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Food Consumer Insights

Copycat Brand
Private label brands are creating copycat products inspired by QSR and name brands
Trend - Brands are launching copycat private label products that mimic the design elements or product names of branded goods or quick-service restaurant (QSR) items. Developed in-house by the retail chain, these products provide consumers with a more affordable and comparable experience to premium brands.

Insight - With the rising cost of living, many consumers are exploring alternative sources for their food and beverage needs, aiming to maximize value with every purchase. In response, private labels increasingly position themselves as "just like the brand" but often at a lower price or with better ingredients, attracting frequent buyers of popular name brands. Companies that align their offerings with these expectations can build loyalty by leveraging familiar design cues that reassure consumers of the desired quality.
Workshop Question - How can your brand stand out and compete with leading names in their categories?
6.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Experimental Flavor
Grocers are using private label brands to test market response to flavors
Trend - Higher-end grocery stores in North America are using private label brands to test the market's response to less-traditional, eastern-inspired flavors. These flavors are sold in various formats, such as spices, sauces, or even frozen ready-to-cook meals.

Insight - The diverse nature of most cities across North America leads to consumers with a wide range of preferences. The foods that some consumers may eat on a daily basis may be entirely unbeknownst to another consumer. However, these consumers may enjoy the flavors, despite not having tried them. In order to boost the availability of less traditional foods for consumers that may be interested, but have yet to try them, grocers are using their private label brands to test a wide array of flavors.
Workshop Question - How could your brand effectively market lesser-known products or services to a wider consumer base?
6.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Microbiome Meal
Dietary health companies are launching gut microbiome-specific meal plans
Trend - Dietary health brands are increasingly focusing on gut microbiome health. As research in this field continues to showcase the importance of balanced microbiomes, these brands are releasing personalized meal plans for consumers looking to prioritize gut health.

Insight - Health-conscious consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of a balanced gut microbiome. These consumers now note that, not only are diet and exercise crucial to healthy living, but also that even minor imbalances in the gut can cause problems throughout the body, such as weight gain, headaches, and more. These consumers desire dietary solutions that lead to solve gut imbalances, with a preference for those that integrate seamlessly into their lifestyle.
Workshop Question - How can your brand create solutions that address the growing consumer focus on ultra-personalized products in the food and health spaces?
6.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Personalized Kit
Custom meal kit companies are using science-backed methods to enhance curation
Trend - Brands in the custom meal space are using science and consumer-provided data to curate diets specifically for each customer. Through simple surveys, these brands create a diet that suits the nutritional needs and dietary preferences with healthy ingredients.

Insight - Consumers often find eating balanced diets to be a difficult task. Particularly when life obligations stack up, such as work, school, or other challenges, finding time to carefully plan a diet is often out of reach. However, many busy consumers would eat healthily if given the opportunity, leading to a desire for more simplified ways of acquiring balanced diets. Brands are responding to these consumers with science-backed, customized meal kits that suit their busy lifestyles.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage scientific data and customer insights to personalize our offerings and improve consumer experience?
8.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Private Plant
Large retailers are investing in plant-based products for their private label brands
Trend - Grocery retailers are increasingly launching plant-based and vegan products under their private label brands. Marketed as more cost-effective, these products claim to offer the same flavors, tastes, and textures as branded products for a fraction of the price and with less ecological impact.

Insight - The rising cost of living in many countries has prompted consumers to turn to private-label products as a more affordable option when grocery shopping. In response, retailers are expanding their private-label lines to include plant-based options, catering to consumers who desire affordable and ethical food options. These shoppers value brands that help them stay within budget and accommodate their dietary preferences—without compromising on the taste associated with branded products.
Workshop Question - How can your brand make a premium category more accessible to more kinds of consumers?
5.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Numbing Burger
Restaurants are launching burgers with sichuan peppercorn spices
Trend - Restaurants are blending Chinese sichuan peppercorn spices and oils, often referred to as numbing spice because of its effects, with the popular American burger to offer unique flavors and experiences. These burgers could be beef, chicken, or vegetarian, to appeal to all fans of the fast-food item.

