A new report has shone the light on the food trends driving industry growth in the coming decade, with “better-for-you” and convenience trends set to gather pace.

In its new report, A Look into The Future of Eating, The NPD Group, an American-based market research company, forecasts that “better for you” foods, such as organic and low-calorie foods and beverages, will be among the fastest growing food trends over the next decade. Restaurant meals eaten at home, savoury snacks and appetizers eaten as in-home main meals are also expected to be among the fastest growing food trends, according to the report.

“As the population ages, levels of concern regarding food and nutrition are expected to rise,” Ann Hanson, author of A Look into The Future of Eating and Director of Product Development at NPD. “For this reason, ‘better for you’ food options are forecasted to grow strongly over the next ten years.”

The report also identifies the foods that will be declining over the next ten years. Among the foods expected to decline are quick assembly lunch/dinner foods – which are dominated by sandwiches; certain breakfast foods; and side dish breads.

“The study’s findings have major implications for food companies in terms of long-term product and packaging innovation, distribution, and recipe development,” Ms Hanson said.

A Look into The Future of Eating provides a ten-year forecast of eating trends based on generational influences, population, and trend momentum gathered from NPD’s 30-years of tracking eating patterns. The top trends – in order of growth expectations – can be seen below:

1. Organic
2. Restaurant meals eaten at-home
3. Low calorie foods
4. Salty/Savoury snack foods
5. Easy, convenient meals such as yoghurt, bars and other snacks
6. Appetizers eaten at home as meal replacements
7. Leftovers as end dish foods
8. Fresh as end dish foods

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