Top 10 Best Food and Beverage News & Trends in 2022

Unfortunately, predicting trends and responding to them can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. Well, our team can definitely assist you. The top 10 best food and beverage news & trends will be covered in this article. Even though it doesn’t include all of CPG, this sector makes up a major percentage of it.

Which Trends are Most Prevalent in Food and Drinks?

We’ll see that people are growing more knowledgeable about the processes involved in producing their food. The days of ignoring labels and scrutinizing the production and manufacturing procedures are long gone. People are concerned about natural ingredients, environmental friendliness, and sustainability.

Let our team assist you with that! These Top 10 Best Food and Beverage News & Trends in 2022 will now be carefully reviewed, one by one:

TOP 10: Desserts That Emphasize Health

With the rise of keto-friendly cake kits on the market, Andrew Pingul notes that “healthier” indulgence is a current trend that stands out. According to Innova Market Insights, 38% of customers increased their intake of cakes with ingredients designed to provide benefits.

Food makers have started adding ingredients that they say give their products potential health benefits. It is noted that “we’re seeing a lot more antioxidants being added to foods like candy bars, granola bars” and that chocolate, coffee, and spices may have some benefits.

TOP 9: Proliferation of Coffee Alternatives

According to a National Coffee Association poll, 58% of Americans routinely consume coffee, whether they prefer black coffee, espresso drinks, or other coffee beverages. “In keeping with the idea of healthy living, individuals want to drink less coffee. So, they’re either cutting back on it or doing away with it totally,” Smith-Lee says of the trend.

Although famous drinks like matcha and kombucha are examples of caffeine alternatives, the use of newer alternatives like golden milk and coffee fruit beverages is growing. The Warm Sedona Sunset combination is the ideal companion to Golden Milk, a hot turmeric milk made from plants or animals.

TOP 8: Packaged Cocktails

There is nothing not to love about the high-quality pre-batched bottled drinks currently available on the market: they are practical, economical, and delicious. Pre-mixed cocktails have lost their less-than-stellar reputation as specialty drink sector brands reinvent the category to ride the tide of premiumization in drinks.

This is whether they are marketed in ready-to-drink cans or in bigger bottles that consumers can return to for an evening tipple. According to Waitrose, pre-batched bottled drinks are one of the top upcoming food and beverage trends.

TOP 7: Sustainability

Customers want to know that the things they buy are environmentally friendly because climate change is hanging over us. Products manufactured from recycled or repurposed materials are more valuable than single-use items. Plant-based polymers are also gaining popularity since they degrade considerably more quickly than ones derived from petroleum.

TOP 6: Diet Devoid of Casein

Over 30 million Americans have lactose intolerance, and many experience adverse reactions when consuming dairy products. Dairy contains a protein called casein, which might cause an allergic reaction. As a result, some customers must avoid it at all costs. “Natural” items have grown rapidly, but we are also moving toward specific diet offers.

It’s important to keep in mind that casein-free does not equate to dairy-free. Customers must know that a casein-free product may include other dairy ingredients like lactose. In general, casein-free does not imply the absence of dairy, even though dairy-free indicates no casein exists.

TOP 5: Non-Alcoholic Beverages

The market for alcoholic beverages has grown by 6% because of rising alcohol usage in recent years. But this increased indulgence has resulted in a degree of overcorrection. Sober October and Dry January are currently popular fads.

The number of sober-curious Americans has increased from 20% to 34%, creating a sizable market for eateries serving nonalcoholic beverages. Sober and sober-curious diners can have a drink without feeling left out by adding alcohol-free beverages like mocktails and nonalcoholic beer.

TOP 4: Ghost Kitchens

Ghost kitchens, one of the newest ideas in the restaurant business, is a rapidly expanding trend that some believe will reach a trillion-dollar market by 2023. The overhead related to eating areas, wait staff, parking, and other customer-facing requirements connected with restaurants are eliminated with a ghost kitchen business model because it is entirely virtual.

Instead, they use the $150 billion food delivery market to their advantage and deliver meals right to customers’ doors. One of their main benefits is building ghost kitchens in just six weeks at a small cost.

TOP 3: Transparency

Like responsible sourcing, customers are interested in the moral standing of the goods they buy and consume. A demand for transparency regarding the manufacture and supply chain for such products plays a role in this. Your restaurant will stand out from the competition if you provide this level of transparency.

The existence of genetically modified organisms is a frequently requested piece of information (GMOs). You could encourage repeat business from conscientious clients by letting them know which menu items are non-GMO by providing them with the information. Such openness is straightforward and frequently noticed.

You should ensure that your menu is as transparent as possible and that your suppliers are transparent before you start menu engineering. Many CPG producers utilize QR codes to convey details about items. You may not only develop a more thoughtful menu by dealing with transparent suppliers, but you can also assist in addressing the queries of your clients.

TOP 2: Homemade Convenience

We all have access to the world’s collective knowledge today. This indicates that more people are stepping outside of their comfort zones while remaining at home. Consumers want to prepare better meals in their kitchens, as evidenced by the growth of home-delivery meal kits like Hello Fresh and Home Chef. However, since the average person lacks training, they require assistance to prevent them from contaminating their food.

Making it simpler for customers enables you to satisfy the demand for convenience even if you are not in the meal kit market. Pre-made or simple-to-make meals are far more appealing, particularly for people holding numerous jobs. Combining convenience with other factors like sustainability and natural ingredients is key.

TOP 1: Plant-Based Foods

Vegetarianism and veganism appear to have taken over the world if you follow trendy social media pages. After around 30 seconds of scrolling, a recipe or picture of a plant-based cuisine will appear. It appears that many consumers desire to include vegetarian and vegan foods in their diets without making a complete lifestyle change. Therefore, even though the number of vegans isn’t rising, there is a growing need for plant-based foods.

The demand for plant-based products rose 12% between 2020 and 2021, according to NielsenIQ. Similarly, meat substitute sales increased by 11%. Examples include meatless “meats,” vegan cheese, and substitute milk products. People are utilizing cauliflower instead of other ingredients, from pizza crusts to mashed potato substitutes.

What are the Latest Food and Beverage Trends in 2022?

The holidays are here, so you must start planning your shopping list. We’ve also made it easy for you by rounding up the top 10 food and beverage news & trends you shouldn’t miss in 2022 worldwide:

1. Plant-Based Foods
2. Homemade Convenience
3. Transparency
4. Ghost Kitchens
5. Non-Alcoholic Beverages
6. Diet Devoid of Casein
7. Sustainability
8. Packaged Cocktails
9. Proliferation of Coffee Alternatives
10. Desserts that Emphasize Health

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