Mairéad Mc Keown – Library Manager & Information Specialist, Bord Bia - The Irish Food Board
Mintel’s Chris Brockman recently highlighted 9 Innovative UK Food and Drink Products Launched in the UK in 2019 and how “innovation continues to be driven by unexpected crossovers and dietary requirements, delivering a sense of ‘familiar novelty’ that is both reassuring and exciting”. (Brockman, 2019). This FoodAlert will briefly look at the importance of trends, 9 innovative new products and the Bord Bia Consumer Lifestyle Trends they align to and finally set out the implications for Irish suppliers.
Why are Trends so important?
Bord Bia’s Consumer Lifestyle Trends can help Irish suppliers look forward, ensuring that their strategies remain proactive in the changing landscape. Trends can also act as a catalyst for new thoughts and ideas, providing inspiration for profitable growth. The importance of Bord Bia’s Consumer Lifestyle Trends cannot be over-stated. When we carefully consider new product launches and the trends which they align to, we can be inspired & informed by examples in the market. (Bord Bia, 2018)
9 Innovative UK Food & Drink products Launched in 2019:
1. Marmite Crunchy Peanut Butter:
The launch of Marmite Crunchy Peanut Butter has enabled Unilever to bring British consumers a brand new flavour experience in 2019! Inspired by a sharp increase in consumers snapping pictures of Marmite mixed with peanut butter and posting them to social media, this is a truly consumer led innovation. Marmite Crunchy Peanut Butter is a vegetarian spread which is fortified with B vitamins and contains no palm oil or added sugar.
This new product aligns to the following Bord Bia Consumer Lifestyle Trends: Busy Lives, Responsible Living, Health & Wellbeing and Engaging Experiences.
Image Mintel GNPD
2. Coca-Cola Energy:
This new product is part of Coca-Cola’s overall aim to be a “total beverage company” and helps it extend its reach into the energy drinks category. Coca-Cola Energy contains caffeine from natural sources, guarana extract and vitamins B3 and B6. It is also available in regular and sugar-free variants. Unlike Monster and Red Bull beverages, Coca-Cola Energy does not contain the ingredient taurine. This new product aligns to the following Bord Bia Consumer Lifestyle Trends: Responsible Living and Health & Wellbeing.
Image: Mintel GNPD
3. Lazy Vegan Provencale Veggies & Chunky Pulled Peaz
Up to this point pea protein has taken more of a backseat, functioning as a background ingredient in food products. Not anymore, Lazy Vegan Provencale Veggies & Chunky Pulled Peaz brings pea protein center stage, as core ingredient with a chicken like texture. This time saving ready meal contains pea protein, pea fiber, potato starch and seasonings. This new product aligns to the following Bord Bia Consumer Lifestyle Trends: Health & Wellbeing, Busy Lives, Responsible Living and Engaging Experiences.
Image: Mintel GNPD
4. Marks & Spencer Lemon, Gin & Tonic Sauce
This new product provides further proof of the expansion of spirit flavours into new categories. Marks & Spencer Lemon, Gin & Tonic Sauce sees gin feature as a key ingredient in a dessert topping sauce. This is an innovation which enables tradition and novelty to come together. Lemon curd a traditional British flavour is paired with added gin and tonic. According to Brockman, “Sauces with the addition of real spirits could have appeal for consumers who are increasingly interested in unique or signature cocktails, including the 38% of UK consumers who purchased any white spirits (including gin) in the last three months.” (Brockman, 2019). This new products aligns to the following Bord Bia Consumer Lifestyle Trends: Health & Wellbeing and Engaging Experiences.
Image: Mintel GNPD
5. Young in Spirit’s Collagin Rose Gin with Collagen
For some time now collagen has been used as a food and beverage ingredient in Asia. Western regions are now witnessing the appearance of Collagen in the juice category but collagen enhanced spirits are a new departure. This Collagin Rose Gin with Collagen contains 11 botanicals with the novel addition of pure collagen. The label states that the end result is a smooth, velvety gin with floral notes, finished with a subtle rose sweetness. This new product aligns to the Bord Bia Consumer Lifestyle Trend: Health & Wellbeing.
Image: Mintel GNPD
6. Other Foods Crunchy Oyster Mushroom Chips
The rise of mushrooms snacks is being witnessed on a global scale, with marketers promoting them as a functional ingredient to help boost immunity and energy. These Crunchy Oyster Mushroom chips are vegan friendly, made of 100% natural ingredients, high in fibre, 1 of your 5 a day, labelled as good for the gut, freeze dried and cooked at a low temperature with just a pinch of Himalayan salt. This new product aligns to the following Bord Bia Consumer Lifestyle Trends: Health & Wellbeing, Busy Lives and Engaging Experiences.
Image: Mintel GNPD
7. Bol Bang Bang Sweet Potato Katsu Curry
As consumers try to embrace a more sustainable way of living, they are buying into the idea of wonky/ugly produce to avoid food waste. In its first year, Asda’s ‘wonky vegetable box’ sold 120,000 boxes of misshapen veg for an affordable RRP £3.50. (IGD, 2019). This message has rarely been communicated in the prepared meal category but Bol are changing this by including a logo on the back of its plant based, vegan meals which states that they are “PROUD TO USE WONKY VEG”. This product aligns to the following Bord Bia Consumer Lifestyle Trends: Health & Wellbeing, Busy Lives and Engaging Experiences, Responsible Living.
Image: Mintel GNPD
8. Bee Approved Vegan Organic Alternative to Honey
Made from organic brown rice, Bee Approved Vegan is a vegan-friendly alternative to honey. The product claims to taste like honey and contains no artificial flavours, gluten or preservatives. It’s well positioned to capitalise on the growing popularity of plant based eating and as a safe option for babies under one when eaten in moderation. This product aligns to the following Bord Bia Consumer Lifestyle Trends: Health & Wellbeing, Busy Lives, Responsible Living and Engaging Experiences.
Image: Mintel GNPD
9. Troo Pure Inulin Fibre Syrup
This vegan honey alternative provides 65% of fibre with 8g per serving, contains no added sugar, and features a delicate sweetness and no after taste. The manufacturer claims that eating at least 30g of fibre per day could support digestive health and help manage blood sugar levels. The plant based syrup can be enjoyed on its own or as a cooking ingredient and is packed with 65% fibre. This product aligns to the following Bord Bia Consumer Lifestyle Trends:
Health & Wellbeing, Engaging Experiences and Responsible Living.
Image: Mintel GNPD
The implications for Irish suppliers:
Irish suppliers who want to bring new products to market which help meet the future needs and wants of their consumers, should take inspiration from the examples above and carefully align any future innovations to Bord Bia’s Consumer Lifestyle Trends. Consumer trend led innovation is the sweet spot for Irish suppliers.
References:
Brockman, C. (2019). 9 INNOVATIVE UK FOOD & DRINK PRODUCTS LAUNCHED IN 2019 [Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.mintel.com/blog/food-market-news/9-innovative-uk-food-drink-products-launched-in-2019
Home - Bordbia. (2019). Retrieved 8 August 2019, from https://www.bordbiaconsumerlifestyletrends.ie/
viewer, A. (2019). On the way to 5 A Day. Retrieved 9 August 2019, from https://www.igd.com/articles/article-viewer/t/on-the-way-to-5-a-day/i/21470