NPD in action: Sugar reduction
Apr 2020Sugar reduction remains high on the agenda for brands and suppliers, with sugar-related claims witnessing an average annual growth of 19 percent in food and beverage products launched globally between 2015 and 2019. Substituting sugar with natural sweetening solutions are on trend – sweeteners like stevia, monk fruit and allulose are increasingly applied within new product formulations.
Bitty Cookieland Chocolate Vanilla Cookies with Chocolate Topping (Colombia). Vanilla cookies with chocolate topping in a 40 g plastic packet. Gluten-free. No sugar added, sweetened with stevia. Made with rice flour.
Mood ingredients
Aug 2022With the increase of people caring about the quality of food they consume, there has also been an increase of interest on how certain food makes people feel. Some nutrients provided by certain foods are not sufficiently produced by the human body and, therefore, we turn to other sources for them. Others, we might not consume enough of and obtain them from supplements and vitamins. Most of these foods will claim to help reduce stress, improve one’s sleep and boost their moods.
Brands are becoming more innovative when it comes to producing meat and dairy alternatives with plant-based claims. Consumers can choose from a bigger variety of plant-based options that uses innovation to closely replicate common meat and dairy products. Overall, the annual growth of meat and dairy launches with plant-based claims is 19% (CAGR, 2017-2021).
Fermented Foods
Jul 2022A continued rise in fermented food launches has been noted, with a growth of +21% (Global, CAGR 2017 – 2021). The process of fermentation acts to both boost a product’s shelf life and nutritional value, with probiotics highlighted as primary function for fermented foods. Consumers are taking steps to improve immunity by incorporating beneficial bacteria in the form of probiotics and fermented foods, as they believe a healthy digestive system can help boost the immune system.
Free-from trends
Jul 2022Consumers are ready to pay more for free-from food and beverages, as products free from allergies – such as gluten and lactose – are considered as major attribute of “clean” eating. “Palm oil-free” and vegan claims are fastest growing claims in recent product innovations. Such free-from claims are commonly found in product launches from bakery, snacks and dairy. Adding to that, health benefits like “fat-free”, “sugar-free” and “calorie-free” are also gaining importance.
Reduced Sodium Solutions
Jun 2022Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious about the kinds of ingredients they are consuming. Although the goal to reduce sodium intake becomes more important to consumers, it cannot be achieved through reducing table salt alone. Therefore, the food industry continues to launch cooking solutions that reduce the sodium content. Sauces and Seasonings are one of the fastest growing food categories between 2017 and 2021 globally.
Meal Occasions
Jun 2022With more people working from home and eating at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an evolution of the breakfast occasion. Breakfast products are becoming more snackable through new sizes, shapes and packaging. Convenient on-the-go formats and one-size portions allow a quick meal for one.