Businesses are always tasked with staying on top of trends within their industry. Especially with the challenges companies have faced over the past year, businesses must focus now, more than ever, on which trends will be replaced by new concerns and which will continue to grow in the upcoming year. Below we will take a look at what will most likely remain high priority to shoppers in 2021, specifically for the food and beverage industry.
First of all, meal kits and delivery service options will continue to grow. While meal kits are not new, having more time at home to cook will increase the demand for a variety of simple meal solutions. Going one step further, because consumers have easier access to food via pick-up and delivery, shoppers will continue to look for added benefits within those channels. For example, since there are a wide variety of diets and nutritional restrictions, customers will start to look for personalized experiences and options to fit their unique lifestyle.
Another trend to watch is the increased interest in immune boosting products or healthier alternatives. It’s no surprise that the global pandemic has created anxiety among consumers which pushed most to look for products to boost their immune system. In fact, one in three shoppers say that concerns about their immune health have increased from the previous year. Likewise, overall health will become a larger focus. As the year continues, more and more consumers will read the ingredients and benefits of the products they are consuming, making most decisions based off of those details alone.
Transparency is the final trend that will extend throughout 2021. With heightened tensions, consumers are looking for continued honesty about a product or brand. The more that businesses are open and honest with shoppers, the more they will earn trust and loyal business. In fact, according to Neilsen, 73% of consumers globally agree that they feel more positively about companies that are transparent about where and how products were made, raised or grown.
These are just a few trends that will likely continue throughout 2021. If you are still trying to decide which strategy is best for your business, call us today and let us help you plan your next steps!
