CentralAmericaData – Personalized food, health and well-being, sustainability, zero waste and taste and indulgence are the five macro trends that impact the food sector in this new commercial reality.
The pandemic resulting from the outbreak of covid-19 has essentially served as a driving force behind most of the trends that had been developing before the crisis, only slowing down those linked to sensory experiences, concerns about the use of plastic in packaging and preferences for imported options, since the context has stimulated the consumption of brands and alternatives of local origin, according to an analysis by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer).
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The context of health crisis and change in consumption habits has not reinvented new trends from scratch, but has altered habits and the spending hierarchy to the point that it has positioned the relevance of some trends that had already come before, such as concerns focused on health (from nutrition to immune welfare), sustainability (packaging, food waste), technology transversal to the industry and consumer, and the role of functional foods as value generators, the document highlights.
The analysis notes that “… older and younger consumers increasingly define the occasions for eating. Brands target these segments in the search for more atomized portfolios. These groups have unique nutritional needs and must be met“.
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According to the analysis, there is a greater need to balance health and indulgence, this is changing the nature of indulgence as people are increasingly rewarded with better-for-you or premium products in smaller presentations.
Another trend is that there is greater concern about the future of the planet, forcing a change in perspective about food, as consumers increasingly buy with purpose, as they question the environmental impact of eating. They also demand more transparency about the origin of their food.
“Fighting against food waste by ensuring that everything produced is consumed or used“, and basing production on “efficient processes that ensure that everything reaches the consumer and is then used before it goes bad“, are some important aspects in this new commercial reality.
Download the study “Trends and Innovations in the Food Industry 2020“.
