This annual report combines leading industry research findings with the latest data from T. Hasegawa’s product development and marketing teams to analyze what consumers are looking for in food and beverage categories and predict upcoming trends through next year.

"Exploding energy costs, crop failures, and supply chain disruption are all forcing companies to future-proof existing business models or bear uncertainty and increased cost implications," says Regan Leggett, foresight leader, NielsenIQ. 

Insights from a two-and-a-half-year series of consumer sentiment tracking surveys by Rich Products (Rich’s) chart a clear course for retailers to capitalize on this momentum through more healthy options among their fresh bakery offerings, greater variety, and smaller, more affordable portion sizes. 

Spending on groceries and away-from-home food is up. Inflation plays a role here but spending choices indicate consumers are returning to restaurants and buying freshly prepared foods.

Even well funded players are suffering. Planterra Foods who launched the OZO brand a few years ago just announced it is being shut down by its parent company Brazilian-based JBS. Maple Leaf Foods, who owns Lightlife and Field Roast plant-based brands, is reallocating resources back to conventional meat amid declining sales.

Expect immunity to be a long-term topic and trend, as people of all ages are mindful of shoring up physical and mental health.

Leading innovation agency Sterling-Rice Group named Daniel Carpenter to the newly-created position of managing director – culinary at the fast-growing agency. Carpenter is joining SRG from Nextbite, a national virtual kitchen company where he served as vice president – culinary. 

Amidst turbulent economic conditions amplified by the pandemic, supply chain issues, and inflation, new data released today by the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), The Good Food Institute (GFI), and SPINS, shows US retail sales of plant-based foods grew 6.2% in 2021 over a record year of growth in 2020, bringing the total plant-based market value to an all-time high of $7.4 billion.

 Datassential research shows that more than half of all consumers consider the flavor of a dessert as one of their top three factors when ordering a dessert away from home. 

Consumers will look for products that help them feel like better parents, successful entertainers, more relaxed “go-getters,” or the best of whatever they want to be.