News and Trends

Source: The Bakehouse at Ashburnham Place A flute, an ale-infused loaf, a semolina loaf, and a range of sliced half-bloomers are among the new sourdough products launched by bakers to coincide with Sourdough September. The annual event organised by the Real Bread Campaign is now in its 10 th  year. It is a month-long celebration aimed at promoting the baking and buying of genuine sourdough bread made without the use of baker’s yeast, chemical raising agents, so-called processing aids, or other additives. Here, we cut through the crust of the NPD quartet: Source: Bertinet Bakery Sourdough Half-Bloomers, Bertinet Bakery Bertinet’s three new sourdough loaves made with heritage grains and regeneratively farmed wheat have just hit the shelves of 97 Waitrose stores nationwide after first being stocked at Ocado. The range includes a Seven Seeds and Grains loaf, which features a blend of seven toasted seeds and wholemeal flours for a nutty, earthy flavour; a Potato, Polenta & Onion loa...

Recent findings from a Holland & Barrett report have unveiled a startling statistic: 58% of people in the UK have experienced gut health problems, with nearly half of them enduring chronic issues. The importance of a healthy gut transcends mere digestion; it significantly impacts overall physical well-being, immunity, the risk of chronic conditions, and even mental health. Surprisingly, 63% of health-conscious individuals prioritize foods and drinks that promote gut health, with a particularly keen interest shown by the younger demographic, aged 16 to 44. Sourdough, hailed for its nutritional virtues, is making waves in the health-conscious community. Beyond being a delightful indulgence for the taste buds, it emerges as a powerhouse of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Furthermore, it plays a pivotal role in regulating blood sugar levels and acts as a prebiotic, nourishing the beneficial gut bacteria essential for a robust and stable digestive system. This surge in interest ha...

  Last summer, M&S released a series of videos highlighting the production and provenance of its Collection Sourdough range, which is produced by Wrexham-based Jones Village Bakery. That M&S felt its shoppers would be interested in such level of detail shows just how important sourdough has become to Britain’s supermarkets. While interest in sourdough has been growing for years, driven by local artisan bakeries and the food pages of Sunday newspapers supplements, the pandemic brought an explosion in demand. “During lockdown, people had the time to craft their own sourdough, nurture their own starters and develop a taste for real sourdough,” says Cristian Buluggiu, head of grocery at Gail’s and Bertinet Bakery owner Bread Holdings. “Once normality kicked back in, people haven’t had the time to make their own but their appreciation for the flavour, health benefit and wholesome nature of sourdough carried over.” The majority of sourdough breads found on supermarket shelves are...

  Grocery price inflation has dropped to its lowest level in over 12 months at 12.2% for the four weeks to 3 September 2023, according to our latest data. Take-home sales from the grocers rose by 7.4% compared with the same period in 2022, a slight increase on the 6.5% growth reported last month.    Grocery price inflation is down for the sixth month in a row but 12.2% won’t be a number to celebrate for many households. Our data shows that 95% of consumers are still worried about the impact of rising grocery prices, matched only by their concern about energy bills.* After a full year of double digit grocery inflation, it’s no surprise that just under a quarter of the population consider themselves to be struggling financially – although this is a very slight drop compared to May. Discounter growth slows, but still leading the field The discount retailers have benefited from the inflationary context with knock-on effects for British shopping habits more generally. We’re no...

Unpuzzle Health, one of Innova’s top 10 trends for 2023, considers consumer trends by highlighting consumers’ demand to make eating well easy and the growing importance of communication and certification to support consumers’ health strategies. Two in five consumers prioritize health-positive food and beverage choices as part of their strategy for staying healthy, while the same number aims for a balanced diet. Health benefits rank first for consumers when asked what they think the focus of new food and beverage development should be.    Certifications to Improve Trust   Consumers are increasingly attentive to on-pack messaging, with nearly two-thirds claiming they always read health claims and labels. Yet only one in four consumers completely trust on-pack health claims, and two in three express partial trust. To improve trust, certification from recognized health bodies and better government regulation is needed.    The Importance of Health Labeling   Cla...

 

  Our latest menuwatching report - those that collate the latest trends on what's happening across food and beverage menus in various sectors, takes a deep dive into hotels. There are lots of exciting things happening in the world of hotels across food, drink, sustainability, experiences and more. One exciting development is we've seen hotels turning to AI and technology to improve efficiency and to replace hard to come by staff. The industry is expected to show annual growth of 1.59%, with projected market volume of $22b by 2027 (Statistica) and thankfully visitor numbers are on the up in the UK from post-COVID levels. We deep dive into all the trends in our Hotels 2023 report, and our three key takeouts are below: 1. Stay Green.  Continuing from last year, even more consumers are looking for more environmentally friendly holidays, and hotels are responding favourably. New build hotels are built in sustainable ways, using recycled and reclaimed materials, and creating green s...

  Our Plant Based 2023 report is live on TrendHub, and things are exciting as ever in the fast paced world of plant based innovation… New staples, hero vegetables, global inspiration, flavour twists, tech advancements for plant based alts and much more! The plant-based movement has continued to mature since our last report in 2021, as consumer behaviour, preferences and tastes evolve. Formats, ingredients and cuisine inspiration continue to rely on super popular and forever favourite forms, while the rise of technology and scientific advancements has led to many interesting developments in the alternative animal product space. Here are our three key takeouts for Plant-Based 2023: 1. Veg Celebration –  As many look to reduce their consumption of 'ultra-processed' foods, they look instead to celebrate vegetables in all their natural glory. Minimal intervention comes to mind as veggies take centre stage, whether elevating humble veg (e.g. whole roasted broccoli with home-made rom...

 Namnews,  11th September 2023 The supermarket channel faces tough market conditions over the  next five years . The cost of living crisis has seen shoppers turn to the discounters as they seek to stretch household budgets. Although food inflation has started to come down, it is expected to remain above recent historical levels into the first half of 2024. The discount and convenience channels will see their store footprints noticeably expand over the coming years as retailers work towards ambitious store opening targets. This increased competition for shoppers is expected to reduce footfall into supermarkets. Household incomes are expected to return to pre-cost of living levels by the end of 2026. By this time, retailers will have also improved their online logistic capabilities and honed their quick commerce offerings, leading to higher online shopper numbers. Morrisons is combating these challenges by collaborating with online partners such as Amazon and Ocado. Priorit...

Source:  WGSN Snacking opportunities are bigger than ever as consumers seek comfort, health, convenience and status boosts. We forecast the key trends and product development opportunities across the snacking category, with a focus on flavour, ingredients and packaging.  Hype treats Snacks are emerging as status symbols, with innovator brands building buzz via limited-edition drops and products that target lifestyle-driven communities and subcultures. From It-desserts to must-have crisp collabs, snacks are emerging as edible accessories with cool currency. Innovators are collaborating with brands or creators that align with consumers’  personal values , identities and lifestyles to create snacks that tap into niche communities or nod to in-group knowledge. Secondhand fashion platform Depop collaborated with Pop-Tarts on user-curated collections based on Pop-Tarts flavours, which were then sold as a limited-edition assortment box; while Pringles released LTO Minecraft-ins...