Category
Lifestyle
Serial Snacking
Trend cluster
Category
Unexpected
Confectionery
Sweets are added to unconventional food items for experiential allure.
2.9
Trend score
Trend
What is the Unexpected Confectionery trend?
Unexpected Confectionery: No longer satisfied with traditional consumption, consumers, particularly those of a younger generation, are turning to obscure food pairings for experiential allure. Adding sweets like cotton candy to savory dishes and beverages, consumers are seeking to not only heighten flavor, but also to add an element of intrigue to typically ordinary meals. This reflects a growing desire to constantly adapt and alter routine.
Trend themes
Themes within the Unexpected Confectionery trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Experiential Food Pairings
Younger generation seeking to heighten flavor and add an element of intrigue to typically ordinary meals.
02
Hybrid Foods
Innovators creating innovative food pairings like meaty cotton candy confections, yam-shaped ice creams.
03
Flavor Innovation
Trend of combining traditional savory foods with sweets like the cotton candy beverage and cotton candy shooters.
Industry implications
What the Unexpected Confectionery trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Food and Beverage Industry
Opportunity to create unique hybrid food items by combining traditional foods with sweets or other unexpected flavor profiles.
For
Hospitality Industry
Experiential dining options can be introduced to appeal to younger generations of diners seeking playful and imaginative restaurant experiences.
For
Consumer Goods Industry
Manufacturers and distributors can create unique and adventurous new products based on trending consumer preferences, such as the desire for experiential food and flavor innovation.
Workshop question
How can you repackage your offering in a completely unexpected way?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Unexpected Confectionery
Trend score 2.9 out of 10, from popularity 43%, activity 36%, freshness 8%.
Popularity43%
Activity36%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Evidence
Examples of the Unexpected Confectionery trend
5 featured examples from Sep 2, 2014 to Aug 17, 2015CategoryUnique
Yam-Shaped Ice Creams
Japan's Roasted Sweet Potato-Shaped Ice Cream is an Icy Treat
Disruptive innovation opportunity for food manufacturers to experiment with designing and producing ice cream treats that imitate popular foods.
CategoryLifestyle
Meaty Cotton Candy Confections
This Bizarre Dish Combines Sweet Candy Floss with Savory Pork Belly
Restaurants, cafes and bars can offer experimental food and drink options to attract and retain customers.
CategoryLifestyle
Cotton Candy Beverages
This Cold Tea Beverage Tastes Like a Favorite Fun Fair Snack
Beverage companies can capitalize on the trend of nostalgic and unique flavors to create new and exciting products for consumers.
CategoryLifestyle
Cotton Candy Shooters
This Recipe For Ice Cream Shots Calls For Vodka and Flavored Ice Cream
The food and beverage industry can tap into the growing trend of alcohol-infused desserts, experiential dining, and DIY dessert kits.
CategoryLifestyle
Ramen-Infused Ice Cream
This Frozen Dessert is Flavored with the Taste of Instant Noodles
The F&B industry can explore incorporating unconventional flavors and ingredients into their products to appeal to adventurous eaters and generate excitement.
