Grocery stores, restaurants, bars, caterers, and other sub-sectors are all part of the massive food trends and beverage business. Despite constantly shifting customer tastes and emerging difficult problems, the sector keeps developing and adapting.

Top 10 Emerging Food and Beverage Trends to Watch in 2024

Consumer tastes are always changing when it comes to food and drink. Plant-based diets and non-dairy milk are two trends that gained popularity a few years ago and are still in vogue today. However, a sizable segment of the market is also open to trying out novel tastes and components. Additionally, more individuals than ever before are concerned about the sustainability and health advantages of food. The top ten Food trends 2024 and 2025 are shown below.

1. The Market for Alternative Milk Changes

Vegans are no longer the only ones who can consume plant-based milks. Nowadays, many customers are filling their refrigerators with a variety of milks, including cashew, flax, and oat.

2. Customers who are concerned about sugar are drawn to natural sweeteners.

In recent years, health professionals have been quite critical of America's over-reliance on white sugar. According to three-quarters of American customers, they wish to cut back on or stay away from sugar.

3. People start using specialty mushrooms as a meat substitute.

Over the last ten years, sales of mushrooms have increased by over 20%. The most current report from the Mushroom Council says so. According to their data, about 270 million pounds of mushrooms are sold annually in grocery shops.

4. Cold Brew Coffee in the Store and at Home

Although coffee has long been a popular beverage, cold brew coffee has become increasingly popular in recent months. For up to 24 hours, coarsely ground coffee is steeped in cold water to make this kind of coffee.

5. Unexpected Foods and Drinks Incorporate Spice

Spice isn't just for the few customers who dare to try it anymore. A significant percentage of consumers, particularly millennial and Gen Zers, are displaying an increasing preference for spicy dishes; half of these generations say they frequently purchase hot sauces and would want to see a wider selection of hot sauce alternatives.

6. Chocolate Made from Plants Becomes Popular

The market for vegan chocolate is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of above 10% until 2032. That year, it’s worth may reach $2 billion. According to a recent poll, over 40% of customers are interested in plant-based chocolates, indicating their growing popularity.

7. Adding Buckwheat to Cookies, Crackers, and Bread

Oats and quinoa are often two of the best choices for gluten-free grains. However, buckwheat is gaining popularity.

8. Customers Add Pickles to Almost Everything

GrubHub saw a boom in pickles in 2023. In 2023, pickle-focused product orders increased by 89%. That was over seven million pickles!

9. Consumers Select Healthy Drinks

Without accounting for e-commerce transactions, grocery store sales of functional beverages—drinks made with substances that have particular health benefits—amount to $1.2 billion annually.

10. Sustainability Concerns Fuel Demand for Alternative Seafood trends

The market for plant-based seafood trends is expanding quickly. According to 2023 research, the market value may increase until 2032 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of above 30%.

Plant-Based Food: Expanding Beyond Meat Alternatives

With health concerns and climate change on the horizon, Health-conscious consumers are increasingly choosing plant-based food substitutes. Animal components are not included in plant-based eco-friendly foods, which include a variety of plant products. Innovative meat substitutes like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, as well as tofu, tempeh, and seitan, replicate the flavor and consistency of animal flesh.

• The Growth of Seafood Based on Plants

Plant-based seafood substitutes made from algae, seaweed, or other plant materials.

• Dairy-Free Innovations: Not Just Alternatives to Milk

Dairy substitutes include ice creams, yogurts, cheeses, and plant-based milks (almond, soy, oat, etc.).

Functional Beverages: Health Benefits in Every Sip

Restoring energy, staying hydrated, improving mental and physical performance, and preventing joint pain are all facilitated by functional sports drinks.

• Growth of CBD-Infused Drinks

The market for CBD beverages is expanding internationally as a result of growing knowledge of the health advantages of CBD products. Drinks with CBD are thought to be a natural treatment for a number of illnesses. Numerous medical disorders, including pain, anxiety, diseases of the central nervous system, epilepsy, and many more, are thought to be treated by CBD-infused drinks.

• Adaptogenic Drinks: Boosting Energy and Relaxation

Herbs, roots, and other plant materials (such as mushrooms) are known as adaptogens, and they aid in stress management and the recovery of equilibrium following a stressful event. Adaptogens are taken by people as herbal supplements in the form of capsules, teas, or powder that may be added to soups, smoothies, and other dishes.

Any type of stress, including hormonal, emotional, physical, and even stress related to food and drink, affects the body's systems. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which starts your body's stress response and is crucial for maintaining bodily balance, is thought to interact with adaptogens, according to experts.

Alternative Proteins: Beyond Soy and Pea

Although meat, fish, and dairy products are often thought of as great providers of protein, there are many other foods that might help us reach our protein intake goals. The most widely consumed beans in the world are soy and pea, which is also the plant used to make the majority of foods with alternative protein. However, soy and pea are not the only options.

• Insect Protein Gaining Popularity

A viable substitute for conventional protein sources like meat, chicken, and fish, insects are high in protein, vitamins, minerals, and vital fatty acids. At a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33.4%, the worldwide insect protein market is expected to reach USD 3.3 billion by 2027.

• Lab-Grown Meat: A New Era for Protein

Even though it is still in its infancy, lab-grown meat appears to be a promising alternative technology for producing animal-derived proteins and making customarily animal-based products available with much less or no animal involvement.

Food Innovation through Biotechnology

Food innovation in biotechnology is the process of enhancing Global food culture to make it safer, healthier, and tastier by using live organisms or their byproducts.

The following innovations are revolutionizing the food industry:

• Functional Foods: Biotechnology has made it possible to produce functional foods, which provide health advantages beyond simple sustenance.

• Genetically Modified Crops (GM): Although GM crops are controversial, there is no denying their influence on sustainability and food security.

• New Preservation Techniques: Biotechnology has brought out new techniques for Global food culture preservation, such as using microbes and enzymes to organically increase food items' shelf life without the need of chemical preservatives.

• Alternative Food Production: As the world's population grows and environmental concerns rise, biotechnology is being employed to provide sustainable packaging alternatives to traditional meat production, such as lab-grown beef and plant-based meat replacements.

Conclusion:

The food and beverage sector is booming with innovative ideas as 2024 approaches. Customers are more experimental and health-conscious than ever before, thanks to plant-based substitutes and creative drinks. Businesses may stay current and satisfy their Health-conscious consumers' changing needs by keeping an eye on these developments. Accepting these adjustments promotes a more sustainable future in addition to progress.

FAQ:

• How is sustainability influencing the food and beverage industry?

Sustainability influences consumer preferences and business practices, driving demand for plant-based products, eco-friendly food packaging, and ethical sourcing.

• What are functional beverages, and why are they popular?

Functional drinks provide hydration and energy improvements, among other health advantages. They are well-liked for encouraging convenience and well-being.

• How is AI impacting the food and beverage industry?

Supply chain efficiency is increased, marketing is personalized, and food safety is improved through improved data analysis and quality control thanks to AI in food industry.

• What role does alternative protein play in 2024 food trends?

Alternative proteins—such as lab-grown meat and insects—are becoming more and more popular as wholesome, sustainable ways to satisfy the world's expanding protein needs outside of conventional farming.