What stood out to our food and beverage analysts?

“Diet Food”: A Cringy Term, but Consumers Want Help Loosing Weight

https://www.fooddive.com/news/general-mills-weight-loss-foods-cheerios-oat-crunch-progresso-ratio-snacks/686315/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202023-07-11%20Food%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:52241%5D&utm_term=Food%20Dive
The term “diet” has really fallen out of favor, in light of the understanding of the toxicity of the “diet culture” of the 80s/90s.

I can appreciate how they note that consumers are more likely to follow principles (high protein, less processing, food that fuels, etc) than a definitive diet.

This tracks with what we see as a trend toward less restrictive eating and more flexible options, including the rise of flexitarians over hard-core vegetarian/vegan eating and food options that speak to health rather than playing into the old toxic diet culture.

Chocolate Prices: Still High… But We Need it!... With Peanut Butter?

https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/21/business/cocoa-prices-rising/index.html

People really like chocolate… it’s an accessible luxury, even in a time of economic uncertainty

I know I’m not giving up my chocolate! I’ll cut back on other things before I leave behind that melty goodness…

Like so many others, stress sends me looking for something soothing to snack. Chocolate hits that mark for me.

People are still reporting high stress levels on our survey… that’s good for chocolate sales, if nothing else.

I haven’t been much of a chocolate fan unless it’s with peanut butter. I saw this article earlier.

I’m an American and I LOVE peanut butter, so yeah. Accurate article!

Allergies are rising though – I’ve seen that concern on the survey. What does that do to prospects as this young generation grows? Will they still have that comfort attachment to peanut butter?

If efforts to treat allergies or ease more children into it at a younger age succeed, it will help.

Holdovers from COVID-era policies (special table cleaning, assigned seats, no food sharing, etc) in my daughter’s school have enabled them to allow peanut butter in lunchrooms without separating or endangering the kids with allergies. So maybe where there’s a will, there’s a new way?

Just don’t ask if someone’s household is a creamy or chunky family… that could cause a fight! :D

Licensing – Taking Brands to New Audiences

https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/109333-mentos-enters-soft-drink-category-in-europe?oly_enc_id=6777H3185745H5K

Candy becomes a beverage… beer becomes coffee… and beer becomes chocolate. Yum.

Licensing is all about taking the KNOWN and making it something NEW… all while hopefully bringing your existing customers with you.

Yeah, cross-branding can be effective because it associates two brand names together to enhance sales among the markets for either product.

I love Dolly Parton, and I know that Duncan Hines recently launched Dolly Parton baking mixes. I’ve been wanting to try them!

Celebrity and influencer collaborations seem to be very common nowadays with food brands. If you like the brand and the celebrity, you might want to buy them…

Even if you just like the celebrity, because they’re implicitly endorsing something and you want to try it!

Future-focused brands look beyond where they ARE to where they COULD be... licensing is a great way to get there without the major investment of an acquisition or a major factory investment or a full product launch

This tracks -- consumers are increasingly looking for unique flavors and flavor combinations. When two food or beverage brands with dissimilar products decide to collaborate to release a new product, they look to create a unique product that provides the best of both worlds.

I don’t know how I feel about Miller High Life with chocolate, but I guess beer chocolate could be good! Malt chocolates are a thing, after all.

Gen Z Food Preferences

https://www.wsj.com/articles/more-chicken-lighter-beer-pink-drinks-companies-craft-new-products-for-gen-z-tastes-88d96c7a?st=q2naw7dcquantrn&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Beers are lighter (less bitter, lower calorie, lower ABV), drinks are more colorful (especially pink), coffees are colder, sweeter, and less bitter, and chicken is the preferred protein (especially if it’s boneless)…

Looks to me like the takeaway is product introductions targeting this market should be fun and accessible.

Right! Gen Z is now one of the most important markets driving demand for new food and beverage products. More members of Gen Z are becoming adults and spending more of their own money on groceries.

Color is not only fun -- better pics for social posts -- but hints at health with the idea of "eating the rainbow"

... unless we're talking about Skittles and whatever "unicorn drink" is trending on TikTok!

For more information see our Food & Beverage studies.