Changing consumer demands and needs are continually shaping market trends. Despite traditional defaults, manufacturers and producers understand the need to keep in step no just with what consumers want but also with what they need.
Habits and trends that consumers picked up in the past year are now carrying over to 2016 in the shape of market offerings. Here are a few trend changes shared by branding expert and The Brand Incubator founder Claire Nuttall that are likely to become apparent in the coming months.
Trend #1 Brands will to shift to using nutritionally healthy and recognisable ingredients.
Trend #2 Pulses, seeds and beans will continue to grow in appeal for their health benefits and low production cost.
Trend #3 Consumers will look for simplicity in ingredients of packed and packaged food. Labels will need to be as concise and as clear as possible.
Trend #4 Brands and products that are beneficial to both the consumers and the environment will gain more popularity. Sustainability is key.
Trend #5 Specific qualities and requirements as "preservative-free, cholesterol-free, soy-free, GMO-free, nut-free, low sodium and suitable for diabetics" will become more easily affordable.
Trend #6 Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver once said "Sugar is the next tobacco." With global attention hot on sugar distribution and consumption, efforts may soon refocus on natural sweeteners that do not have the distinct aftertaste of stevias, especially pure ones.
Trend #7 Herbs and seasoning blends may be the more favoured flavours in place of plain sweetness.
Trend #8 Hemp may reach the same popularity as whey.
Trend #9 Portable and filling food with interesting tastes will be much in demand.
Trend #10 Consumers who are after a healthy lifestyle will be most happy with food and drink that integrate protein and fiber.
Trend #11 Yellow foods, purple foods as purple variety of broccoli and cauliflower, blue foods as spirulina and sea algae are going to be fast favourites.
Trend #12 Consumers will want to stay as close to natural and pure as possible in terms of food intake.
