Lockdown restrictions preventing dine-in has many people cooking at home or using food delivery apps.
Changes in consumer behaviour and purchasing patterns were identified by Tetra Pak in its Trendipedia 2021 report.
The leading processing and packaging solutions company noted how 2020 was "a year unlike any other" due to the pandemic, which continues to affect people in various aspects.
The Trendipedia 2021 identified eight trends: Health First, Responsible Consumption, Convenience In-Home, e-Food Experience, Social Reconnect, Heritage and Provenance, Intentional Indulgence' and Personal Data.
The full version of this year's report will be shared with Tetra Pak's customers to ensure they are aware of the latest trends.
The Covid-19 crisis has made people more health-conscious as they now look for products enriched with vitamins or specific nutrients such as immunity-boosting foods to combat the virus. Consumers are also more focused on maintaining physical and mental health according to the Health First trend.
The health of people and also the planet is emphasised by the Responsible Consumption trend. With sustainability becoming more important for business success, brands continue to bring greater transparency into their products and processes. Food is expected to be carbon neutral while packaging needs to be clearly labelled and easy to understand to lead to zero waste.
The third trend, Convenience In-Home, acknowledges how people working from home may cook and shop online for a well-stocked fridge and pantry. They may also buy ready-made meals that will drive innovative packaging for in-home storage.
The preference towards convenience is closely connected to the e-Food Experience trend, which includes the use of AR codes to access nutritional and other interesting information as well as provide an interactive experience to drive consumer engagement.
