Eating and Healthy Living Trends

Mirrored from Aurametrix Blog

Recession changed our shopping habits from buy to bye-bye, yet there are some things we buy more. We are using 17% more discount coupons (according to a study by Inmar, comparing the first quarter of 2009 than in the same period last year).  We are buying more food for home use. So what exactly are we buying?

1. It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

• Sweet Spread: Sales are  expected to rise 26% from 2008 to 2013, Mintel says. That forecast is higher than Mintel’s initial prediction of 12% growth for that period. Overall, sinful sweets seem to be faring well in the recession. Hershey’s, the largest North American chocolate manufacturer, increased earnings by 51.4% in the fourth quarter. The British Cadbury company, which sells both chocolate and goodies like Trident gum, found its annual profits up 30% in 2008.

2. Yogurt: The new best thing.

• Low-end Probiotic foods: Sales of Lifeway Kefir rose 24% comparing the first quarter ended March 31, 2009. Annual sales of  NXT Nutritionals’s Healthy Dairy Yogurt smoothies were up 500% compared to fiscal 2007. Newest probiotic foods include ice cream and cereals in the US; cheeses in Portugal and Hungary; chocolate fudge cereal bars in the UK; energy drinks in Switzerland and Portugal and spreads in the UK. Pricey probiotics foods, however, are becoming less popular, and some prefer to get their daily probiotics from cheeseburgers. French health food sector consultancy, Alcimed, estimates a growth rate of four per cent per annum until 2013.

3. Vitamins, the new recession-fueled eats

• Recession Has Americans Turning To Supplements. Vitamins and supplements sales rose from 8 to 10%, according to different sources (Information Resources Inc., trans world news, wlns.com).  The trend will continue, as consumers are trying to prevent medical expenses.

4.  Home-brewed coffee

• Mintel expects an increase of 6% percent in retail coffee sales

5. Bread

• From a breakfast bagel to a lunchtime sandwich to a roll with dinner, the bread market grew 7%  and a higher growth rate is expected through 2013

6. TV dinners and prepackaged side dishes

• Sales of frozen meals and pre-prepared side dishes are expected to rise about 5%.

7. Alcohol

• Liquor sales dropped 5%-10% in the fourth quarter of 2008, but sales of cheaper bottles of California wine rose 2%

Other health trends include:

· 9% of U.S. consumers have cut down on smoking and 14% have cut down on drinking alcohol or bought cheaper brands, according to a February Nielsen Co. report.

· Shoppers bought fewer organic fruit and vegetables last year while the economy deteriorated, according to the Soil Association.

· Sales of meat dropped by 13 per cent, partly due to higher prices from more expensive brands.

· Organic clothing sales grows surely but steadily.

· Consumers are moving to eliminate anything toxic from their lives, whether it involves food, relationships or other aspects, and are renewing their focus on “authentic, beauty from inside.”