The Future of Food Trends: A Shift Towards Viral Velocity
In today’s rapidly evolving market, traditional product development cycles are being replaced by viral velocity, according to recent research conducted by Bluegrass Ingredients. The power of a single TikTok video can now generate more demand in just 48 hours than a two-year marketing campaign once could.
With supply chain disruptions becoming more common due to unforeseen events such as bridge collapses or employee strikes, companies are being forced to rethink their formulations as a cost-containment strategy. The key to staying relevant and profitable in today’s fast-paced world is the ability to quickly adapt to changing consumer preferences.
Peter Losee, the vice president of marketing at Bluegrass Ingredients, explains, “There has been a collapse of traditional trend cycles under viral social influence. Companies that can formulate, scale, and deliver trending ingredients in a matter of months, rather than years, will be the ones to dominate in the years to come.”
The Upcoming Flavor Trend: “Taste-of-Time Travel”
According to Losee, one of the biggest flavor trends expected to emerge in the coming year is “taste-of-time travel.” This trend encompasses global flavor exploration as well as a nostalgic return to flavors that were popular around the time of Y2K.
“Flavor archaeology is driving significant growth in comfort foods,” Losee notes. “By tapping into familiar past food experiences, new products can evoke a sense of nostalgia and familiarity in consumers.”
One effective strategy for getting new products to market quickly is to start with a familiar base product that can serve as a canvas for trending flavors. Traditional flavors like mac and cheese and PB&J are particularly popular in sauces, seasonings, soups, and bread products.
Innovative Flavor Combinations
Product developers are also experimenting with unique flavor combinations to create innovative products. Examples include macaroni and cheese ramen, peanut butter and jelly energy bars, yuzu-gochujang hot wings, chamoy-tajin potato chips, and matcha chocolate chip cookies.
“These global flavor profiles are not just passing trends; they are becoming permanent fixtures in the American flavor landscape,” Losee observes.
To navigate the challenges posed by fluctuating ingredient prices, brands are focusing on formulating and reformulating their products to create more resilient and premium offerings. Rather than waiting for prices to stabilize, successful brands are using this opportunity to strengthen their product lines.
“The brands that will succeed are those that are proactive in building more resilient, functional, and premium products,” Losee concludes.