Three key trends will shape the global food, drink and foodservice industries over the next 10 years, according to Mintel.
 

• Change, Incorporated: Successful companies will be those that improve the health of the planet and its population.
• Smart Diets: Technology will enable consumers to construct hyper-individualized approaches to physical and mental health.
• High-tech Harvests: Consumer trust in food science and technology will strengthen as these become vital tools to save the food supply.

 
Expect to see consumers further prioritize plants in their diets, with the planet’s health in mind as much as their own. From beer made from rejected cereal pieces to containers made from organic mushroom waste, food waste will lead the way for more sustainable consumption and innovation.
 
Consumers will gain a better understanding of what makes them unique using health testing services, artificial intelligence-enabled apps, and increased personal data collection. Meanwhile, with consumers expected to live longer, many will want to learn how their diet can benefit long-term cognitive health.
 
Following in the footsteps of molecular whiskey, expect to see brands use science and technology to create new products, shorten production time, and confirm trustworthiness. Meanwhile, new ingredient growing regions, such as those in Africa and India, and agricultural innovations, including floating farms, will emerge to tackle global food insecurity.
 
Looking ahead, Jenny Zegler, associate director, Mintel Food & Drink, discussed how issues of health, technology and trust will inspire formulation, packaging, marketing and more in the years to come.
 
Change, Incorporated
“In the next decade, consumers will be hungry for leadership and demonstrable change on environmental issues, ethical business practices, public health, and other important causes,” said Zegler. “Consumers will reward brands that take action and improve important societal issues. The companies that will win in the next 10 years will be those that fuel the new era of conscious consumption. Tomorrow’s conscious consumers will be looking for eco-friendly packaging and products, while also seeking guidance on how to make their diets more sustainable.”
 
Smart Diets
“Looking ahead, more consumers will be able to gain in-depth knowledge of their biology through personal health testing kits which will empower them to personalize their diet and health regimes,” Zegler noted. “Analysis of these tools will inform consumers of the steps they need to take to address every aspect of their health, including brain and emotional well-being. As a result, in order to succeed over the next decade, brands will need to offer more personalized product offerings, develop smart home solutions and assist consumers in addressing mood and brain health.”
 
High-Tech Harvests
“Science will interlace with the food supply chain to boost yields and combat climate change,” she added. “Celebrating the sustainable, health and cost benefits of lab-grown food will be crucial in educating consumers about nature-identical alternatives. But the food and drink industry will be compelled to elevate the role of nature, and humans, in the storytelling of these new, modern solutions. Transparency of information is essential to building trust in a future where scientists play as integral a role as farmers. And championing the people behind the food—whether it is grown in a laboratory or a field—will remain a timeless way of building trust with consumers.”