Drinking

Implications - Once associated with higher end, artisan foods, the use of floral flavors is now being embraced by brands in the QSR industry. The adoption of floral flavors allows QSR brands to enhance the perceived quality of their offerings, while also showing them to be open to experimenting with flavors.

Homework Question - Consider an element of an adjacent industry that your brand could adopt into its own product/service. [More]

Implications - An increasing number of brands are responding to consumer curiosity and the desire to experiment with cannabis by producing products and services that facilitate its use at in-home social events. For many consumers, cannabis serves as an easy and natural substitution for alcohol during dinner parties and other in-home social gatherings. These offerings display the propensity consumers have for engaging with products that make for an easier transition into social cannabis consumption.

Homework Question - How is your industry adapting to the space consumers are making for the emerging cannabis industry? [More]

Implications - The fusion of seltzer water and real juice is on the rise, with brands now recognizing that artificially flavoring their seltzers limits the range of potential customers that would purchase them. By using real juice, these brands are able to tout these products as healthier and appeal to pickier nutrition-focused consumers.

Homework Question - What element could your brand add to broaden the range of consumers your product/service appeals to? [More]

Implications - With more consumers now adding butter to their coffees, whether for its flavor or for various dietary preferences/restrictions, brands are releasing butter-based creamers to cater to these individuals. These items highlight the value of identifying and investing in more niche consumer behaviors.

Homework Question - Consider a small but significant consumer behavior within your brand's area of expertise. How could you cater to that behavior? [More]

Implications - Coquito, a traditional holiday drink hailing from Puerto Rico, is increasingly serving as flavor inspiration for food and beverage products seeking a touch of festive flair. Similar to eggnog, coconut-based beverage holds nostalgic elements for those who grew up drinking the beverage over the holidays. Seeing this beverage grow in popularity in mainland United States speaks to the increased appetite both brands and consumers have for consuming culturally-inspired flavors driven by human migration.

Homework Question - Where does tradition fit into your brand's process for seeking product inspiration? [More]

Implications - Sommeliers are an exclusive group of wine experts, however their knowledge and services are becoming slightly more accessible via various platforms. This shift towards enhancing education in this field comes as consumers increasingly seek out more information on the products and services they're considering purchasing.

Homework Question - How could your brand better educate consumers on its product/service on the path-to-purchase? [More]

Implications - The rise in popularity of ultra-filtered milk comes as the traditional milk industry sees growing competition from the many alternatives that now dominate the market. The extra-thorough filtration process this milk goes through prior to packaging enhances its protein and calcium content, and appeals to health-conscious consumers without lactose restrictions.

Homework Question - How could your brand revamp a traditional product/service it offers? [More]

Implications - Tea brands are looking to distinguish themselves by offering their products in alternative formats, or for alternative uses than those that teas are typically consumed for. These items allow for such brands to stand out in an over-saturated market, while catering to the more niche needs and preferences of consumers.

Homework Question - How could your brand offer specialty products/services that appeal to more niche needs? [More]

Implications - Oat milk's rising popularity as an alternative to regular milks or traditional lactose-free options, has led to its incorporation in CPG beverages and foods. These products come in reaction to consumers' expectations that brands cater to and make widely-available their diverse, niche preferences.

Homework Question - How could your brand better cater to niche consumer preferences within its area of expertise? [More]

Implications - While the typical espresso shot is often enjoyed freshly brewed or on-site at a cafe, packaged alternatives are emerging to satiate consumers looking for more convenient caffeine alternatives. While on-the-go coffee is certainly not a new phenomenon, we’re seeing that evolve into one-shot packaged offerings to allow consumers to enjoy a jolt of caffeine at their own leisure. A great way for brands to expand product lines onto store shelves, these one-shot packaged beverages speak not only to the change in format for coffee beverages but the emerging desire for more immediate, on-the-go options.

Homework Question - How can you make your most desirable product more accessible to consumers on-the-go? [More]