SENA is the premier seafood buying event in North America with over 1,300 seafood vendors vying for the attention of the nearly 26,000 seafood product and services buyers from leading retail, restaurants, foodservice and processing channels seeking innovative new products. Overlying themes of innovation observed at the show focused on sustainability, convenience, authenticity, and health benefits. 

NEXTY winners are determined in a two-round judging process that is completed in the Boulder-based New Hope Network office in the weeks prior to Expo West & Engredea. All nominated products are considered and judges give a special nod to those that display the qualities of Innovation, Inspiration and Integrity.

Compiling findings from more than 1,500 consumer responses, as well as menu and industry data from the Ignite database, the comprehensive 2018 Snacking Occasion Consumer Trend Report serves as a guide for foodservice operators and suppliers to help them understand consumer usage and attitudes toward snacking and to identify key areas of opportunity.

While taste tops the list of reasons to eat plant-based proteins, perceived health benefits are on consumers’ minds as nearly half (46%) of Americans agree that plant-based proteins are better for you than animal-based options, and three quarters (76%) say plant-based foods are healthy. Whether a desire to avoid processed foods (39%), manage weight (31%) or promote muscle growth (16%), many plant-based protein consumers are motivated by maintaining or improving their health and well-being.

With Meatless Mondays catching fire and a general trend toward consuming less animal protein, manufacturers are relying on versatile, satisfying and familiar foods to take the place of meat as the hero ingredient. Enter potatoes, which deliver on customer satisfaction and lend themselves to a myriad of preparations.

Gen Zs, like the Millennials, prefer food and beverages with transparent labeling and an absence of artificial ingredients; skeptical of big brands and too many label claims, finds the NPD report, which takes a holistic look at the attitudes, behaviors, and voices of Gen Zs.  

Market growth in 2016 marked an annual rate of more than 2% during the preceding five years. Comparable—if not slightly lower—sales growth is anticipated year-over-year through 2021 despite challenges to the industry due to the widespread shift toward healthier living.

The 2016 Foodmix Marketing Communications Brand Love Attributes and Usage Study uncovered the extent to which consumers love food brands, the feelings and emotions that drive brand love, and the ways in which brand love impacts consumers’ marketplace behaviors.

In Organic and Clean Label Food Consumer in the US, Packaged Facts’ 2017 National Consumer Survey reveals that more than half of Hispanics mainly buy natural/organic when grocery shopping. While just over 60% are buying more natural/organic foods than ever.

Here, we’ve collected a sample of recent reports and surveys that offer some degree of insight into specific industry segments, and could potentially provide direction and inspiration as you move through stages of product development.