Consumers Seek Global Cuisine, Convenient Nutrition in 2014

CHICAGOInternationalism, convenience and prevention are all trends predicted to influence the lives of U.S. consumers in 2014, and will translate into the food and beverage arena in the form of ethnic cuisine and beverages, on-the-go eating and juice consumption to increase vitamin and mineral intake, according to new market research from Mintel.

A growing interest in internationalism is influencing shopping habits, according to Jennifer Zegler, consumer trends analyst at Mintel. "Sixty-seven percent of legal U.S. spirits drinkers are interested in trying alcoholic drinks from other countries including Brazilian cachaca, a sugar-cane-based liquor," she said.

Consumers are also taking a greater interest in global cuisine. "Today, 62% of adults who have eaten ethnic food say they are confident in their ability to prepare ethnic and international food and some 66% of ethnic food eaters who are parents say their children enjoy eating ethnic or international food," Zegler said. New cuisine trends will emerge, including Brazilian, Russian, Vietnamese, Argentinian and African food.

Consumers will also take convenient routes to meet nutrition needs. Around half (49%) of U.S. consumers who use nutritional food and drinks do so because they are easy to consume on the go," said Stacy Glasgow, consumer trends analyst at Mintel. Further, around half of juice drinkers consume juice to increase intake of fruits or vegetables as well as to improve their vitamin and/or mineral intake, she said.

"Stealth-health" products fortified with added nutrients, but resemble familiar food and drink, such as protein-fortified juice drinks or prebiotic fiber-enriched snack barswill also take stage in 2014.