FLAVOR FLASH
TRENDING FLAVORS AND INGREDIENTS
TRENDING FLAVORS AND INGREDIENTS
Desserts and Confections
“The desserts and confections market performed well during the pandemic as consumers leaned into indulgence for comfort, but consumers are aspiring to make improvements to their health and diets. Brands are in a position to align dessert and confection innovation to meet these aspirations through encouraging mindful indulging practices, opting for lighter textures and formats, as well as renovating sweetener systems to make treats more permissible. Flavor innovation will also play a role in maintaining engagement with consumers in this transitionary period. Co-branding and blurring the lines between treat categories gives consumers the best of both worlds in desserts and candy while creating novelty by mashing up products in an unexpected but delightful way.” — Alyssa Hangartner, Mintel
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
CCONSUMERS REACH FOR LIGHTER, NATURAL TREATS
As consumers transition into their post-pandemic lifestyles, many are aspiring to make improvements to their diets. Consumers are interested in seeing more naturally sweetened products featuring ingredients like real fruit and honey in desserts and confections. Interest in desserts with lighter textures, including whipped and fluffy, outweighs interest in those with dense and thick textures.
CATEGORY BLURRING ELEVATES CURRENT PRODUCTS
Consumers no longer have to make a choice between their favorite treats. Brands have been mixing and matching dessert and candy flavors in new product innovation, blurring the lines between categories. The power of nostalgia and novelty is at play in recent innovation, with unique mashups featuring classic cereals, candy and even soda.
NUDGE FURTHER INTO TROPICAL AND INTERNATIONAL FRUIT FLAVORS
Tropical fruits are trending in several categories, including desserts and confections, and they make adventurous flavors more approachable. Looking forward, keep an eye on trending cuisine growth to indicate potential for dessert and confection flavors. Fruit flavors popular in Asian and Latin cuisines are positioned well for growth as consumers become more experienced with the variety of flavors in these cuisines.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
COVID-INDUCED INDULGENCE WILL SLOW, PUSHING CONSUMERS TOWARD LIGHTER, NATURALLY SWEETENED TREATS
As consumers transition into their post-pandemic lifestyles, many are aspiring to make improvements to their diets. Consumers are interested in seeing more naturally sweetened products featuring ingredients like real fruit and honey in desserts and confections. Interest in desserts with lighter textures, including whipped and fluffy, outweighs interest in those with dense and thick textures.
ELEVATE EXISTING FOUNDATIONS WITH CO-BRANDED OPTIONS AND CATEGORY BLURRING
Consumers no longer have to make a choice between their favorite treats. Brands have been mixing and matching dessert and candy flavors in new product innovation, blurring the lines between categories. The power of nostalgia and novelty is at play in recent innovation, with unique mashups featuring classic cereals, candy and even soda.
NUDGE FURTHER INTO TROPICAL AND INTERNATIONAL FRUIT FLAVORS
Tropical fruits are trending in several categories, including desserts and confections, and they make adven-turous flavors more approachable. Looking forward, keep an eye on trending cuisine growth to indicate potential for dessert and confection flavors. Fruit flavors popular in Asian and Latin cuisines are positioned well for growth as consumers become more experienced with the variety of flavors in these cuisines.
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Flavor Flash for:
Flavor Flash for:
- Consumer’s Approach to Sugar
- Lighter Textures are Trending
- Matcha Gaining Popularity in Desserts and Confections
- Spices Found in Desserts on U.S. Menus
- Consumer Fondness for Traditional Flavors
- And more!
*Data Source: Data Source: Lightspeed/Mintel. Unless otherwise noted, survey base is 1,961 internet users aged 18+ who have eaten desserts or candy in the past three months, April 2021.
Download the Full 6-Page
Flavor Flash for:
Flavor Flash for:
- Consumer’s Approach to Sugar
- Lighter Textures are Trending
- Matcha Gaining Popularity in Desserts and Confections
- Spices Found in Desserts on U.S. Menus
- Consumer Fondness for Traditional Flavors
- And more!
*Data Source: Data Source: Lightspeed/Mintel. Unless otherwise noted, survey base is 1,961 internet users aged 18+ who have eaten desserts or candy in the past three months, April 2021.