Tomorrow's Trends in Food & Drinks Revisited

Last autumn, we dispersed our insightful trend report Tomorrow's Trends in Food & Drinks. As the culinary world continues to evolve at a rapid pace, it's time to revisit yesterday's predictions and explore how they've become today's reality in the food & beverages segment. Ready to delve into the exciting trends that are occurring in the food & industry today?

#1 Today's Zeitgeist

Today's Zeitgeist celebrated a profound shift towards conscious consumption, where supporting local businesses and embracing sustainable food choices have become pivotal tenets of the culinary landscape.

The growing movement to "support your locals" focusing on local consumption behavior and the resounding mantra of "don't panic, it's organic" advocating for planet-friendly and healthier alternatives, have become reality.

Within this Zeitgeist, Niamh, Aoste, Qallo and GIMBER have emerged as trailblazers. These four local Belgian companies embraced the ethos of both locality and healthiness.

Niamh and Aoste contribute to the Nutri-Score A segment by providing healthier alternatives. Niamh has introduced Sunny Grains and Crispy Chia, two new bread mixes in the Niamh Tradition range, while Aoste launched of Aoste Plus as the first and only tasty and healthy charcuterie with Nutri-Score A on the market.

In the realm of beverages, Qallo is a new and innovative energizer, offering an alternative to energy drinks, coffee and/or soft drinks. With its sugar-free, vegan formulation with plant extracts and vitamins at its base, Qallo not only enhances hydration but also reduces waste through its convenient compact powder form.

GIMBER on their end recently launched GIMBER Ready.To.Drink, a fresh and tangy ready-to-drink in a bottle and can. This sparkful drink is completely organic, alcohol-free indulgence and also low in calories.

These Belgian ventures epitomize the harmony between taste and consciousness, inspiring us all to put forward a healthier, more sustainable culinary path.

^{Niamh - Aoste}

#2 Trends in home and restaurant kitchens

Both in home and restaurant cuisines we saw the trend of high tech appliances for fool proof home cooking gaining ground. Sit back, relax and let tech do the cooking.

Sage Appliances recently launched their Luxe Collection, elevating luxury kitchen appliances to new heights, with their iconic Barista Express Impress, Toast Select Luxe en Soft Top Luxe. With colours inspired by the culinary world, Sage Appliances adds a premium look and ultimate functionality to your interiors.

Niamh effortlessly aligns with this surging trend to let the high-tech appliances do the cooking, offering their at-home baking mixes for bread. With a simple but on-point baking mix, all it takes is adding a few ingredients, tossing it into your trusty kitchen robot, and letting the oven work its culinary magic - sit back, relax and let tech do the cooking. In no time and with minimal effort, you'll have freshly baked bread gracing your table, all thanks to the harmonious dance of culinary innovation and convenience.

^{Sage Appliances - Niamh}

#3 Beverage trends

The beverage industry has witnessed a captivating array of trends taking center stage. One such trend, "Be your own barista," has been embraced wholeheartedly by Sage Appliances – quite literally brought to life with their exquisite and high-end coffee appliances. With Sage, you are the barista within the comfort of your home, indulging in the delights of Third-Wave Coffee.

^{Sage Appliances}

This coincides neatly with the upcoming tendency for premiumization, as discerning consumers opt for quality over quantity, seeking high-end products, quality packaging and refined taste. The essence of this trend permeates Sage's product range and extends to the world of beverages, where the emphasis on the quality and authenticity of what people consume is paramount. People care more about the quality and integrity of what they are drinking as well as accepting the premium cost of it.

A striking example is found in the realm of gin consumption, epitomized by Bulldog, the iconic London Dry Gin renowned for its bold flavors encapsulated within its iconic black copa glass, and accompanying tagline "Be Bold". Bulldog has been a forerunner capturing the attention of spirit enthusiasts by boldly inviting enthusiasts to savor the extraordinary and embrace the artistry of the unexpected.

^Bulldog

Convenience and premium ready-to-serve blends have surged in popularity. Qallo's effortless appeal lies in its simplicity, requiring just the addition of water to its powder, while GIMBER Ready.To.Drink offers a natural kick on the go, flip to get your natural kick and cheers! Both exemplify the contemporary craving for convenience and cater to the rising non-alcoholic trend.

^{Qallo - GIMBER Ready.To.Drink}

On the flip side of the spectrum, within the alcoholic segment, cocktail nostalgia has also returned, fostering renewed interest in underexplored spirits and flavors, much like the allure surrounding Bulldog Gin. As the industry continues to embrace innovation, sustainability, and culinary excellence, these trends not only captivate the senses but also redefine the way we experience and savor the world of beverages.

^Bulldog

Hungry for more? Discover everything about the latest and emerging hypes in the food and beverage industry in our trend report. Click here to read our blogpost.