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2021 Food & Beverage Trend Outlook
CSSI Staff Post – December 15th, 2020
Pre-pandemic, the demand for health-forward food and beverages was at an all-time high. But when crisis and uncertainty hits, consumers tend to hunker down and look to comforting foods for a sense of familiarity - at the onset of the pandemic, half of consumers were craving more comfort foods (Technomic, Ignite Menu Concept Development Survey, May 11, 2020).
As we look to a post-pandemic world, 72% of consumers say the bit of indulgence that they’ve developed during the pandemic will likely be a part of their daily routine in the future (QSR Magazine, 8 Fast-Food Trends to Watch After the Pandemic, November 2020). Rather than a return to the pre-COVID enthusiasm for excessively healthy options, there is a yearning for a more balanced approach to health. One that’s no longer “all or nothing”, encompassing body and mind, a result of the social isolation experienced this year and rising attention to mental health.
Here’s a look at what that means for food and beverage trends in 2021:
• Fixation on Functionality: In 2020, all eyes were on immunity-boosting ingredients with consumers recognizing the importance of supporting their personal health daily. As consumers have gotten more knowledgeable about functional ingredients, there will be a continued desire for added benefits in food and beverages, especially gut health, relaxation, mental acuity and natural energy.
• Common Good: Consumers want their food and beverage to not only be good for them, but to also be good for society and the environment, like supporting local farmers and reducing greenhouse emissions.
• Rise of Reducetarians: The plant-based trend will continue, but almost 90% of consumers who eat plant-based products don’t identify as vegetarian or vegan (NPD Group). Instead, people are moving to a “reducetarian” lifestyle - eating less meat, seafood, dairy and eggs. Offering plant-based options gives consumers the choices they’re looking for.
Overall, consumers are looking to enjoy food and beverage without guilt and are personalizing what health looks like to them. Consumers want to see an increase in the healthfulness of food & beverages without sacrificing the indulgence, comfort or appeal – shifting from “better-for-you” to “what fits-for-me”.
What this means is that agility is the name of the game, with innovation happening more quickly than ever before. As an integrated foodservice agency, CSSI provides an industry-leading combination of strategy, culinary expertise and marketing communications that fuels foodservice partners’ pipelines and growth. We use a proprietary process that stokes creativity, teamwork and invention to help you safely and effectively share the best solutions—right now and in the future.
Amanda Izquierdo
Account Planner
March 1st, 2023 We’re thrilled to introduce the newest addition to our culinary family: Chef Steve Madonna. Formally trained in both Italy and the United States, as well as having worked for Wolfgang Puck, Chef Steve brings an extensive set of connections and culinary knowledge to our already stacked chef roster. Featured in this month’s issue is one of Chef Steve’s favorite recipes for making memories at home with your loved ones.
October 19, 2022 Pumpkin pie is a nostalgic menu item and my personal favorite when it comes to fall and winter menus, as it goes hand in hand with a traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas feast. We elevate the nostalgia by turning this must-have holiday dish into a clarified cocktail that leaves your taste buds as curious as your eyes. We get adventurous as we replace expected visual elements with an ice-cold glass of clarified liquors infused with pumpkin pie. This cocktail defies all visual expectations, while leaving your sense of smell and taste immersed in a seasonally nostalgic experience.
October 19, 2022 Canada is well known for many things. Hockey, snow, maple syrup, and a few other stereotypical but somewhat accurate concepts may immediately come to mind. What you may not know, though, is how invested we are in the snacks that we consume. Compared to the U.S., sure, we are no match for the quantity and variety offered in the land of the free, home of the snacks. However, what we know in our hearts is that Canada has a long-standing, tried-and-true, flawed, yet beloved top-notch snack game. I’m talking about comfort foods that have become so integrated and so established that they are classified as cult-favourites—and no, I did not spell favourites incorrectly. You are about to see a lot more of the letter “U” in this article. Sorry! The great Canadian snack game is easy enough to understand. You think of a flavour and either slap it on a potato or pair it with chocolate. Snacking has always been a huge part of Canadian food culture, but it is only going up from here. To put it lightly, the past few years have been tough on everyone around the world, and Canadians have chosen to increase their spending on snacks by 67% as an indulgence or, personally, as a coping mechanism. In no way, shape, or form am I claiming to be a culinary expert somehow employed in the field of Finance, but I have eaten a lot in my life and right now, I’m the best and/or only Canadian guide you’ve got. Let’s get into the details:
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