NEW YORK -- Datamonitor, a leading provider of online data, analytic and forecasting platforms, is forecasting ten major trends in food and beverage for next year, according to the American Wholesalers Marketers Association.
Those trends are:
1. Calorie-Burning Beverages
Health-conscious consumers continue to look for ways to cut calories. New beverages such as Celsius (billed as "Earth's first calorie-burning soda") and Enviga, from Coca-Cola and Nestle, have ingredients the companies say will [image-nocss] increase metabolism.
2. Satiety-Enhancing Foods and Drinks
In Europe, look for Danone Shape Lasting Satisfaction Yogurt. In the U.S., there's LightFull Satiety Smoothie. Both products promise to keep consumers from snacking their way to obesity.
3. Mobile Food
Frito-Lay is a leader with Doritos Action Cups promoting "on the go" enjoyment.
4. Local Sourcing of Ingredients
Farmers' markets have been exploding in numbers during the past decade, according to the USDA. Consumer talk about "Food Miles" reflects an interest in helping the environment by purchasing food that doesn't require transporting over long distances.
5. Healthy Kids' Food
In the United States, Fizzy Fruit Sparkling Fresh Grapes have added carbonation to grapes for a new snacking sensation.
6. Antioxidants
Not a new concept, but the awareness that antioxidants are present in dark chocolate really spurred the interest in 2006. Tea continues to work its way into food products such as T-Bar Green Tea Nutrition Bars. "Superfruits" like goji berries, acai and pomegranates, also high in antioxidants, are being promoted to the mainstream.
7. Immunity-Boosting Foods and Drinks
Probiotic foods that can help regulate digestive tract health, including cultured dairy drinks and yogurts, lead the way in this new category. Probiotic juices, snack bars and other foods will not be far behind. Kashi has launched Vive Probiotic Digestive Wellness Cereal.
8. Food and Drink for One
U.S. Census figures show that the average household has slipped to barely more than two persons. New marketing strategies are already catching up with Green Giant Just for One! Frozen Vegetables and Baker's Inn Short Loaf Sliced Bakery Bread.
9. "Smart" Products and Packages
Pfizer's new Listerine Agent Cool Blue Plaque-Detecting Rinse is an example of a new "smart" product. Special packaging to indicate freshness is fast approaching.
10. "Better for You" Beer
Stampede Light claims to be the "first-ever government-approved vitamin beer" because it is fortified with B-vitamins, folic acid and folate. Other new, fortified beverages are soon to follow.
Datamonitor is a provider of online data, analytic and forecasting platforms for key vertical sectors. The Datamonitor team includes 250 analysts and 100 professional researchers. They have offices in London, Frankfurt, New York, San Francisco, Tokyo and Sydney.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.