Introduction Many consumers are prioritising their happiness by seeking products that enhance their well-being, provide enjoyable experiences, and evoke emotions of comfort and escapism.  This blog explores our fourth top trend, Strive for Happiness. There is a growing trend of self-care in the food and drink industry. This is focused on promoting products and lifestyles that prioritise and support consumers’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being. In addition, our findings explore how consumers are turning to products that promote balance. This can be through moderating and avoiding ..read more

Consumers Often Skip Meals but Want More Structured Eating Habits Meal-time fragmentation is a growing trend on a global scale. Consumers are frequently skipping meals, particularly earlier in the day. For instance, FMCG Gurus’ consumer insights reveal that 47% of global consumers say they skip breakfast at least sometimes. This behaviour is often attributed to a lack of time or hunger. This indicates a shift away from traditional structured meal times to more informal eating patterns throughout the day. When meals are skipped, it is common for consumers to opt for snacks to avoid hunger. Howe ..read more

Proactive Consumers are Focusing on a Prevention over Cure Approach In today’s health-conscious society, there is a noticeable trend among consumers toward being proactive in maintaining their wellness. For instance, FMCG Gurus’ consumer insights reveal that 63% of global consumers deem themselves a proactive consumer. This means they feel they do not suffer from health problems and are looking to improve their health. This shift is primarily driven by the desire to sustain peak energy levels and an active lifestyle well into advanced age and reduces the risks of diseases. Consequently, there ..read more

Coffee & Tea Consumption A significant portion of hot drink consumption is driven by habit. This has led to a lack of change in consumption for staple categories such as hot black tea and coffee. However, a more apparent trend is the growing percentage of individuals consuming hot coffee specialties and hot tea weekly. For instance, FMCG Gurus’ consumer insights reveal that 32% of global consumers say they drink hot speciality coffee weekly. In addition, our findings indicate that 30% of global consumers drink hot black tea weekly. This shift can be attributed to consumers seeking affordab ..read more

Introduction On a global scale, a significant number of beverage choices are driven by habits, as consumers select specific drinks based on their needs. It’s not surprising that certain product categories have maintained a consistent proportion of regular consumers over time. However, there has been a noticeable increase in consumers turning to cordial, squash, and syrups weekly in recent years. FMCG Gurus’ consumer insights reveal that 53% of global consumers said they drink cordial, squash, and syrups either daily or weekly in 2024. This has increased by 12% since 2021. This rise in cordial ..read more

Consumers are Less Confident about their Financial Savings Many people are experiencing the impact of rising prices and are actively looking for ways to reduce their expenses. The increase in prices is due to various factors such as crude oil costs, population growth, climate change, and disruptions in global supply chains. There is a growing concern about economic uncertainty and personal savings, leading consumers to adopt a more cautious approach. This shift is driven by a belief in insufficient household savings, resulting in more individuals feeling financial pressure and dealing with eve ..read more

Introduction While there has been a surge in awareness around food and drink-related allergies and intolerances among younger demographics in the past decade, it’s important to note that only half of the population feels confident in distinguishing between an allergy and an intolerance. Furthermore, there is often a lack of understanding regarding the profound impact of food allergies on the immune system and food intolerances on the digestive system. This widespread lack of knowledge regarding the distinct symptoms and impacts on well-being calls for attention, especially given that consumers ..read more

Introduction Consumers are mindful of environmental concerns related to food and drink packaging. They acknowledge the potential negative impact certain materials can have on the planet, including landfills and oceans. This heightened awareness has led to a rise in the number of individuals actively recycling packaging compared to previous years. These findings indicate a growing environmental consciousness. For instance, FMCG Gurus’ consumer insights reveal that 82% of global consumers say they recycle soft drinks most or all of the time. Additionally, 78% of global consumers say they recycle ..read more

Introduction Globally, consumers remain vigilant about the ingredient information displayed on product packaging for a variety of reasons. These reasons include seeking safety and quality assurance, as well as the desire to avoid or moderate what they perceive as harmful dietary components. Regardless of the specific motivation, consumers seek the ability to quickly assess a product’s nutritional profile, leading to a heightened preference for “free-from” claims and simplified ingredient lists. There is also a strong demand for straightforward nutritional labeling to address concerns about und ..read more

Consumers are Regularly Turning to Cordial, Squash, or Syrups A trend over the past three years has been the increase in consumers turning to cordial, squash, or syrup. For instance, FMCG Gurus’ consumer insights reveal that 54% of global consumers say they drink cordial, squash, or syrups at least weekly. This category, traditionally seen as a more economical alternative to juice, has seen this increase, while there has been no fundamental shift in the overall consumption of juice. This surge in the preference for a more budget-friendly option aligns with price inflation, prompting individual ..read more