Over the last few years, individuals have fastidiously become more and more concerned about what they eat and how it affects their personal health. As a result, food trends have understandably surged in number and variety and as one might expect, the effect this has had on the F&B industry has resulted in significant changes in how many businesses function. With that in mind, let’s look at what the major food trends will be in Australia in 2022.
More wholesome plant-based diets
Diets based primarily on fruits and vegetables have become enormously popular recently, with various people searching for better choices to improve their lifestyle. While there are a plethora of plant-based diets available out there, the Mediterranean diet has remained the top choice for many years because of its wide-ranging health benefits, including a stronger heart and other disease-preventing aspects.
This food trend is unlikely to disappear anytime soon, so there are many new plant protein companies, like Impossible and Beyond, that are capitalising on the movement.
Home-style meals
Being stuck at home wasn’t something anyone expected to be doing for years on end. But with the ongoing influence of COVID-19 affecting the entire world and influencing people to avoid crowded restaurants even in 2022, cooking at home has been one of the predominant food trends.
Australia is no different, as even if one wanted to eat out, unpredictable lockdowns and restrictions sometimes make it impossible. Given that, people have taken the opportunity to buy more cookware to boost their skills in their home kitchen.
Robotic food prep and delivery
Machines and artificial intelligence continue to be utilised in many different industries and the F&B sector is no different when it comes to adopting this rising trend. Fewer people have been available to work for various reasons, leaving quite a few food establishments in need of finding mechanically automated means to satisfy business demand in Australia.
One such restaurant is Tan Hot Pot in Melbourne, which uses robots to help deliver food to its customers. As the years progress, it’s only a matter of time before even more eateries become automated and hands-off.
Transparency of ingredients
People have become much more switched on in regards to wanting to know exactly what their food is made of and where it comes from. This food trend is on an upward trajectory and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down in 2022 or beyond, for that matter, as in a recent Innova Consumer Survey, 60% of consumers around the world stated as such.
The enduring effects of this customer behaviour have led producers in the F&B sector to seek out new technologies like blockchain to help keep track of where food has been, how it’s been handled, and the conditions in which ingredients have been shipped.
Improving individual immunity
The global pandemic has inspired everyone to seek food choices that improve one’s health and overall immune system. Whether it’s supplements, vitamins, or other foods that are known to help fight off diseases, it’s one of the key food trends that the F&B industry is starting to take note of.
Online food & grocery delivery
Online food orders, including groceries, is yet another F&B trend that’ll continue to move upwards. In Australia alone, it’s expected that this market will hit US$2,280 million in 2022. And though that may not be much of a shock, what may be surprising is how Deutsche Bank estimates that the entire online grocery delivery market in the United States will jump to $120 billion in sales in 2025.
Food waste reduction
Creating less waste is an eating and F&B trend that has been around for a while, but recently, it has inspired the formation of groups like Stop Food Waste Australia. With technology allowing things like 3D food printing to existing in the F&B sector, there’s the certainty that it’s a trend that’ll keep going for the long term. There’s even a company in California called Apeel that creates an edible “skin” made from leftover agricultural products that helps prolong how long fresh produce can stay on the shelf.
City-based agriculture
Growing food has historically always been a task that requires large tracts of land, but nowadays, there is a growing F&B trend that focuses on achieving agricultural success in urban areas. Such “ultraurban” farms are already taking off in Australia, with Modular Farms Australian and Pocket City Farms at the forefront of this niche.
Cashless payments
This F&B trend likely comes as no surprise as many people use it when eating out or even ordering food. As cash becomes less and less desirable as a transaction medium, restaurants and CloudKitchen® delivery kitchens are making it a point to provide different ways to pay, along with self-service stations.
Dark kitchens
Being an incredibly cost-effective solution to what has been a terribly unpredictable and long season for the F&B industry, CloudKitchen® delivery kitchens are sure to grow increasingly popular as a trend in 2022. By giving businesses the ability to work at lower price points and simultaneously gain access to local customer bases in Australia, CloudKitchen® delivery kitchens are a modern answer to today’s demands.
If you need assistance in getting your personal CloudKitchen® delivery kitchen in Australia, just fill up the form at the bottom and we’ll get in touch with you soon!