More health and taste: 2021 trends for the food sector

The year started with a certain optimism, expectations of changes and the promise of new flavors. After all, our eating habits have been transforming at an amazing speed in the recent years. According to Uol TAB, between March and June 2020, UOL’s revenue portal had a 230% growth in traffic and the MasterChef reality show channel on YouTube increased the number of views by 51%. In other words, the cuisine of many people out there is already worthy of a Michelin star … 

These changes represent a great opportunity for innovation for brands in the food sector. To help you prepare your company for this scenario, our team prepared a banquet, or rather, a special article with several insights. Check it out! 

New habits, new recipes 

In one of our special materials, the report Mapping Food Behavior in Brazil, we tell how consumers’ search for healthier lifestyle habits had already been reconfiguring the practices of major brands. For example, they started offering products with more natural ingredients and lower levels of preservatives, fat, sugar and sodium. And with the strengthening of the gastronomy culture and the new habits acquired during social distance, this trend has been intensified. 

In the past few months, we have had to reinvent our routines and develop new skills. According to data from Google released in the Fjord Trends 2021 report, since March last year, searches for “step by step” or “for beginners” videos increased by 65%. And this caused a direct impact on our relationship with food, because it was necessary to “face” the kitchen. After all, not everyone can use deliveries and, as chef Rita Lobo says, “without a dirty sink, you don’t have a healthy diet”. 

With this energy of experimentation and search for products that have to do with their lifestyle, more people have been looking for new recipes and flavors. As Pinterest Predicts points out, the demand for spicy recipes and inspiring images for assembling boards for serving breakfast increased on the platform. And to follow the appetite of these consumers, some brands have done well, as we will see below. 

What are the 2021 trends for food? 

Eating habits, which has already been changing, have transformed completely in recent months. More people tried to cook, looked for natural ingredients to feed the family and reserved a special place for breakfast in the daily routine. Find out what are the trends for this year and see examples of brands that have already entered the rhythm and are benefiting from them! 

Healthy habits starts in the early ages

Offering healthy food for young children, from an early age, is a growing concern among parents, especially for those who deal with the food introduction phase. Aware that infant feeding needs to go beyond visual appeal, people look for products that help offer a variety of nutrients, flavor, texture, health safety and fresh ingredients. 

To help busy dads and moms, companies need to use healthy, tasty formulas and colorful packaging to encourage little ones’ imaginations. Who is doing well in this is Empório da Papinha, which produces organic baby food. Using seasonal ingredients, the brand receives the support of nutritionists on social networks, so that dads and moms on duty can ask questions. During the pandemic, delivery solutions received special attention and, today, are facilitated through a mobile app. 

Boosted breakfast to start a good day 

With more people working at home, breakfast gained more attention in the daily meals, as pointed out by a Whole Foods survey released in late 2020. The survey pointed out that in July last year, the increase in demand by Kellogg’s cereals, the companies’ shares reached a 2.6% growth. 

This trend represents an opportunity for brands to facilitate the preparation of breakfast without giving up quality. VidaVeg did its homework, and this year launched a new line of RequeVeg, a kind of “cream cheese” made from cashew milk. After all, vegetarian and vegan food is not only made from soy, right? In addition to the plant-based appeal, the product also gives a boost to immunity, since it is fermented and receives the addition of vitamins B6 and B12. 

Upcycling also in food 

If you follow the fashion world, you may have heard about the success of upcycling, a process that allows you to use production residues or old products to make new and valued items. With the growing interest in sustainability and the circular economy, this model has been a success over other sectors and, to the surprise of many people, it has come to food. 

In practice, it works like this: fruits, vegetables, peels and roots that would go to waste due to factors such as aesthetics, are used as an input to produce delicious and attractive foods. Californian The Ugly Company has taken on this mission, using “ugly” fruit to produce natural snacks. With the motto “beautiful on the inside”, the company has already prevented the waste of more than 22,000 kilos of fruit, according to a 2019 data released by the company. 

The 2021 trends point to new eating behaviors among consumers. More attentive to the importance of good habits and willingness to cook, they look for brands that help them to formulate a healthy routine with utility and sustainability. Is your brand prepared to help you in this mission? 

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