ALEXANDRIA, VA — In an increasingly unpredictable global economy, it’s hard to know what’s coming next as far as food trends. But Puratos, an international group that offers a range of food ingredients and services for sectors including bakery and patisserie, has a few ideas on where food trends are going.
The American Bakers Association (ABA) hosted a member webinar called “Taste Tomorrow- Innovation Driven By Insights” presented by Puratos focused on the consumer trends noted in the newest Taste Tomorrow survey. Christina Donnelly, director of industry relations and strategic initiatives for ABA, moderated the presentation led by two panelists from Puratos: Sloan Bennett, senior channel marketing manager of large accounts, and Margaret Schneider, associate manager of insights and training.
Taste Tomorrow is the international food group’s proprietary research program, providing insights on global and domestic consumer behaviors, attitudes and choices. Through continuous monitoring and its surveys, conducted every three to four years and issued to more than 17,000 consumers in 40 countries, Puratos was able to share its findings on COVID’s impact on consumer shopping behavior, what consumers expect in a physical and digital shopping experience, and additional information on how baked goods manufacturers can meet consumer needs regarding holistic health.
The research program’s surveys compared consumer behavior and perspective prior to the pandemic in 2018 and during it in 2021. From these findings, Bennett and Schneider revealed rising consumer purchasing trends through the “Ultimate Convenience and Next-Level Experiences” section. Here, the pair from Puratos revealed the significant increase in online grocery shopping, the power social media has in reaching consumers, the evolution of foodservice on the home front and more.
“Taste, Freshness and Craft” insights homed in on consumers’ evolving taste and how what they value shifts depending on the category. Notes on the rise in nostalgia, the impact of appearance and aroma, and significance of hygiene provided webinar attendees an opportunity to understand how consumers have shifted their values since 2018.
The third segment centered on health-focused goods and how consumers’ habits reflect their perceptions of what healthy food looks like. From the top nutritional information sought by consumers to the idea that the role of food extends past nutrition and more, duo revealed additional information regarding trends, the power of plant-based goods and how consumers continue to evolve in this space.
The recording of the webinar will be available on the ABA’s On-Demand Portal.