Autumn food trends: “School cake mania” is evolving into an “Angel Delight obsession”, say trends experts, with some bakeries now offering Angel Delight croissants. Dot cakes also remain a key trend. Meanwhile, astragalus root is tipped to replace lion’s mane as the next hot adaptogen. [Source: The Guardian]
Self-sufficiency down: Britain produces less food today than it did 30 years ago, farmers and growers have warned. Self-sufficiency has declined for 10 out of 11 everyday foods, including beef, wheat and eggs. [Source: NFU]
Eating out as a special treat: Nearly 70% of Gen Z adults in the UK see eating out as a treat reserved for special occasions, a survey suggests. 74% say they like to experience new foods and cuisines, and 59% discover new restaurants through recommendations from family and friends. [Source: YouGov]
Attitude-action gap on provenance: 83% of UK shoppers say British provenance matters to them when buying food and drink, but only 34% actively seek out British products, a new survey has found. [Source: The Grocer]
Fruit stations in Tesco: The retailer has rolled out a new standalone chilled fixture offering fruit pots and prepared fruit platters. It is operated by supplier Wonderfield Group, following in the footsteps of similar models in the US. [Source: IGD]
Boom in coffee concentrates: They have been one of the standout successes of the UK coffee category over the past year, highlighting consumer demand for convenient, versatile and café-style products, say analysts at Worldpanel. Value sales are up 182.9% and volumes are up 119.5%. [Source: The Grocer]
Weight-loss apps: A new generation of AI-powered weight-loss apps promises to help people build healthier habits, including while taking GLP-1 medication. But experts warn constant food logging and monitoring can become unhealthy. [Source: BBC Food]
Death of the dining room: 23% of UK homeowners have repurposed their dining rooms to an alternative purpose, a new survey suggests. [Source: Aviva]
Uncanny menus: AI-generated imagery is becoming more common on food menus, sometimes provoking strong negative reactions from diners. Weird-looking texture is a common issue. [Source: The Guardian]
Butter boutique: Le Butter Shop is Paris’s first shop dedicated entirely to butter and has already earned a cult following thanks to its wide range of unusual artisanal butters. [Source: The Times]
