Consumer demand for healthy, convenient and trustworthy food and drink will remain strong over the next 12 months, according to Mintel analyst Jenny Zegler.
She said: “This year’s trends are grounded in current consumer demands for healthy, convenient and trustworthy food and drink. In addition, Mintel has identified exciting new opportunities for functional food and drink designed for evening consumption, progressive solutions for food waste and affordable healthy food for low-income consumers."
The report stated the extremes will include ancient products such as grains, recipes, practices and traditions up to the use of technology to create more and better tasting plant-enhanced foods.
Additionally, there will be greater opportunities to leverage the reputation in the tea category to aid calm before bed, to help consumers sleep better and restore the body while asleep.
Mintel's key trends:
In Tradition We Trust meaning consumers are looking for the safety of choosing products they recognise but comfort could be taken from contemporary updates of traditional flavours to keep offers fresh.
Vegetarianism, veganism and the like is at the forefront and this will continue into the new year.
Power to the Plants is a pattern that will leverage fruits, nuts, seeds, grains, vegetables, botanicals and other plants in a bid to align with consumers’ health and wellness priorities.
Zegler added: “Across the world, manufacturers and retailers have opportunities to provide more people with food and drink that is recognisable, saves time and contains servings of beneficial fruits, vegetables and other plants.”
Operators have had to address the amount of food and drink that is wasted globally and the Waste Not trend will focus on eliminating food waste.
The continuous consumer demand of wanting quick yet fresh, nutritious and "customisable" food and drink is the heart of the Time is of the Essence direction.
Next year, the time spent or saved on a food or drink product will be a clear selling point, which will inspire more products to show how long they will take to receive, prepare or consume.
The Night Shift angle includes helping consumers unwind before going to sleep and can make the most of the tea category to use chamomile, lavender and other herbs to achieve calm before bedtime.
Taking a hint from other industries, there will also be a trend for food and drink that give benefits while the consumer is in the land of nod.
Campaigns and innovations in 2017 are expected to help lower-income families afford healthy produce to make healthy food available for everyone in Balancing the Scales: Health for Everyone.
Zegler added: “Opportunities abound for companies around the world to capitalise on these trends, helping them develop in new regions and more categories throughout the course of the next year and into the future.”