Campbell’s is back in the news – its Culinary & Baking Institute, made up of skilled chefs, bakers, and other culinary professionals at the soup company, released a report outlining the top 10 influential food trends and themes for 2016.
The report identifies and categorizes most impactful food trends and follows their evolution throughout the year. Each trend has the ability to influence creative food packaging and inspire both a product and marketing revolution.
Take it from the professionals – the top 10 trends to keep an eye out for this year are:
1. Cooking with Fire
Chefs are getting creative with the way they use fire, taking the element beyond the grill to craft incendiary cocktails and desserts. Deliberately burnt dishes will rise in popularity this year, as will the inclusion of specialty woods and charcoals to add an enhanced, smoky flavor to dishes. Think brick oven pizzas, smoked BBQ flavors, and the taste of a campfire right smack dab in the middle of a high-end restaurant. Skilled cooks will perfect the art of burning and drying food at the same time to make ash a delicious – not unfortunate – part of the dining experience.
2. Authentic Thai
Independent restaurants are springing up across the country, serving up more authentic, home-style Thai food that incorporates aromatic ingredients like curry, coconut, lemongrass, and chili. Dining establishments won’t be the only place to please your palate – brands like A Taste of Thai and Simply Asia are bringing the culinary delights to consumers’ homes by packaging sauces and pastes in convenient stand up pouches that lock in flavor, fragrance, and freshness.
3. French Revival
Sweet and scrumptious comfort food rarely goes out of style, and when it comes to pastries and other baked goods, French bistros and cafes will be the inspiration for chefs this year. Companies like The French Patisserie are serving up gourmet to-go items, like macarons, meringues, and mousse, that will transport consumers to the City of Light. A new wave of make-at-home desserts will emerge, inspired by more modern eateries across the waters. Brands will embrace stand pouches for baking mix as a more future-forward alternative to the traditional “bag in box,” making it easy and convenient to whip up delicious desserts at home without the mess and waste.
4. Inspired Ice Cream
Creameries are getting creative with their frozen treats, introducing inventive new flavors like chorizo-caramel, black pepper-butter pecan, and hibiscus-beet. The fusion of sweet and savory will take off this year, as will the inclusion of more earthy, wholesome ingredients. Though consumers love guilty-pleasure treats, health and wellness is still top of mind. Including natural ingredients in ice cream will appeal to a whole new generation.
5. Traditional Fats
Though “fat” still remains a scary word for many, more of today’s consumersare realizing that low-fat diets aren’t necessarily the healthiest. Eating healthy fats, rather than filling up on carbs or “diet” food and beverage items, is more widely accepted. Foods like nuts and avocados are quickly becoming a staple in the eating habits of many Americans, and products like FBomb by Love You Foods make it easier and more convenient to consume healthy fats that fuel you. Coconut oil and macadamia nut oil are just two items packaged in lightweight, durable pouches that can easily fit in a bag or pocket while consumers go about their busy lives.
6. Veg 2.0
It seems like kale has been all the rage for healthy eaters for the last year or so, but in 2016 we will see a surge in creative veggie dishes, like carrots wellington and zucchini pasta noodles, become staples in home kitchens and restaurants alike.
7. Asian Noodle Soups
Instant Asian-inspired noodles have come a long way since the inexpensive Ramen packets we’re used to seeing in stores. Brands are getting creative with the way they’re packaging sauces, designing modern and elegant soup and sauce bags that entice consumers to grab the product off the shelves and quickly prepare in their homes. Companies like Happy Frog are creating sleek soup packages with flavor varieties like chicken with bamboo, miso soup with wakame, and curry banana soup with chicken, while larger brands are taking advantage of custom printed, microwavable retort pouches for their preferred soup and sauce bags.
8. Haute Dogs
An all-American classic, the traditional hot dog is getting a makeover. Gourmet ingredients are being introduced as fun toppings that create an exciting eating experience. While standard condiments are nice, seeing mac-n-cheese, fresh mint leaves, or Fruit Loops available as hot dog topping choices is definitely more intriguing.
9. Simple & Real
Today’s modern consumer actively seeks out food that contains fewer, more wholesome ingredients. They look at the creative food packaging to learn what the product contains, and more and more food brands are taking note. Retooling products to eliminate artificial additives and revamping their packaging so it’s more eco-friendly and natural looking has become an effective way to draw in savvy shoppers. Transparency is key, and the way a food product is packaged can help build a foundation of trust and loyalty among consumers.
10. Caramel
A standard ingredient used in flavors of popcorn and chocolate candy, chefs will expand the use of caramel in beverages like cocktails and coffee this year. Salted caramel hot chocolate has been a popular go-to item during the warm-weather months, and the sugary confectionary will expand to other sauces, candies, and desserts for year-round enjoyment. The caramelization process may also rise in dishes seen on restaurant menus, especially as more consumer seek out flavorful and nutritious vegetables and soups.
(Top Image Source: Splendid Recipes and More)
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