Consumer Insights

Consumer interest in plant-focused products and diets is high—whether it’s for one meal, one month or frames a long-term approach to eating. 

Given the mounting problems facing the planet and its global citizens, it comes as no surprise that consumer sentiment for real change has significantly increased.

Ice cream consumers are gravitating toward offerings that focus on indulgence, unusual flavors and vegan ingredients.

Desserts are eaten more than consumers admit, and they’re gravitating toward global, vegan options.

Many Americans are laying off the alcohol and favoring more functional beverages.

What sustainable trends are coming to the forefront of mainstream consumers’ behaviors that will impact your business?

The ready-to-drink hard seltzer and cocktail market appeals to consumers’ desire for convenience and portability.

There were few bright spots for the restaurant industry in 2020, but pizza was one of them.

The social media platform has produced a new way for online creators to share food and beverage trends -- and brands -- that can become popular almost instantaneously.

We are living through an unprecedented time in which the pandemic has accelerated, altered or accentuated trends in many spheres of food and beverage culture.

In a time when food and beverage consumers valued essential products, healthy eating, convenience and home-cooked meals, the indoor gardening market was poised for significant growth.

Innovative food companies and delivery platforms took lead roles in the pandemic.

Several long-term shifts have been reshaping the American health and wellness landscape over the past two decades.

There were few bright spots for restaurants in 2020. The subscription model was one of them.

From plant-based to animal-free dairy, substitutes to traditional milk, ice cream and other dairy products have soared in popularity and are expected to continue to grow in the future.

Consumer priorities in food and beverages have shifted toward finding items that signal increased personalization to health and wellness needs and goals.

With demand for convenient and contactless food delivery options on the rise, autonomous delivery vehicles have the potential to be a game-changer for foodservice and food retail.

The pandemic emerged to disrupt consumers’ food and beverage purchase and consumption routines and significantly alter the current nature of snacking in America.

Vitamin and supplement sales have been on the rise since the pandemic started. Will the category momentum continue?

The pandemic-era surge in online shopping has also fueled growth of subscription services offering safe regular deliveries.

Despite indulging more in restaurant takeout, delivery and home-shipped meal kits during the pandemic, consumers are more focused than ever on reducing waste and their impact on the environment.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues into 2021, consumers are looking for food and beverage options that meet varying experiences.

Plant-based products are continuing to grow in popularity, both at restaurants and food retail, and certain product categories have emerged as consumer favorites in each channel. 

Veganuary's growing popularity among consumers has spurred plant-based brands to participate in the 31-day vegan challenge.

What does convenience look like when a global pandemic throws normal schedules and routines into disarray?

Looking ahead to 2021, many of the food trends predicted by chefs, retail executives and other experts reflect the changing way consumers eat both at and away from home. 

Here are 10 trends to know – 3 macro trends and 7 flavor and ingredient trends – that you should consider as you think about your 2021 plans.

As COVID-19 radically altered any semblance of a “normal way of life,” America’s food stores stepped up to provide essential services and, in the process, became consumers’ trusted allies in their struggles to cope with the new realities of the pandemic.

Many of the habits developed this year will continue into the year ahead, while new trends will pop up as consumers get back to normal.