At the beginning of each year, several experts share their predictions regarding upcoming trends in the field of food. In Canada, the firm Deloitte conducted a survey from March 2020 to May 2021 to gain insight into the future of food. Here are some key points from this survey that could translate into trends in 2022.
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Healthy Eating
The survey conducted by the firm Deloitte reveals that 64% of the consumers surveyed showed increased interest in près à la manière whose diet affects their health and their system immunisilent during the year écoulée.
The survey also reveals that "about 80% of consumers say they spend more on fresh products and non-dairy substitutes, while about 40% of them say they spend less on baked desserts, tes ingringredients prepared and hot dishes readyts à consommer». Canadian consumers therefore seem to be increasingly interested in the connection between their diet and their health. This interest could be reflected in their food choices in 2022 with the purchase of more fresh products and fewer processed products.
The top purchased products included those containing recognizable ingredients (33%), were natural or organic (31%), and offered in a reduced sugar version (35%), the latter being more predominant among consumers aged 55 and over and men.
Among younger consumers, aged 18 to 34, there is a noticeable trend towards seeking healthier foods, including organic, vegetarian, and vegan foods, plant-based proteins as meat substitutes, products dairy-free or lactose-free and gluten-free. (Deloitte Survey)
The trend is clear, and merchants are responding to it more and more. Unfortunately, these foods come at a cost, and not everyone has the money to buy these foods or the time to shop for local resources.
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The "home cooking"
Also, at the same time, Canadians and Quebecers are preparing many more meals at home, using basic and fresh ingredients. It has been the return of "home cooking," taking the time to cook four to six meals a week, and trying new recipes, such as making homemade bread. This trend is not expected to fade and is moving towards traditional cooking, for comforting meals.
It's not because people cook more that they don't order! Whether to save time or to support local restaurateurs, among those surveyed, 35% of respondents said they have ordered more takeout meals, and more than 71% of Canadians expect to order more than before the pandemic, once again.
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Snacks and nibbles
The collations and snacks are expected to be popular in 2022. Indeed, 44% of respondents in the survey conducted by Deloitte report consuming more snacks since the start of the pandemic. Additionally, 67% say their spending on snacks has increased or increased significantly over the past year. In Quebec, this figure rises to 73% (Deloitte survey).
It is therefore unsurprising that the range of healthy snacks available on the market has expanded on the shelves, and is expected to continue doing so.
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Local foods
Local foods could also continue to be part of food trends in 2022, a trend that has grown significantly since the beginning of the pandemic. Indeed, "among the products that top the list of household food purchases are those of local origin (43%)" (Deloitte Survey).
There is also a growing trend towards urban agriculture such as growing your own food, consuming plants that have grown in greenhouses, or even on urban rooftops. More and more companies are using their roofs to grow their plants, and supermarket giants predict that 2022 will be the year of urban, and therefore local, agriculture.
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Social networks and the internet
With the omnipresence of remote work, social networks have become more important in the daily lives of many Canadian consumers. For example, the Deloitte survey reveals that 47% of them conduct online searches to find new idees de menus. Moreover, according to a study commissioned by Facebook, in Canada, one in five consumers aged 18-34 uses social media to find cooking inspiration.
Another major impact of the pandemic has certainly been the increase in online orders. Merchants had to be imaginative and adaptable to allow those who could not travel to make their purchases. Several online stores (such as ours! yes, yes!!) then emerged. And despite the fact that customers still prefer to shop directly at their merchants, these stores and their economic impact can no longer be ignored now.
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"Reductionism" or consuming less meat
Finally, the year 2022 could also see Canadian meat consumption reduced. Indeed, the Deloitte firm's survey indicates that "44% of consumers surveyed say they have tried to eat less meat over the past year."couland that "72% of consumers report an increase in purchases of meat alternatives."
Plant-based meats, which were all the rage, are now less popular than expected, with their long list of ingredients. Eating less meat, but opting for quality products, seems to be the current trend.
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The circular economy
The rise in grocery prices is making households think, and more and more ways to avoid waste are being found.
Also, increasingly, companies are looking to reuse their own "waste" or that of others to produce new products. Beautiful ways to reinvent themselves, waste less, and produce more with the resources available. With university research centers collaborating, this trend can only increase in the coming years.
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The foods to watch out for…
According to Whole Foods Markets, a food distribution company specializing in organic products as well as a grocery store chain based in the United States, here are the foods we should see more and more on our shelves:
- The yuzu
- The hibiscus
- Alternatives to Alcohol
- Organic and sustainable cereals (kernza, among others)
- Sunflower seeds
- The moringa
- The turmeric
- Functional soft drinks – with added plants, prebiotics, probiotics, etc.
In conclusion, unfortunately, more and more people have to rely on food banks to manage to feed themselves each month. Inflation as well as natural disasters are driving the price of the grocery basket higher than average. The challenge remains to continue trying to find solutions to make food affordable enough for everyone to be able to eat properly.
References
- https://braque.ca/7-food-trends-for-2022/
- https://www2.deloitte.com/ca/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/future-of-food-a-canadian-perspective.html
- https://www.ledevoir.com/vivre/alimentation/655896/l-alimentation-en-2022-5-tendances-axees-sur-l-humain
- https://www.facebook.com/iq/insights-to-go?tags[0]=food&tags[1]=canada
- https://ici.radio-canada.ca/mordu/3481/8-food-trends-2022
- https://www.vertcouleurpersil.com/blog/food-trends-for-2022-according-to-whole-foods-market
Text written by Audrée Hogue