2019 in review: The top 20 stories

Cultured meat, plant-based innovation and alternative proteins were major themes running throughout 2019. Global consumers are increasingly aware of both the health and environmental impacts of the food and beverages they consume. Plant-based innovation has seen an abundance over the year, as industry giants such as Nestlé and Givaudan, alongside smaller start-up businesses, have concentrated their R&D efforts and NPD on expanding their offerings of meat alternatives. As such, food technology has been exploring new alternative sources of protein – found in unexpected places such as outer space, volcanic microbes and in the air we breathe – as well as unlocking the potential of natural biomasses that are traditionally discarded. 

Other key themes include the ever-evolving clean label which now encapsulates sustainability, while manufacturers continue on the sugar reduction journey. 

Innova Market Insights’ Top Trend for 2019, “Discovery: Catering to “The Adventurous Consumer,” was also apparent throughout 2019 as global manufacturers and brands specifically targeted consumers set on new discoveries with bolder flavors and multisensory food experiences. There has also been sharpened focus on a heightened sensory delivery over this past year.