Leveraging the latest food and drink trends is key to effective packaging design. So, what can we expect to see this year? Fear not, our team have compiled the ultimate guide to food and drink trends 2017!

Trend 1: Recognisable, not revolutionary

As a complete contrast to our fast-paced lifestyles and turbulent political landscape, it seems that consumers are longing for safe, traditional products that are easily recognisable. In 2017, we can expect more products to link with the past in order to encourage trust with consumers.

This is a great opportunity for long-standing brands to explore the archives and draw inspiration from their heritage. And at the same time using their familiarity to explore range extensions with new innovations in flavours and concepts to their trusting consumer. Think cold brewed coffee from Baileys, Special K granola from Kellogg’s, Weetabix On the Go. All products responding to consumer trends with modern twists to old formats.

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Trend 2: Plant Power

We’ve all noticed the drive towards cleaner, healthier lifestyles across sectors. Lifestyle bloggers, health-focused chefs and fitness gurus have all placed fruit, vegetables, nuts seeds and grains at the top of their healthy eating agenda. Food and drink manufacturers have been quick to adopt this trend launching new plant focused products, emphasising the health benefits and flavour it brings.

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This extends to wider diets with veganism and vegetarianism ever growing. Food trends such as meat-free Mondays falls under what Mintel describes as ‘flexitarian’ lifestyle. Earlier this year, the vegetarian society launched a new vegan trademark for food packaging as consumer demand for animal-free products continues to grow.

Trend 3: Sustainability

According to the UN one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. Subsequently, government pressures have forced the food and drinks industry to increase consumer awareness of global food waste.

There have been great initiatives to tackle food waste in restaurants and retailers across the UK, even fuelling a new wave of NPD. Toast Ale, for example, was born from one man’s quest to reduce the 24 million slices of bread thrown away in the UK. The team collect surplus bread from local bakeries and delis to use in the brewing process to make the unique pale ale.

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Trend 4: Time is precious

It is common knowledge that the modern consumer is time poor, constantly on the lookout for shortcut solutions. In previous years, this has seen a rise in convenience products for snacking and on the go consumption. 2017, however, will place emphasis on ‘time saved’ by purchasing the particular product.

Expect to see a rise in ‘life hack’ products emphasising the time the manufacturer has put into making the product for your convenience. Mintel GNPD revealed that global food and drink launches that include “slow” in the product description grew nearly 214% between September 2010 – August 2011 and September 2015 – August 2016.

In November 2016 Sainsbury’s launched an 18 SKU Slow Cook ready meal range, offering the taste of slow cooked food at a fraction of the time. If your product can make time-related claims in 2017 its set to resonate with the modern consumer.

At DCP we work with a number of FMCG brands, presenting the latest food and drinks trends that could affect their packaging design. Whether it be to emphasise certain trend focused features or simply help to create the best range extension for their existing brand DCP are with you from concept to print. Start your journey today.

Contact Form   |  info@dcp-uk.co.uk   |  01625 460 280

Sources: Mintel research