For the food production sector, it is a must to know what drives consumer behaviours, what prompts them to choose specific foods and what motivates them to adopt certain eating habits. In this article we will go over the main consumer trends in the food industry and how they affect different generational groups. Keep reading.

 

For the food industry, it is essential to study consumers based on their generation, because the traits of each generation, their stage in life and their environments unequivocally influence consumer food trends.

 

In this article we will study each generation based on approximate age ranges, keeping in mind that they are highly dependent on the nuances of each country, culture and even the sources of the studies. 

 

 

Different consumer trends in the food industry: from baby boomers to generation Z

While the behaviour and preferences of some generations depend on the stage where they are in life, as is the case of Baby Boomers, others follow a more transformative trend, such as generation Z and millennials.

 

For example, based on data provided by The NPD Group, each generation considers that clean-label products “highly” improve their quality of life, but in different percentages:

 

For its part, food orders over digital channels is on the rise among generation Z and millennials. Boomers tend to consume less, and snacks are being adopted as a nutritional boost among all generations. Now, let’s dive into what consumers expect from manufacturers for each generation, and what nuts can bring to the table to address those needs.

 

 

Baby boomer consumer trends in the food industry

 

baby boomer consumer

 

 

The baby boomer generation is made up of a broad population born between 1946 and 1964. They all agree in the great importance of personal care, and of taking care of their health y well-being.

 

Boomer consumer trends in the food industry can be seen in the following habits and preferences:

 

Another major boomer eating habit is a preference for functional food. They consume foods that offer an added value in addition to the nutrient itself, such as:

 

 

consumer food trends

 

 

Nuts are among the functional foods that offer great benefits to the daily diet of boomers, since they have a higher protein content when compared to other sources of vegetable proteins. Furthermore, processed forms such as peanut powder are a source of leucine—an amino acid that supports muscle reconstruction and repair.

 

 

Generation X consumption trends in the food industry

 

consumer gen x

 

Generation X, made up of those born between 1965 and 1979, has the highest willingness to try innovative and exclusive ideas.

 

The drivers of consumer trends in the food industry for this generation are, for the most part, emotions, comfort and taste:

 

While this generation likes clean labels, the actually pay attention to a very limited list of nutritional information, such as the absence of trans fats and a low sugar content.

 

Lastly, when developing products for this segment, it is important to use processed forms of nuts—such as nut paste and nut flours—in a number of segments, which include bakery, confectionery, ice cream and snacks, among others. 

 

 

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Millennial consumption trends in the food industry

 

eating habits

 

Millennials are the generation that follows generation x, ending with those born in 1996. They lean towards products that offer unique experiences. In addition, they use the Internet to search all the information about a product.

 

But millennial food and beverage trends revolve around the production sustainability of companies and the concern for the environment. And as a result, they have the following habits:

 

Millennials research the manufacturer’s production processes, both for the final product and the raw materials. And they only engage with companies that have the same sustainability priorities as they do.

 

And the fact is that, ultimately, sustainability must be our goal. Because of this, sustainability in our supply chain has been one of Importaco’s principles.

 

In its agricultural developments for the cultivation of almond and peanut, Importaco makes an efficient use of water resources. It uses solar photovoltaic power plants and implements integral production models that protect natural resources while preserving the landscape, the soils and the fauna.

 

Generation Z consumption trends

 

gen z consumers

 

Made up of those born between 1997 and 2012, gen z eating habits are driven by a higher prioritisation of sustainability and the nutritional content of foods, as well as an interest in the ethics of companies when it comes to caring for the environment.

 

Generation Z also prioritises its health, which leads to the following consumer food trends:

 

Itac Professional, at the forefront of consumer trends in the food industry

For every consumer food trend for each generation, and based on the needs of each industry, Itac Professional has comprehensive solutions tailored to your needs, offering versatile ingredients with a broad nutritional value for your new product developments. 

 

Itac Professional is a leading nut manufacturer in Europe. We are backed by a track-record of over 75 years in the food and beverage sector. In addition, our company guarantees a total control over the traceability of our products thanks to its broad specialisation from the source, all the way to the product’s sale.

 

consumer tech center

Importaco technology centre

 

Our principles combine sustainability, innovation and quality. And our objective is to improve the wellbeing and health of each generation. Contact us if you are looking for a solution tailored to your industry or project.

 

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TAKE A LOOK AT OUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO ALMONDS FOR INDUSTRIAL BUYERS

 

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Sources:

 

CONOCE EL NUEVO HUB DE INSPIRACIÓN PARA PROFESIONALES DEL FOOD SERVICE Y LA INDUSTRIA ALIMENTARIA. TODA LA CREATIVIDAD Y LA INNOVACIÓN EN LA APLICACIÓN DE LOS FRUTOS SECOS.

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