Nitrogen-infused products offer consumers multi-sensory enjoyment
Implications - Seeking to surprise and delight consumers with new experiences, food and beverage retailers have begun infusing their products with nitrogen. The addition of the chemical compound alters both the flavor and physical state of the original substance, be it coffee, ice cream or other beverages – offering a creamy, bubbly sensation. This shift not only speaks to a greater desire for multi-sensory experiences, it also suggests that consumers expect novelty as part of everyday experiences.
Workshop Question - How can your brand infuse more novelty into what it offers, or the way it markets its offerings?
Trend Themes
1. Nitrogen-infusion - The addition of nitrogen to food and beverage products alters the flavor and physical state, offering a creamy texture and bubbly sensation – speaking to a greater desire for multi-sensory experiences.
2. Liquid Nitrogen - Using liquid nitrogen over mechanical chilling offers advantages in terms of speed, flexibility, and space-saving qualities.
3. Nitro-infused - The trend of infusing products with nitrogen has disrupted the food and beverage industry, producing unique and flavorful offerings such as beer-flavored coffee, nitro-infused cold brews, and nitrogen-chilled coffee.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - The addition of nitrogen to food and beverage products to create unique multi-sensory experiences can disrupt traditional food and beverage offerings and create new market opportunities.
2. Hospitality - Adopting nitrogen infusion methods to drinks can improve customer experience and create a unique selling proposition for cafes and bars, allowing for differentiation in a competitive market.
3. Brewing - Brewers experimenting with nitrogen infusion are producing new and exciting offerings such as nitro-infused ales, which can tap into a new customer base and diversify the traditional beer market.