Pearl attended the October 2024 Grocery Innovations Canada Tradeshow in Toronto to identify the top food & beverage trends and check out the new product innovation behind these trends. Here are the top food & beverage trends we observed:
- Specialty Cold Drinks at Home
- Non-Alcoholic Craft Beverages
- Protein Power Up
- Surprising Flavour Blends & Ingredients
- Packaging that Pops
Let’s take a look at some of the trendsetting products.
Specialty Cold Drinks at Home
International Delight Cold Foam
- Product Summary: International Delight’s Cold Foam brings the experience of a coffee shop latte home by adding a rich, velvety foam to any iced coffee. With its creamy texture, it elevates home-brewed coffee by transforming it into a frothy, café-quality beverage.
- Innovation Fit: This product makes specialty cold coffee drinks more accessible with the ease of a ready-made foam, allowing anyone to create an iced latte experience in their own kitchen.
2. Maxwell House Iced Latte with Foam
- Product Summary: Maxwell House’s Iced Latte with Foam mix provides an instant, frothy iced latte, packed into convenient single-serve packets. With classic flavours like caramel, it’s designed for quick preparation, combining creamy foam with the signature taste of Maxwell House coffee.
- Innovation Fit: This product fits the theme by making it easy for consumers to indulge in a premium iced coffee with foam in seconds, offering a quick, convenient and portable option for cold coffee lovers.
3. Pocas Instant Bubble Tea Kit
- Product Summary: Pocas brings the bubble tea trend home with its Instant Bubble Tea Kit, complete with tapioca pearls and flavour-packs. With flavours that replicate the authentic experience, this kit is a hassle-free way to enjoy bubble tea without needing any special equipment or expertise.
- Innovation Fit: Pocas captures the popularity of bubble tea and makes it accessible for home preparation, satisfying cravings for this specialty drink in a convenient, ready-to-make format that’s perfect for cold drink enthusiasts.
These products show how at-home convenience meets café-quality experiences. Consumers can now enjoy specialty cold drinks without leaving their homes.
Non-Alcoholic Craft Beverages
- Collective Arts Non-Alcoholic Beverages
- Product Summary: Known for their art-inspired brewing, Collective Arts has ventured into non-alcoholic craft beverages, creating alcohol-free options with the same artisanal quality and bold flavours found in their alcoholic brews. These drinks feature unique ingredients that cater to those looking for the complexity of craft beverages without the alcohol.
- Innovation Fit: This line caters to a growing demand for alcohol-free options, providing consumers with complex, flavourful beverages that retain the artistry and creative flair associated with craft drinks.
2. Libra Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer
- Product Summary: Libra offers a range of non-alcoholic craft beers that deliver the full-bodied taste of traditional craft brews without the alcohol. Their varieties are designed to mimic the depth of flavour found in craft beers, allowing consumers to enjoy a refreshing, alcohol-free beer experience.
- Innovation Fit: Libra’s commitment to authentic flavours provides an inclusive option for craft beer lovers who prefer or require alcohol-free choices without sacrificing quality.
3. Nozeco Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine
- Product Summary: Nozeco provides a non-alcoholic sparkling wine alternative, with delicate bubbles and a crisp, refreshing profile. This beverage is crafted to replicate the celebratory feel of traditional sparkling wines, making it a perfect option for festive occasions and gatherings.
- Innovation Fit: Nozeco captures the celebratory essence of sparkling wine in a non-alcoholic format, catering to a growing number of consumers who seek inclusive, alcohol-free choices for social and special events.
These products reimagining traditional alcoholic beverages in a non-alcoholic form. Craftsmanship is blended with inclusivity for a sophisticated, social drinking experience.
Protein Power Up
- Protein Gummy Candy
- Product Summary: Protein gummy candy takes the familiar gummy candy format and infuses it with added protein, transforming a classic treat into a nutritious, high-protein snack. These gummies offer a unique way to enjoy a sweet, chewy snack while boosting daily protein intake.
- Innovation Fit: This product innovatively combines candy with nutrition, appealing to those looking for a fun and convenient way to meet their protein needs without compromising on taste.
2. Built Puffs
- Summary: Built Puffs are soft, marshmallow-like protein puffs packed with protein but light in texture. Available in indulgent flavours, they satisfy cravings for a sweet treat while delivering a high-protein punch in a unique, airy format.
- Innovation Fit: Built Puffs stand out as an innovative snack by reimagining the texture and form of traditional protein bars into a softer, more snackable option, appealing to consumers who enjoy variety in their protein sources.
