From infancy through to adolescence, nutrition is essential in ensuring a healthy body and mind for our youngsters. So how can this be achieved and what it the food industry doing to help parents?
The gut health trend is one of the single biggest changes to hit the food and drinks industry in recent decades. So what are gut-loving consumers buying and what gut-friendly products will we see next?
Functional food trends are driven by more than just taste: they’re driven by human need. With AI, the market can be analysed and the needs driving consumption understood.
In our latest new product development round-up, we’re homing in on animal-based products and their plant-based alternatives. These include pork snacks and mini fish fillets, as well as fermented plant-based steaks and barista oat milk. We’ve also included...
Brands have been quietly shrinking the size of some products for a while but consumers are getting wise to this moneysaving trick and voting with their wallets.
The number of protein bars on the European market has significantly decreased, while the protein powders category has continued to grow thanks largely to innovations with clear protein and collagen, new data reveals.
Coca-Cola is removing labels from Sprite bottles in a UK trial in a bid to improve sustainability: presenting a bare bottle on shelves. Will other brands follow suit – or will branding and marketing teams decide the move is simply too risky?
Plant-based diets have grown in popularity in recent years, so what’s encouraging the increased interest in plant-based alternatives and why might others avoid them?
Consumer appetite for gut-health friendly foods shows no signs of abating as understanding of its impact on overall health continues to grow. But how will this trend evolve and grow in the future?
We are now witnessing a ‘glucose revolution’ as consumers across all demographics and markets recognise the importance of controlling blood sugar spikes, according to life science experts at Phynova.
Influencers are a twenty-first century force of nature, courting brands and attracting thousands, if not millions, of adoring fans who buy their merchandise, copy their look and hang off their every word. So do influencers have the power to change or...
We speak to two leading packaging manufacturers about the materials, formats and branding choices that plant-based milk manufacturers are eyeing in 2024.
We’ve all heard of the rallying World War Two cry, ‘Dig for Victory’, urging citizens to combat food shortages by growing fruits and vegetable in their allotments and gardens. Well, now people are being urged to make food swaps to stop biodiversity loss....
Nicknamed ‘the baked potato cheese’ for its complex umami taste, Hornbacher was until recently only sold in the cheese shop ran by its four-time world champion cheesemaker, Michael Spycher.
Healthy living is firmly on the agenda in this week’s new product roundup: There are immunity-boosting drinks, gut-friendly sweets and flapjacks, and an alternative protein source in the form of edible insects. Elsewhere we have a sparkling lemonade that's...
PMS and menopause support, mental and emotional well-being, supporting active lifestyles, and creating tailored solutions are the key trends emerging in women’s health, according to industry experts.
Extreme weather events are becoming commonplace across the globe as the effects of climate change really start to bite. But what does this mean for food production, and ultimately, the future of food security?
Affordable, better-for-you and flavourful salty snacks lead producers’ formulation considerations in 2024, while creating resilient crops and exploring the metaverse landscape drive the wider value chain.
Milk alternatives are the most mature category in alt dairy, but while food brands have largely addressed sensory and functional challenges, nutrition is still lacking.
Cruise lines are confronting the major issue of food waste head on. So how are they doing it and what can food manufacturers learn from their approach?
The El Niño weather phenomenon, which hit the west coast of Africa last year, carrying unseasonal heavy rains followed by dry heat, is the main factor in an 11% drop in the season’s main cocoa harvest, according to the latest figures from the International...
Spring is in the air and summer is firmly on the horizon in this week’s new product roundup: there are ice-cream inspired sweets and a seasonally special-edition menu. In other news we discover a supercharged apple juice, with heart-healthy properties,...
Potassium deficiency in soil has been revealed as a major threat to livestock and agricultural farming. So what does this mean for global food security and can the current threat be reversed?
Veganuary has historically led to a significant uptick in consumption of vegan food products. However, with the plant-based sector in decline, and a cost-of-living crisis sweeping much of the world, can the early-year vegan fervour continue apace?
Food systems and supply chains can be confusing for consumers, often leaving them with little understanding of exactly where their food comes from and its environmental impact. Enter the Inclusive Food movement…
The World Wildlife Fund is launching a campaign to not only get Europeans eating sustainably, but affordably too. So, what’s involved and can anyone give it a go?
As Spain grapples with drought in February and UK farmers also fearing another tough year ahead, a veteran agritech entrepreneur has questioned the ‘short term’ approach of continually rationing water and says new agricultural solutions are urgently needed...
Plant-based diets are proving hugely popular amongst men and women across the globe, with everything from animal cruelty to environmental impact being cited as the reason. But could the plant-based way of life also prevent against chronic diseases in...
Revamps appear to be all the rage in our latest new product development round-up. Five years on from first launching, Applewood Vegan has renovated its alt cheese recipe; and more than 150 years on, Lyle’s Golden Syrup has undergone a brand refresh. Elsewhere...
Whether you’re spreading it (generously) on a crumpet, making pastry for a pie or baking a cake, butter is a kitchen essential that’s loved by many. But this humble ingredient is having something of a luxury makeover and food lovers are flocking.
Shoppers are voting with their feet when it comes to environmentally friendly foods. But how powerful is this consumer trend and what does it mean for manufacturers?
The market for non-alcoholic beer has steadily shifted away from niche in recent years, with many big brands releasing their own 0.0% and alcohol free brands. But consumers who drink alcohol-free beer are often looking for the same thing as those who...
Sales of meal-replacement drinks have surged in recent years, with brands like Huel taking full advantage of current consumer interest, but is this a foodie phase or a trend that’s just getting started?
Falling into loyalists and reluctants, Generation Z consumers value reliability and brand experience, remaining avid trendwatchers, looking for products on social channels that appeal to their price and quality expectations.
Nudge interventions have been a favourite of public policy for years, making small changes to food environments to persuade consumers to eat more healthily and sustainably without impacting choice. But which nudge interventions do consumers respond to...
In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we see how high orange juice prices have led to the development of mandarin orange juice, and the rise of generative AI has led to the creation of an AI cookbook. Furthermore, we see a rebranding from Mallow &...
Using a combination of social psychology and economic models, a new UK study shows fair trade product sales increased in popularity during an economic downturn while organic product sales dropped, indicating a divide between the two labels’ favourability...
Less is apparently more when it comes to the amount of sugar used in the creation of the perfect chocolate bar. So will manufacturers reduce the amount of sugar they use in the making of this sweet treat and will consumers welcome the change?
Palm oil is cheap to produce in large quantities but unsustainable production methods, notably deforestation, means the bad can far outweigh the good. As a result, brands are increasingly distancing themselves from the use of irresponsible palm oil in...
Hybrid dairy, whereby conventional dairy is blended with plant-based ingredients, holds ‘considerable appeal’ as a category, according to Mintel, but innovation is rare. What can industry do to win new consumers?
This week’s trend tracker includes a variety of new beverage flavours, including a refreshing prickly pear juice and a Valentine’s gin from the Cornish coast. There’s also have an incredibly indulgent collaboration from KitKat and a chocolatey pairing...
A recent survey has found that efforts to improve health and wellbeing last an average of just 19 days as old habits die hard and temptation, in the form of fatty foods and sweet treats, win out. But why are lifestyle changes so tough to stick to and...