Seeking to unnerve rather than scare, consumers create grotesque confections
Implications - As the normality of violence and gore increases, aspects traditionally associated with scary and frightening imagery are becoming mundane. Adding a humorous twist to dark holidays like Halloween, consumers turning to sweets and desserts reminiscent of abject objects, reflecting a turn toward more shocking ways to celebrate holidays.
Trend Themes
1. Grotesque Aesthetic - Consumers are turning to sweets and desserts reminiscent of abject objects, reflecting a turn toward more shocking ways to celebrate holidays.
2. Hyperrealistic Designs - Trend towards highly unusual and grotesque designs, which are realistic enough to shock even the most seasoned of foodies.
3. Ugly Is the New Beautiful - Contests celebrating ugly cake designs may inspire people to bake some funny tributes to loved ones instead of more typical designs.
Industry Implications
1. Fine Dining & Catering - The grotesque aesthetic and hyperrealistic designs offer an opportunity for fine dining and catering services to create unique and unconventional desserts for special events.
2. Social Media and Influencer Marketing - The trend towards consuming and sharing visually shocking desserts on social media platforms offers opportunities for influencer marketing campaigns to gain significant traction by adopting this strategy.
3. Novelty Food Products Market - There is a growing consumer demand for novelty food products that exhibit the grotesque aesthetic and hyperrealistic designs, creating a market opportunity for entrepreneurs in the food industry.