3. Legendary Protein Pastry
- Product Summary: Legendary Protein Pastries are high-protein versions of classic pastries, crafted to deliver the taste and texture of a dessert pastry with the added benefit of substantial protein content. These pastries make for a satisfying, convenient, and portable protein snack.
- Innovation Fit: By transforming traditional pastries into high-protein snacks, Legendary Protein Pastry offers a new way to indulge while keeping nutrition goals in mind, bridging the gap between convenience and protein intake.
4. Truely High Protein Cereal
- Protein Summary: Truely High Protein Cereal takes a breakfast staple and enriches it with high protein content, making it a nutritious start to the day or a quick snack. With flavours reminiscent of classic cereals, it offers a nostalgic yet nutritious option for protein-conscious consumers.
- Innovation Fit: Truely Cereal turns a familiar breakfast item into a functional protein powerhouse, making it easy for consumers to incorporate protein into their diets in a fun and accessible way, whether for breakfast or on-the-go snacking.
These products pack a punch of protein into traditionally tasty food forms. Now it’s easier and more enjoyable to integrate protein into daily routines.
Surprising Flavour Blends & Ingredients
- Café Limo
- Summary: Café Limo combines the robust flavours of coffee with a citrusy twist of lemon, creating a bold, refreshing drink that’s both energizing and refreshing. The unexpected pairing of coffee and lemon offers a bright, zesty alternative to traditional iced coffee beverages.
- Innovation Fit: By merging two contrasting flavours, Café Limo appeals to adventurous consumers seeking new sensory experiences, transforming the typical coffee drink into a refreshing, complex beverage.
2. Auntie Bea’s Hard Brewed Teas
- Product Summary: Auntie Bea’s Hard Brewed Teas combine the refreshing taste of tea with a subtle alcoholic twist, sweetened naturally with BeeMaid Honey for a distinctive flavour profile. This unique ingredient adds a touch of natural sweetness and depth, setting it apart from typical hard teas.
- Innovation Fit: By using BeeMaid Honey, Auntie Bea’s creates a smooth, honey-sweetened experience that appeals to tea and cocktail enthusiasts alike. This innovative blend of tea, honey, and alcohol brings a refreshing twist to the hard beverage category, with a nod to quality ingredients and distinct flavours.
3. HealTea
- Product Summary: HealTea blends herbal ingredients with functional botanicals to create flavourful wellness teas that are both enjoyable and nourishing. Their teas often combine ingredients like hibiscus, peppermint, dandelion, and nettle, resulting in vibrant, health-focused flavour profiles that support wellness.
- Innovation Fit: HealTea introduces wellness-focused ingredients into flavourful teas, appealing to consumers who seek both health benefits and unique, aromatic tastes in their beverages, positioning tea as both a functional and indulgent experience.
These products bring a unique take on flavours and ingredients. They combine unexpected or health-enhancing ingredients to create exciting and innovative beverages for adventurous and health-conscious consumers.
Packaging that Pops
- Chef Bombay
- Product Summary: Chef Bombay’s packaging showcases bold colours and enticing images of its ready-to-eat Indian-inspired meals. Each package is designed to highlight the rich flavours and authentic ingredients, catching the eye with a vibrant, appetizing look that conveys quality and convenience at a glance.
- Innovation Fit: By using visually appealing, colourful designs and showcasing the food’s delicious appeal, Chef Bombay’s packaging stands out in the freezer aisle, promising an enticing meal experience for busy shoppers looking for something flavourful and authentic.
2. Billio
- Product Summary: Billio features minimalist, modern packaging with a sleek, clean design that highlights its focus on premium quality and innovation. The packaging is both functional and stylish, often incorporating a distinct colour scheme and design that make the product instantly recognizable and intriguing on the shelf.
- Innovation Fit: Billio’s use of minimalism and bold, striking elements in its packaging appeals to consumers who appreciate design-forward aesthetics, helping the product attract attention and convey a sense of sophistication and exclusivity.
3. Nellie’s
- Summary: Nellie’s eco-friendly household products are packaged in bright, retro-inspired tins and containers that are immediately eye-catching. The playful, vintage look is combined with environmental messaging, creating a design that stands out while communicating the brand’s commitment to sustainability.
- Innovation Fit: Nellie’s packaging appeals to both eco-conscious consumers and those drawn to unique, nostalgic designs, making the product memorable while reinforcing its eco-friendly values and clean, trustworthy image.
These brands use distinctive design elements, such as vibrant colours, minimalistic elegance and vintage charm, to capture the attention of consumers’ and communicate unique brand values.
Want more insights, strategy and innovation? connect with us at pearl-strategy.ca or John at johnchan@pearl-strategy.ca.
Source Grocery Innovations Canada 2024
