Food and drink trends change yearly, giving “Wheel of Fortune” producers new material for the show every season. The fads in food have evolved dramatically in the past three years during COVID-19. Producers have pivoted toward health and sustainability while tapping into what their customers want the most. This list will show you the top six food and beverage trends in 2023.
1. Plant-based Products
Batting first in the food and beverage trends of 2023 are plant-based foods. These options are popular for those who practice vegetarianism and veganism. Being vegan-friendly is much more accessible now than 10 or 20 years ago. The plant-based food market is growing in 2023 and beyond. Its value has increased from $29.4 billion in 2020 to $52.5 billion in 2023, with experts forecasting over $150 billion by 2030.
Plant-based diets extend far past your typical fruits and vegetables. Nowadays, you can easily make protein-packed dishes from tofu, jackfruit, mushrooms and more. You can even make an entirely plant-based Thanksgiving to reduce your traditional meat consumption. Vegan products on the market have improved, and they’re one of the trends in the food and beverage industry to watch this year.
2. Local Sourcing for Food and Beverage Products
Plant-based products are rising as people try to be more conscious of the environment. One way they do that is by obtaining locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Produce from your local farmers market has a much shorter distance to travel than others from out of state. Locally sourcing shortens the supply chain for the companies and gives you a better-tasting product at home.
Businesses are shortening the supply chain and improving the transparency of their ingredients. Customers have become more intelligent and are checking the labels more often. Research shows that nearly two in three consumers try to pick food with clean ingredients and nutritional value. Local produce is better for you and often makes terrific dishes like guacamole and salads.
3. Health and Wellness
Another reason people eat plant-based products is for their health and wellness. Eating more protein and increasing your fruit and vegetable intake are the rage. You may have seen posts on social media about how to make your diet healthier with simple ingredient swaps. For example, many are upgrading their spaghetti with high-protein noodles made from ingredients like chickpeas.
Health and wellness is a significant trend in consumers, according to a report from T. Hasegawa USA, a world-renowned company for its expertise in consumer tastes. T. Hasegawa says food and beverage trends in 2023 reveal consumers are looking for food that supports their immune system, mental health and energy levels. They want dishes that improve their health instead of working against them.
People are also improving their health through beverages. Sometimes, you need a little pick-me-up with a flavored drink to brighten your day and help your brain. For example, T. Hasegawa USA’s report shows the rising popularity of lemon water. Drinking this beverage gives you hydration from water and vitamins and mineral from lemon juice, such as calcium, potassium and vitamin C.
4. International Flavors in Food and Beverage
The pandemic has greatly restricted international travel for many. Some made plans to visit other continents but saw canceled plans for legal restrictions or other reasons. So, people have decided to take the international dishes they’ve been craving and bring them home. The global food market is another to watch out for in 2023 and beyond.
Americans enjoy international flavors, such as Korean barbecue and other street foods. You likely have visited these restaurants nearby, as they allow you to taste another country without worrying about a plane ticket. Restaurant menus have included international-inspired dishes to appeal to the curious eater. For example, Burger King has unveiled a new lineup of chicken sandwiches with Italian and Mexican influences.
5. Retro Cuisine
Everyone has a dish they get nostalgic thinking about. It could be the Kid Cuisine TV dinners, cosmic brownies, Pepsi Blue or Reese’s Swoops. Do these early 2000s foods ring a bell? Nostalgia runs rampant, and companies know that. These classics bring back memories as warm as the food, and 2023 looks like it will unveil retro cuisine trends in the food and beverage industry.
Whole Foods’ trend report for 2023 shows that companies are bringing back old favorites in a new form. Plant Power Fast Food (PPFF), a San Diego-based chain, has taken Dairy Queen’s classic blizzard and made it vegan-friendly with plant-based ingredients like oat milk. In late 2022, Mighty Yum unveiled a spin-off of Lunchables by making a plant-based option for one of your favorite childhood snacks.
6. RTD Cocktails
The hard seltzer drink White Claws debuted in 2016 and exploded in popularity in 2019. Since then, cans of flavored alcoholic beverages have been everywhere on grocery store shelves. Now, more companies are getting into the market with their spin on the drinks. The next big things look like the classics you may have consumed before.
Recently, Coca-Cola announced a partnership with Brown-Forman to put a ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail of Coke and whiskey on shelves. Southern fans of Bojangles can enjoy a can of its alcohol-infused sweet tea that will hit shelves in 2023.
Drinks with a low or zero alcohol by volume (ABV) are gaining traction as more consumers want to enjoy their cocktails and embrace the fruity flavors. One low-ABV beverage rising in popularity is kombucha. This beverage has a tiny amount of alcohol but has health benefits like probiotics and antioxidants.
2023 Trends in the Food and Beverage Industry
Trends come and go with the times, while other fads make a return. 2023 shows that consumers prioritize health and sustainability more than they ever have. They also long for favorites that take them back to the simpler days of childhood. The food and beverage trends of 2023 will see a meteoric rise in the plant-based food industry as more people get on board with vegan-friendly products.