CPG carb-based dishes and sides are being adapted with fewer cooking steps
Trend - Emerging brands in F&B are offering pasta and rice sides that don't require any cooking. These options help save people time by reducing cooking steps--while still allowing for fresh homemade meals.
Insight - The push for healthy pre-made meals came as consumers had a need for quick and affordable food--but needed nutritious options to meet their health goals. Now, home-cooked meals are popular because of everything from rising costs to social media trends--not to mention the ongoing impact of the pandemic. While more recent cultural shifts have changed many consumers' approach to eating--the desire for convenience remains and consumers still prioritize time-saving options in the kitchen.
Insight - The push for healthy pre-made meals came as consumers had a need for quick and affordable food--but needed nutritious options to meet their health goals. Now, home-cooked meals are popular because of everything from rising costs to social media trends--not to mention the ongoing impact of the pandemic. While more recent cultural shifts have changed many consumers' approach to eating--the desire for convenience remains and consumers still prioritize time-saving options in the kitchen.
Workshop Question - How could your brand address its customers' need for convenience, without sacrificing quality?
Trend Themes
1. Reduced-step Cooking - Emerging brands in F&B are offering pasta and rice sides that don't require any cooking.
2. Freshness-preserving Packaging - Crocchi uses innovative performance packaging to extend its shelf life and has applications beyond preserving the freshness of frozen croissant-shaped pasta.
3. Authentic International Cuisine - Tilda Tasty Sides aim to provide authentic international cuisine flavor with a focus on convenience.
Industry Implications
1. Food & Beverage - Reduced-step cooking trends are emerging in the food and beverage industry with options like pasta and rice sides that don't require any cooking.
2. Packaging - The freshness-preserving packaging used by Crocchi has applications that go beyond preserving frozen pasta, supporting other refrigerated and prepared meals.
3. Culinary Products - Authentic international cuisine is a trend in the culinary products industry, as demonstrated by Tilda Tasty Sides offering a range of heat-and-eat products with four different flavor varieties.
