Four Trends Driving Colorful Product Innovation in 2024 and Beyond

Food, Beverage, and Pet Innovation Inspired by Evolving Consumer Trends

Product innovation can take many routes, and brands looking to consumer trends have no shortage of opportunity for growth. Each year, Sensient’s consumer insights derive colorful inspiration and trends from macro drivers and current market representation. How will innovation manifest in your world this year?

food

Discover 4 consumer trends driving new product innovation in the global food and beverage industry:

Relationship Renaissance

Interpersonal communication has changed dramatically in recent years. Although consumers have more access to communication tools than ever before, the onslaught of social media, text chains and video calls have led to stress and burnout, instead of authenticity and intimacy. Interpersonal relationships are emerging as a facet of wellbeing that consumers are eager to explore, and as a result brands are tasked with bringing people together.

46%

of US consumers

say that spending time in-person with friends and family is a high priority for them

Mintel 2023

77%

of Peruvian consumers

believe that it is important for them to feel part of a community

Mintel 2023

67%

of German consumers

agree that senior citizens are largely forgotten about in the digital world

Mintel 2023

Impact on Product Development

Brands can deliver valuable moments to consumers through products that celebrate togetherness, unity, and/or connection.

  • • Seasonal and Holiday LTOs
  • • Life Celebration Line Extensions
  • • Religious and Spiritual Line Extensions

Food Color Prediction

Rising interest in colors that represent times of togetherness

Consumer Trend: Relationship Renaissance

In-Market Examples

Mintel 2024

north

North America
Tostitos Holiday Trees Tortilla Chips

europe

Europe
Peace & Love Fruit Gums

asla

Asia Pacific
Festive Delight Biscuit Sticks Coated with Mixed Berry Macaron Flavor (Thailand)

laitn

Latin America
Seasonal biscuits and snacks

chain

China
Lawson Spooky Chocolate Mousse Cake

south

South Africa
Kara Nicha’s Vegetarian Diwali Snacks

Consumer Trend: Relationship Renaissance

Colorful Inspiration
Seasons of Love

love

Human Creativity

Technology allows us to automate mundane tasks, freeing up time to pursue more meaningful activities. Unlike technologies of the past, which existed as tools, today’s rapidly advancing AI-powered technologies seem to be on track to outpace human output. While consumers and businesses learn to balance the use of this emerging technology, it will emphasize an appreciation of what makes us uniquely human – our emotions, empathy, creative ideas and desire to connect with fellow human beings. To strike a balance between progress and preservation, brands and consumers will increasingly seek out uniquely human elements as a contrast to faceless algorithms.

47%

of US consumers

who know about AI are somewhat concerned about its increasing prominence

Mintel 2023

40%

of Us consumers

are actively seeking ways to disconnect from their smartphones

Mintel 2023

1/2

of UK PARENTS

have looked to social media for ways to make their children’s meals more exciting

Mintel 2023

Impact on Product Development

Brands can preserve human skill through scratch, artisanal and handcraft-inspired creations.

  • • Specialty toppings and inclusions
  • • Variety of layers and textures
  • • Handcrafted specialty flavors

Food Color Prediction

Demand for unique color inclusions and solutions that create a special effect

Consumer Trend: Human Creativity

In-Market Examples

Mintel 2024

north

North America
Walmart Canada’s Your Fresh Market Kitchen Table Classics Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese

europe

Europe
Spooktacular Science Vanilla Flavour Cupcake Mix

asla

Asia Pacific
Netflix Vanilla and Cookie Pieces Ice Cream (Australia)

laitn

Latin America
Creamy almond dessert

chain

China
Ben Gong E Le Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Crisp

south

South Africa
Woolworths Local Celebration Almond & Cardamom and Melktert Biscuit Selection

Consumer Trend: Human Creativity

Colorful Inspiration
Swirls & Spots

love

Turbulent Times

Uncertainty – long-term effects of the pandemic, economic instability, the rise of generative AI, climate change and geopolitical tensions – is the only certainty there is. Brands, steering away from their sanitized portrayal of reality, must present genuine products and services that fit into the current reality and help consumers deal with uncertainty.

40%

of Chinese consumers

say they have not used but are interested in using food and drink with fortified sleep-aiding ingredients, such as chamomile and lavender

Mintel 2022

89%

of South African consumers

say they are affected by increases in food and drink prices as a result of inflation in 2022

Mintel 2022

45%

of Dutch 16-24-years-olds

say they actively seek ways to reduce stress

Mintel 2023

Impact on Product Development

Brands can serve moments of tranquility to consumers through functional, mood-altering products.

  • • Ingredients supporting relief and relaxation
  • • Wind-down product offerings

Food Color Prediction

A surge in purple and blue hues from botanical sources

Consumer Trend: Turbulent Times

In-Market Examples

Mintel 2024

north

North America
Clover Sonoma Blue Moon Organic Blueberry Lavender Milk

europe

Europe
Blackcurrant and Lavender Flavoured Energy Drink

asla

Asia Pacific
Lemon Flavored Natural Green Tea (Vietnam)

laitn

Latin America
Duo of sweet tea dreams

chain

China
Glico Pejoy Chun Shui Mao Chocolate Flavoured Filled Biscuits

south

South Africa
Carmien Sleepy Time Rooibos and Camomile Tea with Strawberry Flavour

Consumer Trend: Turbulent Times

Colorful Inspiration
Relaxing Lavender

love

Fight for the Wild

We are now facing a global extinction crisis with more than one million species on track for extinction in decades. People can halt the crisis by demanding a radical and collaborative approach to address the challenges ahead for saving these species. Brands seeking to support endangered species can demonstrate commitment to environmental causes with themed launches and partnerships with activism organizations.

Hawksbill Caribbean Spiced Rum donates 10% of its sales profits each year to the Barbados Sea Turtle Project.

For every 250g of this traditionally roasted Chimpembere Blend purchased, R5 is donated to the Chimpembere Rhino foundation.

75%

of indian consumers

agree that it is everyone’s responsibility to conserve natural resources and/or protect the environment

Mintel 2022

Impact on Product Development

Brands can generate awareness and collaborate with endangered species causes.

  • • Real world creature representations
  • • Sustainability conversations supporting endangered habitats

Food Color Prediction

Requests for hues that bring endangered species to life in product innovation

Consumer Trend: Fight for the Wild

In-Market Examples

Mintel 2024

north

North America
Little Debbie Mini Panda Donuts

europe

Europe
Organic Spicy Vegan Paprika Lentil Chips

asla

Asia Pacific
Original 60% Rich, Dark Chocolate (New Zealand)

laitn

Latin America
Fresh prickly pear chips

chain

China
Oreo Sandwich Biscuits with Strawberry Filling

south

South Africa
Masterton’s Chipembere Arabica Coffee Beans

Consumer Trend: Fight for the Wild

Colorful Inspiration
Giant Panda Pals

love

Unleash the Rainbow in 2024 and Beyond!

Sensient color experts look forward to seeing these trends on shelves!
To jumpstart your new product development process with benchtop color samples, request a sample here. If you’d like to dig deeper into these trends with concepts or insights, get color advice, or ask a color expert for scale-up help, request a consultation with one of our local team members.

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