Exploring the culinary landscape: anticipating 2024 Food and Beverage Trends

As we move into 2024, the latest trends in the Food and Beverage Industry will heavily shape the sector over the next 12 months. As with all trends, these will present both challenges and opportunities for businesses operating in this fast-moving sector.

Consumers have become far conscious of their health in recent times and this trend will continue to drive the food and beverage sector in 2024. Many people now prioritise well-being, and demand food and drink that not only tastes good but benefits their health too. Foods enriched with supplements like vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids will increase in popularity as part of this wave. This phenomenon is also driving increased “personalisation” of food – expect to see personalised meal kits designed to cater for individual health requirements become prevalent through the year.

The plant-based movement has been around for a long time, but it has broken through into the mainstream enormously in the last few years. Meat eaters are now increasingly becoming flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegans too! With more consumers seeking alternatives to meat, the amount and quality of plant-based options continues to grow, and this trend will be present again in 2024. Technology has delivered many alternative protein sources such as “mock” meats and yet more innovative products will launch through 2024 in response to the growing demand.

Sustainability and ethics are key drivers of consumer choices in the UK, and these will strongly influence the food and beverage industry in 2024. Increasingly, producers must show that their goods are produced sustainably, with a focus on reducing carbon footprints, and keeping waste to a minimum. Packaging has become a major consumer concern, and excessive, unnecessary packaging has become most undesirable. Meanwhile, using recyclable and compostable materials are a must. Ethics is also of vital importance to consumers – high on their list is animal welfare, fair trade, and supporting local farmers and producers. “Farm to fork” provenance will be even more important over the next months and years.  

The UK’s diverse population and historical connections across the globe have influenced food and beverage trends for decades. Ingredients and dishes from all over the world now form part of the average daily home menu in the UK. People have more adventurous palates than ever, with Middle Eastern and African cuisines now making inroads into our meal choices. These flavours will continue to tickle UK palates in 2024, but the major trend over the next months will be “British Fusion”, where British staples like roasts, pies and even the great English breakfast are given an imaginative twist with spices and ingredients lifted from global cuisines.

While consumers seek healthy, sustainable and interesting culinary experiences, old trends like convenience and value will continue to be crucial in the food and beverage industry in 2024. As our time seems to be more and more at a premium, ready-to-eat meal kits and ready-to-cook meal solutions will become even more popular. But quality will be paramount. And as the UK continues to labour under a cost-of-living crisis, pricing of products will continue to drive purchases. With the industry having to deal with the rising costs of raw materials, energy bills and labour issues, businesses in the sector will need to innovate to do all they can to capitalise on the emerging trends in 2024 while ensuring their products remain affordable!