From health and wellness for people and their pets to environmental concerns, ADM‘s third annual outlook identifies eight global consumer trends that will serve as anchor points to inspire innovation in the F&B and pet food industries in 2023.
“Consumers prioritize what is most important to them, so they want nutrition brands to do the same”
Below are the eight global consumer trends that ADM’s research predicts will drive product and service innovation in the next year.
1. Expanded protein choices
More than half (52%) of global consumers now consider themselves flexitarians, incorporating animal and plant-based or other alternative proteins into their diets. Within that 52%, nearly two-thirds define their eating style as “trying to use more plant-based foods,” leading to more demand for expanded protein options.
As technology natives Gen Z and Gen Alpha grow up, acceptance of using scientific advancements to make our food will continue to become more commonplace. Practices like cellular agriculture, precision fermentation, hybrid products, and insect-based protein are likely to flourish.
2. Balanced wellness
Emotional, mental, physical, and even spiritual health are increasingly seen by consumers as being intertwined and equally important. Consumers are adopting a synergistic approach and making intentional and mindful choices about how they eat and spend their time, addressing energy levels, disease prevention, and overall mood and feeling.
Globally, 79% of consumers believe that supporting their mental health positively affects their overall health and wellness. 48% of global consumers plan to address their mental well-being over the next year, making the issue among their top concerns after immune function, digestive, and heart health.
3. Proactive personalization
What works for one person’s wellness may not be ideal for another’s. A “one size fits all” strategy for health and eating has fallen away in favor of tailored, “better for me” approaches. 63% of global consumers say they are interested in food and drink products customized to meet their nutritional needs.
On top of that, 55% of global consumers say they are willing to spend more on functional foods that can support their health goals. Additionally, these personalized solutions would ideally integrate into one’s lifestyle and take taste and cultural preferences into consideration.
4. Trust and traceability
From soil to table, consumers want to know where their food comes from, who made it, and precisely what ingredients are included. They want to know how the product was produced and if the conditions of its production were humane. Some headway has been made in garnering consumer trust, with research showing that 42% of global consumers have become more trusting of environmental claims made by products and brands in the last two years.
This need for transparency is borne not only from food safety concerns but also from a desire for connection with the food and the communities that grow or make it. As such, consumers are looking to support companies they perceive as honest and authentic, and that utilize technology like QR codes or blockchain to allow the traceability of products and ingredients to their origins.
5. Earth-friendly production
Globally, 49% of consumers claim to have changed their diet in the last two years to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. They also demand a higher standard from the companies they purchase from regarding their environmentally conscious practices.
Consumers are intensely focused on reducing their food waste, and they expect the same from the brands they support. They also want proof of environmental rebuilding and restoration.
6. Social impact
Using their voices and purchasing power, consumers demand that companies practice fair and humane treatment of the people and animals involved in every aspect of production. Almost 30% of global consumers have actively boycotted a product or brand because of its ethical credentials, and 40% seek out brands that guarantee farmers have been treated ethically.
Ensuring workers’ and farmers’ livelihoods, employing inclusivity and diversity methods throughout the organization, and keeping products affordable and accessible to the end user are all essential considerations for modern consumers when making purchasing decisions.
7. Modern pet parenting
For many, pets are family, and their nutritional and emotional needs are treated as on par with their owners’. Many owners desire pet food made from the same ingredients as their own. As consumers pay increased attention to the well-being of their pets, branded health ingredients are highly sought after by more than 60% of global cat and dog owners.
This increasing personification of pets leads to a holistic approach to pet care, with mental well-being, gut health, exercise, and diet considerations all being made in conjunction with one another.
8. Experiential eating
Increasingly, global consumers are getting more adventurous with their food, as 74% express a desire to try new flavors from around the world, and 63% report they like to be experimental when cooking. While seeking out new and interesting flavor profiles, eaters also want to engage with fun and playful brands as part of the experience.
If those brands can encourage participation through co-creation and virtual experiences, loyalty can be won with the sense of community it creates and the entertainment it provides.
Brad Schwan, vice president of marketing for ADM, said: “Often interconnected, these key themes are permeating throughout consumers’ choices, demands, and expectations of brands. The desire for a healthy mind, body and soul, as well as the global community and planet, manifest in proactive and decisive conscientious consumption across categories. Consumers prioritize what is most important to them, so they want nutrition brands to do the same. Companies that can nimbly evolve alongside consumers are poised for success in the coming year and beyond.”