Insight - Fast food and street food restaurants are highly experimentative. Popular fast food brands release limited-time products nearly weekly in order to see what unique flavor combinations will become the next big trend. As a result, fast food consumers have become drawn to new menu items, even if they only try each new item a single time. To appeal to these consumers and offer a unique cultural flavor profile, burger restaurants are incorporating Sichuan peppercorn numbing spices.
Workshop Question - How can we incorporate unique international flavors into our product offerings to create memorable and novel experiences for our customers?
6.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Cheese Dumpling
Restaurants are offering fried cheese dumplings as appetizers
Trend - Chinese food and Japanese sushi restaurants alike are beginning to roll out fried cream cheese wonton as an appetizer dish. The combination of cream cheese with a traditional Chinese wonton leads to a crispy, oily shell that houses savory cream cheese, often served with sweet & sour dipping sauce.

Insight - Consumers who frequently choose to dine-out often find themselves either searching for a new place to enjoy, or defaulting back to one of their favorites. When searching for a new restaurant, one important factor is variety and uniqueness. In order to differentiate themselves from other restaurants while offering a new appetizer for consumers who may not eat meat, or may not want a protein-heavy appetizer, restaurants are launching crispy fried cheese wontons paired with dipping sauces.
Workshop Question - How can we create a unique and memorable appetizer experience that appeals to diverse dietary preferences and enhances our brand's originality?
7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Yogurt Bark
Restaurants and CPG Brands are Launching Frozen Yogurt Bark Products
Trend - Foodservice companies, often in partnership with dairy brands, and CPG brands, are launching frozen yogurt bark treats. These are designed to offer the benefits of yogurt without the hassle of requiring a spoon and a dish, as the frozen bark is more comparable to a cookie than traditional yogurt.

Insight - All consumers, including health-conscious ones with strict diets, are susceptible to cravings. Whether it be craving something sweet or craving a specific texture, humans are drawn to variety. For the health-conscious consumer, snacks like hard candies, cookies, and other solid sugary desserts may be avoided entirely. In order to offer these consumers a way to indulge their cravings without compromising on their health regimens, brands are releasing frozen yogurt bark treats.
Workshop Question - How can we design a snack that satisfies cravings while aligning with health-conscious consumers' dietary preferences?
7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Indoor Smoker
Grill brands are releasing compact indoor smokers for year-round enjoyment
Trend - Barbecue and grilling brands are releasing indoor smoker grills with air filters for safe use. These grills are designed to offer the benefits of smoker grills, but with year-round accessibility, as they do not require outdoor ventilation. These grills are often compact countertop varieties.

Insight - Consumers with outdoor grills or barbecues often use these devices not only for the flavor of meat they produce, but also for the community-drive, social aspects of barbecues. Amongst these consumers, preferences vary greatly between charcoal grills, electric grills, and more. However, one common complaint amongst all users is the seasonality of grills, with them only being usable during warmer months. Brands are adhering to these desires with safe indoor smoker grills.
Workshop Question - How can we innovate our product line to address consumers' desire for accessibility and convenience?
9.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Functional Spice
Brands incorporate brain and body-boosting ingredients into spice blends
Trend - CPG brands are designing new spice and seasoning products containing therapeutic and complementary ingredients. These products are specifically formulated for flavor enhancement and health and wellness benefits, aiding consumers looking to boost flavor and stay aligned with their health journeys.

Insight - Consumers in tune with the wellness industry often desire products that allow them to enjoy the familiar flavors and foods they love while staying aligned with their health goals. These individuals prioritize products that enable them to maintain a balanced lifestyle without feeling deprived or sacrificing indulgence. Brands that cater to this demand appeal to consumers who seek products that seamlessly align with their habits, fostering loyalty and encouraging repeat purchases.
Workshop Question - How can your brand adapt its product/service to accommodate different lifestyles and habits?
7.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends