A desire for craft offerings, ‘better for you ingredients’ and hot and spicy are among the trends Canadean predicts will be big in 2015.
Canadean top trends for 2015:
From mass-produced to personalised
Canadean predicts that the desire for craft offerings will become increasingly influential. Consumers want their products to be produced and manufactured on a smaller scale to ensure quality and to feel a closer connection to the brands they choose. Canadean predicts that brands will encourage sales among a growing number of consumers who want to move away from mass-produced items across the FMCG market by emphasising the exclusivity of a product and the care with which it was formulated.
‘Better-for-you’ ingredients
According to Canadean, consumers will be increasingly concerned about unhealthy ingredients such as sugar. In the UK, 2014 saw the introduction of stevia into many popular products including Coca-Cola Life, which is set to reach Australia in 2015. Over the coming year, a greater number of ‘better-for-you’ offerings will emerge with healthier and more natural alternatives. One of the main challenges will be to overcome the negative taste perceptions of these new products through innovation and reformulation as consumers still put indulgence first.
All things hot and spicy
The growing desire for hotter and spicier food is set to continue in 2015, as manufacturers will replicate popular heat trends from the catering industry to satisfy growing consumer needs. Brands will innovate in formulation by including spicier ingredients in meat, dairy, and snacks, as products infused with chillies become more popular. After the Indian and Mexican food trend, Canadean suggests that manufacturers should prepare for the next emerging spice cuisines from across South-East Asia and the Middle East.
Mix-and-match your favourite flavours
Canadean predicts that consumers will look for new and exciting products which mix their favourite foods and flavours together. Fusion products such as amaretto cider and chocolate flavoured wine will become even more popular. The increase in demand for these experiential offerings means manufacturers must continue to innovate with ingredients and positioning to encourage sales among consumers who want more than just traditional products.
Packaging drives sensory experience
The large number of products available on supermarket shelves means that many brands are in danger of fading into the background. Innovative packaging that draws consumer attention will be vital for retaining market share and for brands attempting to enter the market. The use of haptics – including tactile packs, bright colours and reflective surfaces – will help to enhance the sensory experience, while matt finishing and the feel of a product can denote quality and superiority, encouraging trading-up and higher levels of spending.