Five major trends in the food and beverage industry in 2020!

The food and beverage industry in 2019 witnessed the trend of consumer awareness to promote healthy, plant-based and clean label products. With the advent of 2020, we are seeing enlarged versions of similar trends expand into more specialized categories.

Conscious consumerism will once again become the core of the food industry trend in 2020, and consumers will continue to put their health first. The following are foreign media's predictions for the five major food trends in 2020.

Healthy snacks

"Healthy snacks" is a trend frequently mentioned in the food and beverage industry in recent years. On the one hand, as the pace of life of young people has become faster, the demand for the "fourth meal"-small snacks is increasing, which promotes the regularization of snacks; on the other hand, people generally want to eat healthier, which is therefore related to The trend of "snacks" is often accompanied by clean labels (transparent and traceable product ingredients, no additives), gluten-free, and high-protein concepts.

The snack market has boomed in recent years. According to data from Mintel's UK Consumer Snacks Survey 2019, 66% of adults said they eat snacks at least once a day. Data from the research institute Grand View shows that by 2025, the global healthy snack market is expected to reach US$32.99 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.2%. Healthy snacks provide a convenient and portable option to meet consumers' needs for convenience and nutrition.

In recent years, the way of eating snacks has also changed a lot. The types of snacks consumers are now looking for have shifted to healthier alternatives with functional benefits. The choice of protein snacks has also increased significantly in recent years. Products such as plant-based protein bars provide consumers with selected ready-to-eat protein products.

Reduced sugar

Health-conscious consumers are looking for nutritious snacks, and candy brands are now reducing the sugar content in their products. In 2019, new data from the Public Health Agency of the United Kingdom showed that from 2015 to 2018, the sugar content of food purchased in British stores decreased by 2.9%.

Some brands have opted for sweeteners instead of sugar. For example, candy brand Lily's Sweets launched a series of stevia peanut butter cups in the United States earlier this year. Some companies tend to reduce the sugar content in their products.

In addition, Cadbury has also reduced sugar by 30% in its chocolate products, which they call an "important innovation" in Cadbury's history. If the major chocolate brand Cadbury is making a conscious effort to reduce the sugar content in its products, then in 2020, other companies are likely to follow suit.

Low-sugar products are accompanied by the rise of health-conscious consumers. The Public Health Organization of the United Kingdom has also challenged the food industry, requiring that the sugar in products be reduced by 20% by 2020, and a sugar tax on soft drinks in the United Kingdom in April 2018.

In 2020, there will be a large number of new products with reducing sugar or artificial sweeteners. We may also see more syrups from fruits and vegetables used to increase the sweetness of products, such as sweet potato, pomegranate or red dates.

Flexible vegetarian food

　　 Consumers are continuing to look for alternatives to meat and brands, and retailers are making these choices easier to find. According to a SPINS report commissioned by the Good Food Institute and the Plant Food Association, in the United States alone, the retail sales of plant foods have increased by 11.3% in the past year. In contrast, total food sales have only increased. 2%.

　　It's not just vegans or vegetarians who are interested in the available plant-based options. Flexible vegetarianism is now very popular. Many consumers are consciously deciding to reduce their meat intake. Foods mixed with meat and plants can provide both the taste of meat and the nutritional value of plant foods. Many major meat brands are now offering mixed alternatives, such as Tyson Foods and Hormel.

　　 Similarly, we are beginning to see an increase in the 50/50 mix of dairy products and plant-based alternatives. For example, airy Farmers of America launched a lactose-free product line, and launched a half-and-half combination of oat milk and milk or almond milk and milk products under its Live Real Farms brand.

　　Rachel Kyllo, senior vice president of growth and innovation at Live Real Farms, said: "We fully understand that consumer tastes are always changing. Many people are enjoying the benefits of dairy products and plant-based alternatives."

Hard soda

　　 Recently, low-alcohol products have become more and more popular, which is largely due to the rise of health-conscious consumers. Millennial consumers are now looking for ways to reduce sugar and calories when drinking outside.

　　 Hard soda is one way, because they provide some hydration, can reduce the alcohol concentration, and are often sugar-free. In 2019, we saw a variety of hard sodas on the market, such as Anheuser-Busch InBev's Natural Light seltzer series.

　　 By 2020, this trend will develop further and move towards purifying water containing alcohol.

　　 "better-for-you" alcoholic beverage category is also expected to develop along more functional routes, and beverages such as hard kombucha are also increasing. Kombucha is a nutrient-rich fermented probiotic beverage. It is showing a leap from healthy beverages to alcoholic products. This is the current market trend. The idea that alcoholic beverages can provide functional benefits may appeal to many health-conscious millennial consumers

 Article from "China Industry Competitive Intelligence Network"