2024 Food service industry trends
The food service industry is undergoing transformative changes in 2024, driven by the increasing importance of data, the rise of cultivated meat, and an increased focus on the importance of nutrition in women’s health. Here's a comprehensive look at the key trends shaping the industry.
AI and Data-Driven Insights: The New Culinary Compass
The significance of data collection and utilization in decision making has been a growing trend in recent years. However, for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), data collection has often posed a challenge, either due to a lack of data or insufficient quantities.
With artificial intelligence (AI) tools now more advanced and accessible than ever, businesses can now access data easily and are better equipped to leverage the latest technologies by generating reports, answering questions, identifying trends, and making strategic decisions based on facts and data.
In the context of the food industry, the integration of data into decision-making processes translates into a deeper understanding of user preferences, personalized menu recommendations, automated order processing, trend analysis.
Therefore, we expect to see enhanced service efficiency with a more tailored and responsive offering, benefitting both companies and their customers or users.
Expected growth of the cultivated meat market in Europe
Cultivated meat, a product born from animal cell cultures, has gained momentum globally reshaping the food landscape.
From Singapore's ground-breaking approval for commercial sale in November 2022 as well as that one of the United States in June 2023, to Italy's ban in November 2023, the cultivated meat industry is a source of innovation and controversy.
Overall, it is expected to continue its growth, challenging existing the norms of the food industry.
The significance of data collection and utilization in decision making has been a growing trend in recent years. However, for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), data collection has often posed a challenge, either due to a lack of data or insufficient quantities.
With artificial intelligence (AI) tools now more advanced and accessible than ever, businesses can now access data easily and are better equipped to leverage the latest technologies by generating reports, answering questions, identifying trends, and making strategic decisions based on facts and data.
In the context of the food industry, the integration of data into decision-making processes translates into a deeper understanding of user preferences, personalized menu recommendations, automated order processing, trend analysis.
Therefore, we expect to see enhanced service efficiency with a more tailored and responsive offering, benefitting both companies and their customers or users.
Expected growth of the cultivated meat market in Europe
Cultivated meat, a product born from animal cell cultures, has gained momentum globally reshaping the food landscape.
From Singapore's ground-breaking approval for commercial sale in November 2022 as well as that one of the United States in June 2023, to Italy's ban in November 2023, the cultivated meat industry is a source of innovation and controversy.
Overall, it is expected to continue its growth, challenging existing the norms of the food industry.
Women's influence in the culinary consciousness
The once-prominent trend of consumers meticulously selecting diets and ingredients for specific health benefits seems to be on the decline in 2024.
However, an empowering shift is observed among women, who are increasingly making dietary decisions with a holistic approach to overall well-being. This includes considerations for hormonal health, fertility, menopause, and other aspects of women's health.
This shift is a departure from the previous trend where both men and women selected foods for specific health traits. Now, women, in particular, are taking the lead in making mindful food choices.
The once-prominent trend of consumers meticulously selecting diets and ingredients for specific health benefits seems to be on the decline in 2024.
However, an empowering shift is observed among women, who are increasingly making dietary decisions with a holistic approach to overall well-being. This includes considerations for hormonal health, fertility, menopause, and other aspects of women's health.
This shift is a departure from the previous trend where both men and women selected foods for specific health traits. Now, women, in particular, are taking the lead in making mindful food choices.
The paradox of trends
Despite the current trends like data integration, cultivated meat, and evolving nutritional narratives, a paradox emerges when examining the global culinary landscape in terms of sustainability and health.
Studies show that as economic prosperity increases, meat consumption tends to rise. This correlation is particularly evident in cross-country comparisons, where a positive relationship is observed between per capita meat supply and average GDP per capita. In essence, the wealthier a country is, the higher the average meat consumption per person tends to be. This insight underscores the strong connection between economic affluence and meat consumption patterns on a global scale. (source: our world in data).
However, the rise in meat consumption in economically developing countries conflicts with the growing wave of plant-based diets, vegetarianism and flexitarianism.
Simultaneously, there's an increase in obesity rates worldwide, posing a challenge to the food and health sector. In fact projections indicate that 51% of the global population, are expected to be obese or overweight by 2035 (source: World Obesity Atlas). This trend will pose a challenge and contradicts ongoing efforts to promote food and health. Therefore, collective catering companies will play a key role in forming healthier and more balanced eating patterns.
Despite the current trends like data integration, cultivated meat, and evolving nutritional narratives, a paradox emerges when examining the global culinary landscape in terms of sustainability and health.
Studies show that as economic prosperity increases, meat consumption tends to rise. This correlation is particularly evident in cross-country comparisons, where a positive relationship is observed between per capita meat supply and average GDP per capita. In essence, the wealthier a country is, the higher the average meat consumption per person tends to be. This insight underscores the strong connection between economic affluence and meat consumption patterns on a global scale. (source: our world in data).
However, the rise in meat consumption in economically developing countries conflicts with the growing wave of plant-based diets, vegetarianism and flexitarianism.
Simultaneously, there's an increase in obesity rates worldwide, posing a challenge to the food and health sector. In fact projections indicate that 51% of the global population, are expected to be obese or overweight by 2035 (source: World Obesity Atlas). This trend will pose a challenge and contradicts ongoing efforts to promote food and health. Therefore, collective catering companies will play a key role in forming healthier and more balanced eating patterns.
In conclusion, the latest trends show that 2024 is a year of culinary adaptation, where data, technology, and changing consumer preferences converge to shape the future of the food service industry inspiring innovative menu offerings that resonate with health-conscious consumers and shape new norms.
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