F&B Trends and Challenges to Expect in 2022

For the vast history of the food and beverage (F&B) industry, changes have been few and slow, giving every F&B business enough time to adapt organically. However, the recent global pandemic and the resulting shifts in F&B consumer behaviors have changed all that.

Changes are rapid and extreme, and failure to adapt quickly has dire consequences.

Hence, we have come up with some F&B trends and challenges you can expect in 2022 to give you a head start.

F&B Trends and Challenges To Expect in 2022

Here are some of the most notable F&B trends and challenges to expect in 2022.

Consumer Indulgence

Indulgence rose at the beginning of the pandemic as more consumers reached for treats during lockdowns. Globally, over 80 percent of consumers have one snack for indulgence every day and another for nutrition.

Around 50 percent of those consumers opt for indulgent treats after lunch. More F&B consumers prefer their snack time or occasional indulgence over traditional meals, and this trend is growing everywhere as snacks become a daily thing.

This is a shift from the long-running health-focused diets that mostly condemn refined sugars and carbs. The pressures of the pandemic have made consumers realize that occasional or daily indulgence is fine with a balanced diet.

Many of such purchases are happening for products put in front of users through their social feeds, or discovery while shopping on online portals or quick delivery apps.

Home-Cooked Meals

The pandemic and lockdowns left a huge gap in the F&B industry where fine dining and well-cooked gourmet meals used to be. Consumers turned to their kitchens and started cooking themselves; many even learned basic or advanced cooking at home during this time.

Since lockdown and restrictions have been lifted, this trend remains as more consumers form the habit of home-cooked meals and meal plans. They appreciate the joy, convenience, and savings that come from such habits.

Fresh ingredients, heat-and-eat meals, and exotic foods are all on the rise. In contrast, restaurants face challenges, which they are overcoming through meal kits that allow recreating their meals at home.

For the manufacturers of kitchenware, cooking material, spices, herbs, cutlery everything is rising, the exploration and acceptance by the online users are very high for people who are discovering the joys of cooking & serving at home.

Higher Standards and Demands

F&B brands have faced incredible challenges since the pandemic, and they have had to adapt to quick changes throughout. An ongoing challenge has been the higher standards and demands of F&B consumers.

Things like safety and hygiene are no longer a selling point. They are a given. Moreover, consumers want more from their foods. They want purposeful and personalized nutrition. Healthy foods, beverages, and supplements that can boost consumer immunity, cognition, performance, mood, or sleep are trending.

Similarly, foods that can improve bodily functions, skin, and lifestyle aspects like sleep are in demand too. Other foods that reduce the risk of, prevent, or treat diseases are booming as well.

F&B brands have to focus on providing such healthy products with more information on what they can do for the health and bodies of consumers.For the manufacturers of kitchenware, cooking material, spices, herbs, cutlery everything is rising, the exploration and acceptance by the online users are very high for people who are discovering the joys of cooking & serving at home.

Conclusion

These are just a few notable F&B trends and challenges to expect in 2022, and there are plenty more you should prepare your F&B brand and business for. For now, you should focus on the mentioned ones as they are the most likely ones to impact F&B consumer behavior and your business.

They will help you stay ahead of the curve and not get overwhelmed by sharp shifts in the F&B market.

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