Last year saw several food industry trends emerge, from the rise of plant-based diets to increased sustainable initiatives highlighted by COP27 last November. So, what does the future have in store for the food and beverage industry in 2023?
In this blog post, we’ll be covering some of the top trends, from the up and coming technology in the food and beverage industry to what today’s consumers expect:
With climate change being a hotter topic than ever before, more consumers are striving to support businesses who adopt a sustainable mindset (and shunning those who don’t). In fact, recent research from WRAP found that over 60% of consumers think businesses should be trying to do more to help them reduce their impact on climate change.
A great example of a business incorporating better sustainable practices is Anchor, who create dairy products including milk and butter. In 2022, the company pledged to reduce plastic waste and have developed a 2-litre milk bottle made entirely from sustainably sourced sugarcane!
Supermarket giants Sainsbury’s are also reducing its plastic packaging, removing lids off items such as yoghurts, sour cream, and custard in 2023. In replacement, Sainsbury’s will offer its customers reusable lids which can be purchased for £1.25 across the UK.
From this switch alone, it’s forecasted that it’ll help save 71 million pieces of plastic each year, helping the supermarket achieve its goal of halving plastic in stores by 2025.
Additionally, larger investments into sustainable protein alternatives are being made. Projects to research cultivated meat and pea proteins have begun recently and the EU and national governments have reserved £406 million to invest in alternative protein research and regulation.
With these increased R&D activities, the protein options available to consumers are widening and could save significant amounts of carbon emissions, water and land space compared to conventional meat. Read more about alternative proteins in 2023 in our recent blog.
It’s been found that more than half of consumers are willing to pay more for their products if they’re sustainably sourced. By offering, shorter, clearer labels with full transparency about the origin of the ingredients and using biodegradable packaging, you’ll be able to gain new sales opportunities and increase your brand reputation.
Consumers are taking more care about what they put into their bodies and are now wanting foods that can deliver multiple things in one bite. Let’s take gut health, where throughout the course of 2022, gut health consciousness rose by 52%.
With this in mind, it’s no wonder that we’re seeing more of these products on supermarket shelves, including kefir, kombucha, and dairy-free yoghurt. Moving forward consumers don’t want food that just looks and tastes good. They’re also looking at the role particular food items play in promoting good health and wellbeing.
Additionally, we’ve seen changes in the past year as to how consumers want their food to be cooked. Waitrose in their annual food and drink report found that sales for air fryers were up by 56% on John Lewis compared to 2021. Air fryers are not only seen as cheap to run, but they also use less oil to cook, promoting better health and wellbeing.
KP Snacks have successfully adapted to this trend with its new Popchips brand, advertising them as a healthy, air popped alternative to normal crisps. So, if you’re looking to rejuvenate your sales and regain a competitive edge, consider if functional foods might be your way in.
The plant-based industry continues on an upward trajectory in 2023, with 4% of Brits taking part in this years Veganuary, celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over 6 million people in the UK have participated since Veganuary began in 2014 and nearly three quarters (71%) of adults have now heard of it.
Here are a few reasons why the growth of the plant-based market is likely to continue:
In our plant-based infographic, we dive deeper into the latest trends driving the plant-based industry, and how food manufacturers can become more resilient to overcome the several challenges facing the industry today. Download it below.
Amidst spiralling inflation rates, businesses across all industries are under increasing pressure to offer products that are both good quality and affordable. With two in five Britons struggling with their food budgets, this suggests that consumers will continue to seek ways they can minimise their spending on essentials. So, how you can you deal with the cost of living crisis? You should:
With over 60% of food and drink businesses being affected by increased energy costs, reducing waste can help you save on operating costs. For example, if you’re over or under ordering on particular ingredients, not only are you missing out on opportunities to optimise production processes, but you’ll also be wasting energy within your operations.
Technology such as automation, AI and machine learning can improve production efficiency and output. This allows you to better track ingredients across production lines so you can accurately predict when you need to reorder stock which, in turn, improves cost efficiency.
Additionally, we’re now seeing food businesses using innovative ways of disposing their food waste. With emerging apps such as TooGoodToGo, you can reduce your environmental impact and benefit your consumers by offering food which would’ve previously been wasted at a discounted rate.
You can find out more tips about reducing your food waste here.
The recent surge in demand for energy, labour and transport has placed significant pressures on just-in-time ordering, cross-border supply chains that keep factories open and shelves stocked. With supply chain problems set to continue, a key focus for food businesses will be tightening their operations.
Some ways you can do that include:
Find out more here.
From labour shortages, disrupted supply chains, and ongoing strikes in the food and beverage industry, automation should be a key priority to maintain consumer trust and avoid potential labour shortages.
Here are some ways that automation software can support your operations:
You can read more into the benefits of automation by clicking here.
Just make sure your team understands they’re not going to be replaced by robots or machines. In fact, these machines will handle the repeatable processes, improving quality, efficiency and freeing up more time for workers to focus on the more fulfilling tasks.
Want to find out more about what’s in store for the future of the food industry? Read our complete guide below.
Due to the heightened awareness around climate change and global warming, from goals set out by the UN to consumers becoming more climate-conscious, food manufacturers need to do more to reduce the emissions they produce.
For example, confectionary manufacturer Mars Wrigley has opened its first 100% renewable energy ice cream factory, which is expected to save up to 600 tonnes of CO2 a year, helping the company achieve its net zero emissions target for 2050. By using and investing in renewable energy for your operations, this can protect your brand reputation whilst simultaneously reducing costs in the long run.
Keeping up with trends is one thing but if you truly want to futureproof your operations, you need to be looking at innovative ways to make your products exciting, unique and enticing.
One of our customers Jacksons Bakery, the UK’s leading supplier of sandwich bread, were able to innovate their operations with new technology that modernised its core processes.
Read how Jacksons gained new efficiencies, from eliminating manual errors to increasing its agility, in the case study below.