Healthy foods, drinks a hit in 2017

CEBU, Philippines - Healthy foods and herb-based products or beverages that are affordable for low-income consumers are seen to enjoy a surge in market demand starting 2017, a study revealed.

London-based market research service provider Mintel, in its newly released study called "2017 Global Food & Drink Trends," predicts that in the coming year, consumers will increasingly look for products that are healthy, convenient, and trustworthy.

Consumers will also look for foods and drinks that are recognizable, time-saving, and contain beneficial fruits and vegetables.

"Many lower-income consumers want to improve their diets, but the access to-and the cost of-healthy foods and drink is often an impediment," explained the report.

Products like tea can be enhanced with chamomile, lavender, and other herbs as a way to achieve a sense of calm before bedtime.

Chocolate, on the other hand, can be positioned as a way to wind down after a stressful day.

Looking ahead, the study forecasts greater potential for more evening-focused innovations formulated for relaxation and satiety. And taking a cue from the beauty industry, foods and drinks for the evening can be infused with functional benefits while the consumer sleeps.

Making health-friendly, herb, fruit and vegetable based products and beverages accessible to the lower-income segment's pockets is an enormous business opportunity that manufacturers and exporters should take into serious consideration, particularly starting 2017, the study suggested.

This will fuel campaigns and innovations to make it easier for lower-income consumers to fulfill their healthy ambitions, including apps to help people make use of ingredients that are on sale, including "ugly" vegetables.

"Opportunities abound for companies around the world to capitalize on these trends, helping them develop in new regions and more categories throughout the course of the next year and into the future," said Mintel.

Manufacturers are thus encouraged to look to the past for inspiration, as ancient grains, as well as ancient recipes, practices, and traditions are forecasts to take the center-stage in the global consumer demand.

At the same time, "potential also exists for innovations that use the familiar as a base for something that's new, but recognizable, such as cold brew coffee."

In 2017, the foods and drink industry will also see the growing use of plants as key ingredients, said the report. The growing preference for natural, simple, and flexible diets is seen to drive the further expansion of vegetarian, vegan, and other plant- focused formulations.

Consumers' strong health and wellness priorities will spur the introduction of more packaged products and recipes for home cooking that abound in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, botanicals, and other plants associated with good health, revealed the Mintel latest market study.

Mintel is the world's leading market intelligence agency, with offices in London, Chicago, Shanghai, Belfast, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Munich, New York, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto. (FREEMAN)