Key 2021 food and drink trends for your food led business

As the end of the national lockdown nears, foodservice operators will need to take on board the trends in the ‘new normal’, writes Sheila Eggleston.

It’s never easy to predict trends, but it’s harder when the industry has just gone through one of the most challenging periods ever – multiple national lockdowns have rocked the foodservice sector. During this period, Brits became savvier through online cooking sessions with famous chefs, so they will be more discerning when they feel safe to eat out-of-home, and they will likely be looking for very high hygiene standards and contactless delivery of their food and drink.

A recent consumer poll conducted by KAM Media suggests that the ‘hospitality at home’ trend is here to stay, even when venues reopen. But analyst Mintel’s British Lifestyle Report says that while the total fall in consumer spending in foodservice in 2020 was £44.3bn – down -57.8% year on year, it predicts this sector will bounce back in 2021 and rise by £17.7bn.

Old fashioned meal planning saw comfort food boom over the past year with a shift towards easy to make and cost-effective old nostalgic classics such as soup, stews, lasagne and tray-bakes. Learning from experts that healthy dishes and diets play a crucial role in fighting off COVID-19 has also instilled interest in new lifestyles, with health by stealth as a solution for consumers still wanting to enjoy their food. There is more interest too in plant-based cuisine, with menu suggestions ranging from cauliflower base pizza to carrot packed muffins.