Issue
You are a maker of fine foods, but find yourself at a loss when it comes to the next big thing. You don’t want to lose market shares by being the last to identify the next trend in taste. This case study highlights trends for the remainder of 2021 and the foreseeable future.
Diagnosis
It’s time to get onboard with functional, beneficial and exotic flavours. These ingredients have a psychological or physical effect on the consumer and may be something like B6, a vitamin that is vital in “creating neurotransmitters that regulate emotion (Healthline).”
Solution
The best of the best lead by example. Here’s a company who’s leading the market in functional flavours. Gëwurzmühle Brecht’s Inner Calm Relaxing Seasoning Mix contains Ceylon cinnamon, cocoa, and ashwagandha (Global Food and Drink Trends Mintel). It can be applied to drinks and foods alike.
Why is the product so successful? Partly ingredients and partly packaging. As a manufacture of fine foods, expect to find more foods labeled “calming” in the coming year. Consumers demand calming ingredients such as ashwagandha. And, ashwagandha has been shown to lower blood sugar levels (Healthline.com). Nowadays, consumers want to nourish their mind, body and soul. It’s essential to clearly identify the beneficial effects of your food, but, be sure that these effects are supported by the food and drug administration in your market; it’s not OK to market B12 (basically Cyanide) as beneficial.
Besides functional flavours, berries and mushrooms will become more describable, especially things like Lion’s Maine Mushroom and Maqui Berry. These flavours are novel to many consumers and they are looking for something new.
Implementation
At Avon Flavours, our experts will make a taste profile that contains functional flavours and exotic berries.
To do so, our team conducts multiple evaluations, sampling the taste-buds of locals and generating data on preference so that the taste profile perfectly fits the market you’re expanding into. Essentially, creating something multidisciplinary.
As for the long term, we have identified 4 key food components in successful products, foods that
a) comfort
b) encourage healthy eating
c) ritualize consumption (as in the Japanese Tea Ritual) and
d) offer proof through science
are becoming the norm, these are referred to as “interdisciplinary foods.” Interdisciplinary foods are those that hit two or more of these factors. If you can dream of a concept that’s both healthy and calming, for example, you will lead the market.
Keep in mind that over the coming years, “mindful and intuitive eating” will become part of your vocabulary. Ingredients will be used “to add an ‘in real life’ experience to virtual events (Global Food and Drink Trends Mintel)” such as gaming and live streaming.
As for healthy snacks, an emphasis on B6 (along with other mood altering/immunity boosting ingredient) will gain popularity. Many are now considering the mind as a factor of health and so foods that combine both nutrition and functional ingredients will be a craze.
Most interestingly, consumption as a ritual, something borrowed from the traditional cultures Japan and Korea will become an integral part of food and must be considered throughout manufacturing. It’s no long the 70’s, TV dinners are on their way out.
Conclusion
With Avon Flavours in your pocket, you can develop your own functional blend. In fact, calming ingredients can be added to porridge, desserts, yoghurt, or juice. They can be tailored to any taste profile even. Aside from calming, flavours should contain healthy ingredients and add something to the consumer’s life, for example, “in China, 77% of adults agree [that] having a sense of ritual in daily life helps lift mood. [And the] US premium chocolate brand Vosges offers five ‘Ritual’ sets that pair specific types of chocolate with crystals and herbs for ‘Joy,’ ‘Prosperity’ and more Global Food and Drink Trends Mintel).”