Brands release gourmet at-home meal kits
Trend - Meal kits typically offer convenience for time-strapped consumers, but some brands are changing the primary function of these products from being convenience-based, to a way to experiment with upscale flavors and ingredients.
Insight - North American consumers are now more likely to experiment with food for a number of reasons--everything from social media trends to the continent's diverse populations have an impact on consumers' willingness to try different foods. This also goes for home cooking, with more consumers seeing how they can learn and adapt new flavors into their lives at home.
Insight - North American consumers are now more likely to experiment with food for a number of reasons--everything from social media trends to the continent's diverse populations have an impact on consumers' willingness to try different foods. This also goes for home cooking, with more consumers seeing how they can learn and adapt new flavors into their lives at home.
Workshop Question - How is your brand catering to the more experimental consumer?
Trend Themes
1. Upscale Meal Kits - Meal kits are no longer just for convenience as they are becoming a means for experimentation with upscale flavors and ingredients.
2. Gourmet Plant-based Meal Kits - Gourmet plant-based meal kits are becoming increasingly popular, covering a range of meals from burgers to desserts, while providing more accessibility and convenience to plant-based dining options.
3. Mindfully Curated Meal Kits - Brands are elevating the standard meal kit experience by providing mindfully curated kits that include unique items sourced from around the world, inventive pairings, and a convenient overall experience.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage Industry - The food and beverage industry can take advantage of these trends in upscale, gourmet and mindfully curated meal kits to create new offerings and provide more accessibility and convenience to consumers in terms of gourmet and plant-based dining options.
2. Restaurant Industry - The restaurant industry can leverage these trends in upscale, gourmet and mindfully curated meal kits to create new offerings and generate revenue streams, whether it be through take-out menus or meal kit options.
3. E-commerce Industry - The e-commerce industry can use these trends in upscale, gourmet, and mindfully curated meal kits to tap into new markets and provide consumers with unique and convenient meal kit options, as well as increase accessibility to shoppers by providing different meal types for varying dietary enthusiasts.
