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Market & Trends
Adequate nutrients can help strike the balance for living a healthy life, especially when they can be found in foods and drinks that combine healthiness with practicality and convenience.
One of the biggest challenges of modern life in large urban centers is maintaining balanced. Adopting a healthy routine provides more energy and wellness. In addition, anxiety levels decrease considerably, reducing various physical and psychological problems, such as fatigue, indisposition, and stress.
Food can be one of the greatest allies to find this balance in a solid and long-lasting way. Data show that one in three Brazilians eats at least five quick meals away from home throughout the week. The tendency is that lunch or dinner – sometimes both – become snacks consumed while performing other tasks.
The relationship between food and stress
According to the 2022 Food and Health Survey released by the International Council on Food Information, stress is very common. People are looking to feed themselves to help cope with stress, depression, and fatigue.
Searches for the term “mood-boosting foods” grew 50% year-over-year (1,600 searches in March 2021 versus 2,400 in the same period of 2022), according to Pi-Datametrics. Terms like “good mood foods,” “best vitamin for anxiety,” and “best supplements for anxiety” are among the most popular on the internet.
Drinks that advertise mental health benefits are more common than foods, likely due to associating calm with options like tea. However, one-third of consumers have shown an interest in healthy foods that offer emotional wellness benefits, such as anxiety relief.
When you have a busy routine, it is important to invest in focus, memory, and creativity to fulfill all day-to-day obligations. At the same time, stress must be avoided. This equation is fundamental to overall wellness and certain nutrients act exactly on brain health, helping the body to stay alert.
Ready-to-eat foods as an option for intense routines
There are many foods that can contribute to reducing stress, improving focus, concentration, and anxiety relief. Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods end up being the first solution when it comes to balancing routines.
The global ready-to-eat food market is projected to record a 4.89% growth rate during the 2022-2027 forecast period. The RTE industries have become one of the few to see a significant increase in demand during the Covid pandemic.
Growth is driven by the pursuit of convenience in terms of saving time and less effort to prepare meals – which is highly valued by generations Y and Z. With this growing demand, manufacturers are focused on developing innovative products to capture and conquer large market shares.
In 2020, Freshly Inc., a food delivery service acquired by Nestlé, launched a new product portfolio for consumers “who seek to take charge of their health and nurture active lifestyles”.
Market segmentation
The RTE food market is typically segmented into:
- Breakfast cereals;
- Instant soups and noodles;
- Meals;
- Snacks;
- Bakery and confectionery products.
It is worth noting that due to the practicality and ease of preparation, the meal segment is the one with the highest growth forecast.
Marks & Spencer Food has become one of the leading food retailers in the UK by launching a range of ready-made meals with the Halal seal. Consumers can choose up to six Halal Food Authority-certified RTE meals, available at 36 M&S stores.
With the growth of the market, it is already possible to find products that meet the most diverse needs of consumers. Here are some examples:
Conclusions
Reconciling practicality and convenience to healthy and functional food becomes increasingly important in the daily lives of people, especially those living in larger urban centers, opening opportunities for innovation for the food and beverage industries interested in meeting this growing demand.