Consumers turn to dessert-flavored morning fare for guilt-free enjoyment
Implications - Despite the health food movement, many consumers are turning to indulgent breakfast fare for a sweet fix. By opting for "dessert flavored" offerings instead of actual dessert, consumers are able to gratify their cravings in a guilt-free manner. The modern consumer is in a constant negotiation between their wants and needs, so hybridized products such as "mock" desserts offer a more balanced approach to consumption.
Workshop Question - What part of your consumers daily routine is ritualized and how can you become part of that ritual?
Trend Themes
1. Hybrid Desserts - By creating hybrid products such as 'mock' desserts, brands offer a more balanced approach to consumption, satisfying consumers' cravings in a guilt-free manner.
2. Crossover Food Products - Crossover food products have become extremely popular with the rise of the foodie movement, offering consumers unique and unexpected flavor combinations.
3. Nostalgia-inspired Flavors - Brands are drawing consumers in with familiar childhood cereals and flavors such as Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Fruity Pebbles in limited edition desserts.
Industry Implications
1. Food Manufacturing - Incorporating nostalgic flavors and creating hybrid desserts could offer food manufacturers opportunities to attract a broader consumer base.
2. Quick Service Restaurants - Quick service restaurants can explore the trend of unexpected ingredients, textures and tastes, while identifying innovative new menu options like the Denny's Dulce de Leche Crunch Pancakes.
3. Cereal and Snack Food Industry - As cereals and snack foods continue to undergo innovation, crossover snacks like Kellogg's Keebler Cereal with Chocolate Chip Cookies could become more popular within the market.
