Overall, consumers are financially better off in 2024 compared to last year. This is due to a combination of a resilient labour market, solid wage growth, and cooling inflationary pressures, all of which have provided relief to households’ budgets. However, despite a more positive future economic outlook, consumers across different regions remain sceptical and continue to adhere to cautious spending behaviours. In this two-part series, we will dive into how consumers’ spending behaviours have changed since COVID-19 and how they continue to be influenced by economic anxiety. Part one will fo ..read more

On a balmy, late August afternoon in 2023, the Women’s Southern Brave cricket team secured a victory in the Hundred Women’s Competition Final at Lord’s, London. This win marked the culmination of a successful month-long tournament, featuring 32 matches. But the most significant victory isn’t on the scoreboard. Overall attendance reached a record-breaking 300,000 spectators, with eight Hundred matches making it into Sky Sports’ top 10 most-watched women’s events of the year. These figures signal change and the reimagining of spectator sports. So what’s driving the reimagining of spectator ..read more

Recent years have seen clothing purchases grow and grow, as more consumers have participated in ever-changing fashion trends and trend cycles. With a new popular item always on the horizon, let’s dive into the emerging trends in men’s retail in EMEA and APAC regions. How Budget Impacts on Menswear Spending The challenging economic landscape influences consumer behaviour, with a rising number of shoppers seeking less expensive retailers. Consumers have been particularly favouring cheaper online retailers like Amazon and ASOS for purchasing their clothing, with more than half of British consumer ..read more

Innovations in texture were a break-out trend from the Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024 hosted May 14-16 in Indianapolis, Indiana. From freeze-dried candy to melty baked goods, texture was a key factor that companies used to create new, but familiar departures from the status quo – or, shall we say the “snackus” quo.  According to Mintel GNPD (client link only), crunchy, smooth and chewy were the leading texture claims used from May 2019 to April 2024 by global launches of confectionery and snacks (excluding hors d’oeuvres/ canapes).  This year, companies diversified from crunchy ..read more

As Indian consumers become increasingly health-conscious, the salty snacks market is undergoing a significant transformation. The traditional reliance on palm oil as a key ingredient in snacks is being questioned. According to a recent Mintel Report on Salty Snacks in India, 39% of consumers agree that snacks made with palm oil are unhealthy. This sentiment is particularly strong among metro dwellers, who drive the demand for palm oil-free alternatives. PepsiCo India’s recent initiative to trial sunflower oil and palmolein as replacements for palm oil in their popular Lay’s chips is a comme ..read more

At-home hair colouring remains one of the most persistent hair colour trends in India. It is the preferred choice for the majority of Indian consumers, with over half opting to colour their hair to cover greys. Consumer preferences are pivoting towards convenience, speed, and simplicity, presenting a notable opportunity for brands in the hair colour market in India to explore innovative formats. However, brands in the Indian hair colour market also face the challenge of winning back former users (those who claim to have not coloured their hair in the last 12 months), who have shied away due ..read more

On April 23, 2024, Chicago-based premium convenience stores Foxtrot Market and Dom’s Kitchen & Market permanently and abruptly closed all 35 locations with news of a Chapter 7 filing for bankruptcy. The news sent shockwaves through Chicago and other major cities. In recent years, Foxtrot expanded to new markets in Washington, D.C., Dallas and Austin and those locations saw their doors close as well.  The bankruptcy filing also comes after the merger of Foxtrot Market and Dom’s Kitchen & Market into Outfox Hospitality in November 2023, leaving many questions unanswered as to what w ..read more

Following the lifting of pandemic travel restrictions, the holidays and travel industry experienced a significant boom. In October 2022, Mintel’s consumer research found that UK consumers’ intentions to travel abroad had almost recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Much of this consumer demand for holidays was put down to ‘revenge travel’, a cultural phenomenon in which consumers were making up for lost time due to the pandemic by travelling and experiencing more. Mintel’s market analysis suggests that revenge travel may well be over, but the desire for holidays has not abated. Although the threa ..read more

Changing consumer preferences are driving a profound transformation in ingredient innovation in the food and drink industry. The upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasised the importance of preventative health and addressing climate change concerns, prompting a diversification of ingredients. To navigate these changes, the food and drink industry is also exploring novel technologies that can revolutionise food production. Here we delve into the ingredients that are capturing consumer demand and uncover some of the fastest-growing ingredients trends shaping the future of f ..read more

Gen Z consumers across the globe are now firmly in a romantic relationship with iced coffee. Courting Gen Z with superior taste perceptions, versatility for add-ins and the aspirational draw of foodservice options, iced coffee is hot right now. Iced coffee brands can take this relationship to the next level through elevating taste appeal and affordable foodservice service-inspired options. Link brew method to taste In Thailand, 68% of Gen Z coffee consumers agree that flavour is important when choosing a coffee product, while just one-fifth agree that the brewing method is important ..read more