 2022:-
● F&B products with Immunity-building vitamins and minerals (both natural and fortified)
● Immunity-boosting herbs and spices like ginseng, black pepper, basil, and turmeric
● Fermented food and beverages like Kimchi, Miso, Kombucha, Yogurt, and more
● Health food labels such as gluten-free, sugar-free, organic, additive-free, and so on
F&B Technology to enhance taste, flavor, texture, and aroma
From intuitive flavor mapping to 3D food printing, food/beverage innovation experts are leaving no stone unturned to enhance the taste and satiety value. Especially in the health-food section, food and beverage insights have always pointed at a long-prevailing disdain owing to their bland flavor and unsavory taste. With the rise in demand for healthy food and beverages, as discussed above, many hopes are vested in innovative tech to make them more appealing.
Conclusion
All major F&B businesses are relying on certified data analysts for accurate food and beverage insights. In an industry so widespread, tumultuous, and dynamic, getting real futuristic insights can be a game-changer for your business. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, both 2020 and 2021 have brought about massive changes in consumer requirements and preferences. Many of the pandemic-induced trends are likely to continue well into the future. The brands that anticipate and exceed customer expectations will be triumphant in 2022.