Food, Beverage, & Nutrition

Rising demand for healthier, sustainable inputs and end-users is triggering a fundamental change in the baking industry. This trend is expected to continue along with the quest for organic, vegan, and aesthetically more appealing ingredients and products. Phrases like “non-fried noodles,” “insect-infused energy bars,” and “enhanced shelf life of bread” is to gain higher and higher traction with a steeping inclination towards home-baked, locally sourced, and food-on-the-go products. Cereals and high-protein meals also count under this category for their ready-to-eat aspect. Still, manufacturers will need to invest in substantial R&D to tip the total nutritional value of these products on a healthier end without compromising taste or texture. The industry participants will also need to update their tech profiles through smart integration of concepts like the usage of Metaverse, Phygital, blockchain, NFTs, etc., to maintain an edge in the market in the foreseeable future.

The animal-derived food industry is striving hard to expand its profit margins in the wake of the dilemma over fluctuating consumption levels. The efforts to balance changing end-user perception, sustainability and health implications at all ends largely depend on the ability to decode the rising and falling demand for animal-derived food products. Integration of all advanced concepts ranging from precision fermentation to the use of AI in meat products, structural improvement in cultured cell meat, and clean label nitrite replacers will only be verified with better insights into consumer perception and the welfare of all food chain partakers. In-depth research and additional data are needed to set animal, consumer, and environmental welfare benchmarks. Players must also understand the needs generated by rising disposable income in developing markets against the “flexitarians” quest for healthier and sustainable meat alternatives.

The confectionery and snacks industry needs to focus on better positioning, innovation, and online exposure to combat the present economic uncertainty. Health and wellness will stay at the core, along with a drive toward sustainable packaging and business practices. The stagnant revenues and returns cannot stand in the way of the amalgamation of wellness-driven concepts like healthy snacking, novel sugar suppressants, non-melting and glow-in-the-dark ice creams, whole grain snacks, etc. Experimentation with new flavors can always align with ethnic preferences and emerging demands for ready-to-go food options. The key to success lies in cracking the “mindful indulgence” clause and adhering to it all along the way.

Sauces, spreads, seasonings, and oils market growth needs to tread through multiple touchpoints – sustainability, packaging, and innovation. Health and wellness will remain a key concern at the user end, implying product developers and innovators must stay vigilant about changing tastes and preferences. Trends like MSG alternatives, algae-derived oils, contaminant removal from edible oils, and insect-based seasoning are here to stay. Most importantly, industry players must extensively penetrate distribution and online market channels to strengthen their foothold in this domain.

Apart from rapid market fluctuations, the beverage industry needs to deal with changing consumer perceptions, diverse-demographic applications, increasing health awareness, and spiking demand for organic ingredients. Every organization with a global distribution footprint will need to address the spike in sustainability, non-dairy, low-alcoholic beer/wine, and nutritional index demands. Companies dealing with alcoholic beverages must extend their online distribution and sales channels. The biggest challenge will be to outlast counterfeit products that pose a danger to end users and producers. As for non-alcoholic beverage purveyors, product innovation focused on wellness will take core attention with new inclusions like adaptogenic alcohol-free beers, postbiotic drinks, immune-boosting coffee, and neutralizing carbon emissions due to carbonated beverages.

Pets are finally getting the place they deserve in our world. The substantial increase in the humanization of pets is and will be one of the vital drivers of the animal & pet nutrition industry. Innovation centralized on pet health and welfare will satisfy the net margins and pet parents alike. As the focus shifts from primary care to the holistic well-being of pets, industry players need to scale up their game by integrating pet food products with advanced tech and sustainability concepts. Familiarity with phytogenics, rumen protective micro & macronutrients, natural grain-free pet food, and adaptive aquaculture feed monitoring can help companies bring their target customers where they want. Also, it might be time to bid adieu to “one-size-fits-all” solutions and get the most talked about customization aspect into the game.

The nutrition industry is rapidly shifting towards the changing dynamics of our world that believes in gender neutrality, new family dynamics, and rising professional significance for the working population. It will form the basis for increasing demand for healthier, sustainable options on all fronts. The demand for personalized nutrition, convenience, women’s health food, sports nutrition, and mind & body wellness will drive the core product innovation. Nutritional product reformulation will need special attention owing to tightening regulations and government initiatives worldwide. Companies looking for strategic advantage and product improvement may need to consider partnerships and innovative technological integrations.