Savory food products highlight their sugar-free ingredients
Trend - Though the term "sugar-free" is commonly touted on traditionally sweet food and beverage products, the use of sugar in savory packaged dishes and condiments is just as common – a fact which brands are now aiming to reverse. This shift evokes the positive perceptions associated with the term "sugar-free," enhancing the perception of nutrition in the products for health-minded consumers.
Insight - Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of how pervasive the use of sugar is in processed foods. The expanded access to information that the internet and social media have provided means that more people are educated before making purchasing decisions, whether that relates to the food industry or retail. From this, they are looking to make small, convenient changes to be more intentional about what they buy and consume.
Insight - Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of how pervasive the use of sugar is in processed foods. The expanded access to information that the internet and social media have provided means that more people are educated before making purchasing decisions, whether that relates to the food industry or retail. From this, they are looking to make small, convenient changes to be more intentional about what they buy and consume.
Workshop Question - What could your brand borrow from adjacent industries/companies in order to enhance the perception of its products/services?
Trend Themes
1. Sugar-free Savory - Consumers are looking to make small, convenient changes to be more intentional about what they buy and consume, leading food and beverage brands to reformat, rebrand and retarget their free-from products to the health-conscious consumer.
2. Natural Meat Products - The Niman Ranch No Sugar Line and Ember Biltong Snacks are targeted at health-minded consumers looking to cut their intake of sugar and/or carbohydrates for weight reduction purposes or to lead a healthier lifestyle.
3. Non-alcoholic Cocktail Flavors - Dardimans targets a different audience entirely with its packaged lollipop sets, which serve as a better-for-you alternative to many sugar-laden sweets on the market and include non-alcoholic cocktail flavors like Margarita, Piña Colada and Bloody Mary.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - Food and beverage brands are reformatting, rebranding and retargeting their free-from products to the health-conscious consumer as small, convenient changes leads to consumers being more intentional about what they buy and consume.
2. Meat and Meat Snacks - The Niman Ranch No Sugar Line and Ember Biltong Snacks are crafted with premium ingredients and targeted at health-minded consumers looking to cut their intake of sugar and/or carbohydrates for weight reduction purposes or to lead a healthier lifestyle.
3. Sweets and Confectionery - Dardimans targets a different audience entirely with its packaged lollipop sets, which serve as a better-for-you alternative to many sugar-laden sweets on the market and include non-alcoholic cocktail flavors like Margarita, Piña Colada and Bloody Mary.
