A new era in supply chain planning and adaptability
The food and beverage (F&B) industry stands at the threshold of a new era. Consumers today are not just demanding quality food, but are leaning towards products that promise good health and wellbeing, sustainability, and new sensory experiences. This evolving landscape is introducing ingredients such as Ube, mandating higher protein content, and favoring plant-based and gut-friendly foods.
In addition, consumers are increasingly eager to travel through taste, seeking to explore the world through their palate. This trend emphasizes the desire for authentic, global flavors and culinary experiences that can transport them to foreign lands without leaving their dining tables. It is essential for businesses in the F&B industry to recognize and cater to this wanderlust for new flavors and tastes, as it opens up avenues for innovation and expansion in product development.
At the same time, food nostalgia is trending as well and supply chains in the food sector must keep up with all the different consumer demands and transform to stay competitive. But how can industry leaders futureproof their supply chains against this horizon of relentless change? Let’s first dive into some of the trends and new ingredients that food producers need to be aware of.
The rise of new ingredients and consumer preferences
The traditional palette of flavors and ingredients is giving way to a more adventurous approach. Ube, with its vibrant purple hue and versatility, is just one example of how consumer curiosity is reshaping demand. Ube could be the highlight in food trends this year. This bright purple tuberous root from the Philippines is gaining fame for its purple hue and earthy, sweet, and nutty taste. From savory dishes like purple mashed potatoes and gnocchi to sweet desserts and beverages, Ube has made its mark across the globe. Apart from its sweet flavor and Instagram-worthy hue, Ube is also packed with fiber, protein, calcium, iron, vitamin C and A, making it a nutritious and delicious choice.
It’s not only about the novelty—the push for functional foods supporting cognitive health and energy levels is equally strong. High protein alternatives, gut health supporters, and non-alcoholic ‘mocktails’ reflect a shift towards mindful indulgence.
From gourmet noodles with elevated protein content to the allure of comfort foods resonating with culinary nostalgia, the market is expanding in innovative directions. High protein foods with healthier ingredients are also in the spotlight. No more artificial flavors and sweeteners – we’re talking about high protein yogurts, ice creams, and cream cheese. Brands are even crafting puddings that are high in protein yet mimic the taste and mouthfeel of regular ones.
Mindful snacking and beverages focused on cognitive health are another emerging trend, with foods and drinks deduced to reduce stress and boost mood. With a significant percentage of consumers believing that their food choices impact their mental well-being, expect to see more botanical teas, seltzers and foods on the shelves.
The rise of mocktails, alcohol-free beverages that carry the flavor and feel of popular alcoholic drinks, is indicative of a growing sober-curious society. With the popularity of trends like Dry January and Sober October, it’s clear that consumers are seeking special, exciting drink experiences without the alcohol.
We can also expect to see more real plants in products instead of meat alternatives, a surge in the use of buckwheat as a superfood, and an increase in spicy condiments for the heat lovers out there. The industry is also noticing an upswing in interest towards gut health, and an increase in products supporting gut health is foreseen. The probiotic as well as the prebiotics market is experiencing significant growth.
This era signifies a shift in food consumerism and also showcases the fusion of global and local culinary elements to bring diverse and healthy tastes closer to home. With a focus on healthy aging as well as gut microbiome, health experts expect to see more tailored dietary choices to promote vitality and longevity.
We have started the year of heightened culinary experiences and exploration, with food and beverage trends that offer a respite from the fast-paced world.
The secret sauce: discovering the recipe for success
A robust recipe management system empowers consumer goods companies to accelerate development cycles, scale production efficiently, and manage competing priorities. An optimal system like DELMIA’s Recipe Lifecycle Management solution tackles these issues head-on, delivering a comprehensive approach to recipe creation, optimization, and execution.
Harmonizing your processes ensures recipe consistency across your entire organization. With complete control over materials and ingredients and real-time visibility into inventory levels, DELMIA’s cloud-based SaaS solution provides unparalleled flexibility and scalability, allowing for rapid deployment and global accessibility.
The benefits are clear:
Enhanced efficiency: Streamline workflows and optimize production processes.
Better consistency: Guarantee product quality and taste with precise recipe management.
Agile market response: Respond quickly to changing consumer trends and preferences.
Agile and resilient supply chains: Meeting these trends head-on necessitates agile supply chains characterized by rapid adaptability and efficiency.
This begins with robust demand planning that harnesses digital forecasts to anticipate profitable trends. Supply planning then takes center stage—balancing the need for new ingredients, suppliers and maybe machines against the backdrop of shifting consumer tastes.
For F&B producers, the success lies in integrating planning levels—strategic, tactical, and operational—across all units within the supply chain. This offers an unprecedented level of control and visibility, enabling businesses to pivot as market dynamics evolve.
Making advanced supply chain planning as easy as pie
Advanced solutions for an evolving market:
- Demand planning and supply planning: Equip your supply chain with predictive analytics to forecast demand and optimize inventory.
- Master production scheduling: Tactically allocate resources to maximize efficiency and fine-tune supply, demand data and forecasts to deliver accurate and feasible production plans, including increasing delivery performance for customer orders with more realistic delivery expectations.
- Detailed scheduling: Plan material flow, combine orders and create batches to generate ideal sequences in order to find the right balance between optimal production efficiency and best delivery performance.
- Logistics planning: Include inter-site and last-mile distribution in your strategy to optimize delivery and reduce carbon footprint.
- Workforce planning: Align your human resource strategy with business demands for maximum productivity.
- Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM): Enables you to control and synchronize operations on a global scale and harness real-time insights for yield optimization.
- Digital manufacturing: Use digital twins to simulate and optimize manufacturing processes before executing them in the real world.
- Emphasis on sustainability throughout the value chain: Commit to improved sustainability KPIs, decarbonization and reduced wastage, responding to the societal shift towards sustainable consumption.
The high need of food companies for integration across various planning horizons and supply chains makes it clear that the transformation is no longer optional but imperative.
Shaping supply chains for generations
By aligning with modern trends, such as increased focus on health-conscious and ethically sourced ingredients, F&B industry leaders can architect supply chains that not only adapt but thrive. Balancing efficiency with sustainability, they can minimize their environmental footprint while maximizing their market share.
To have the ability to adapt and flourish in this new age, companies must turn to integrated solutions that drive efficiency, elevate product quality, and enhance customer satisfaction. The future belongs to those who can pre-empt these changing tides and channel them into lucrative, sustainable business streams. DELMIA empowers your teams to quickly experiment with new ingredients and formulations. By capturing and documenting every change, teams will be able to work on multiple recipes simultaneously without losing track.
Discover the benefits
Don’t get left behind in the race for innovation. Gain a competitive advantage by transforming your recipe management processes with DELMIA’s innovative solutions. Unlock new levels of efficiency, quality, and collaboration. Read our ebook, “How Recipe Lifecycle Management Realizes Consumer Packaged Goods Manufacturing Excellence” to learn more and starting realizing its benefits.
DELMIA Quintiq Offer Marketing Specialist