Welcome to the Special Edition Newsletter from The Foresight Forum. Today we have a very special story that can help you get ahead of the Food Trends in 2023. We are excited to share our insights into emerging behavioural patterns that have resulted in new flavour trends, fresh approaches to food and the rise of unconventional ingredients.
Six Things that Will Shape Food in 2023
1. Mood Foods
With more individuals recognising the gut-brain connection, just marketing something as tasty and healthy will no longer be enough. As fuelling the mind becomes more important than fuelling the body, consumers will seek out food items that have a positive effect on their feelings. Expect food companies to place greater emphasis on happiness, emotional wellness and energy levels when developing snacks, ready-to-eat meals and other food items.
2. Yes to Yaupon
The Yaupon holly bush that is considered a weed in southern states of America has been used as an energising tea by Native Americans for decades. With a mild, earthy, floral undertone and a sweetness that resembles coconut, expect this unfamiliar flavour to start showing up in desserts like tarts, cakes, cookies, pancakes and even ice cream.
3. Something Fishy
With a rise in the popularity of seafood-centric diets and as more consumers gravitate towards plant-based foods, food companies across the globe are developing plant-derived products that almost identically resemble fish. Tackling the growing demand for sustainable seafood, whilst addressing the problem of overfishing - researchers are working hard not only to mimic the taste and texture of seafood products, but the scent too.
4. Cannabis Cuisine
As cannabis becomes more widely accepted and loses its stigma, several food corporations are looking to incorporate marijuana into their offerings. With more consumers opening up to consuming THC & CBD infused dishes, expect the cannabis culinary scene to reach new heights. From bud-based oils that can seamlessly be used in almost any recipe, to weed-based pesto, dipping sauces and even cannabis pizzas, expect to see marijuana edibles in never-before seen formats that go way beyond gummy bears and chocolates.
5. Retro Resurgence
Everyone’s childhood favourites are back, but this time they come with a much more nutritious update. Gravitating towards flavours that are familiar and remind them of simpler times, expect young consumers to find innovative ways to bring back their childhood favourites. From new spins on regular mac & cheese and pizza bites, to grown-up cereals that taste like the original but are much healthier, consumers will choose food products that evoke a feeling of nostalgia but fuel their emotional and physical well-being in a grown up way.
6. Zero Kilometre Dishes
Choosing food products that are produced in a way that supports the environment and all its beings will become a core priority for consumers. Conscious of their carbon footprint more than ever before, they will gravitate towards dishes that use ingredients where the distance between the source of the ingredient and the plate is as little as possible. Resulting in fresher, tastier food, expect footnotes on menus that highlight the sustainable efforts of the restaurant, in addition to clear, bold messaging on packaged food products as food companies become encouraged to market their sustainable efforts as loud as possible.
So there you have it - 6 big things that will shape food in 2023.
Keep an eye out for these trends and changing food habits as they will have a large role to play in consumer buying patterns and their overall consumer behaviour. From clothing choices and travel plans to daily habits and social gatherings, food trends have a significant impact on how we live our lives, so it is important to keep tracking them as they evolve.
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