Fuelling Wimbledon
Not a single ingredient used for food and drink at Wimbledon arrived via airfreight in 2023, an achievement the organisers say they hope to make permanent as part of The Championship’s commitment to sustainable food. The team also buys only free-range eggs and uses only Fairtrade sugar. [Source: ABC News]
The rise of cold coffee
Increasing global temperatures and changing consumer preferences are driving a boom in cold coffee drinks. Global consumption of cold coffee has grown by 15% in the past four years, according to Nestlé, with young people one of the key groups driving demand. [Source: WSJ]
Food content rules on social media
In a report by software company Sprout, 30% of respondents said food and drink influencer content is their favourite content to engage with on social media, ahead of beauty and fashion. [Source: The Grocer]
Supplements boom part 1
Vegans are increasingly turning to supplements to prevent nutritional deficiencies, it has been reported. Holland & Barrett has seen growing demand for supplements as consumers become more aware of how to support a diet consisting only of plant-based foods. [Source: The Telegraph]
Supplements boom, part 2
Almost a quarter of men aged 16-24 in the UK take supplements for exercise, according to Mintel. Amid growing concerns about body dysmorphia and ‘bigorexia’, some schools are ramping up efforts to educate pupils – especially boys – on body image, social media and nutrition. [Source: The Times]
Call for affordable lunchbox deals
64% of low-income families would like retailers to offer a lunchbox meal deal so they can easily buy everything they need for a week of healthy lunches, says the Food Foundation. [Source: The Grocer]
Fried chicken reigns supreme
UK consumers spent £4.58 billion on chicken in fast food outlets in the year to May 2024, according to Kantar data shared with The Sunday Times. This compares with £1.98 billion spent on fast-food beef. [Source: The Sunday Times]
Cheap plant-based fare
While European consumers remain highly price-sensitive, new research suggests they don’t necessarily prefer plant-based options that are cheaper than conventional meat or dairy. This could be because ‘cheap’ is seen as a sign of low quality, the researchers have suggested. [Source: Food Navigator]
The return of the luxury grocer
Cities such as London and Los Angeles are experiencing a resurgence in super-high-end grocers focused on healthy, natural and local fare, reports the FT. Examples include LA’s Erewhon and Bayley & Sage in London. [Source: FT]
Latte art champion crowned
Yi-Chen Xie of Taiwan won this year’s World Latte Art Championship in Copenhagen with artistic free-pours depicting a blue whale, a moose and a dragon. [Source: Sprudge]
