13 Jan 2020 Vision
We all know that veganism is going to be bigger than a prize turnip in 2020, and that drinking and thinking have become unlikely bedfellows as we take a more conscious approach to alcohol consumption, but what else is likely to tickle the nation’s fancy in the next 12 months? Read on.
Frozen
The film was big, but the actual freezer is enjoying blockbuster status, according to BBC Good Food, which made it one of its trends for 2020 . Things cooled on the frozen front in recent decades, but in the roaring ‘20s, expect the no-waste trend to give the deep freeze a new lease of life. One new M&S store has a freezer section 75% bigger than usual with 291 lines, because ‘new challenger brands and convenient no-waste options’ are taking up space. Waitrose also reports that premium frozen food, from croissants to garlic, is going mainstream.
Japanalia
With the Tokyo Olympics kicking off in July following the Rugby World Cup last year, expect everything Japanese to enjoy its moment in the (rising) sun. Lakeland’s cherry blossom baking moulds and sushi equipment will pop up in a kitchen near you, while in the food aisle Japanese noodles, sauces, sushi and ready meals will be everywhere.
Swanky salads
Lettuce, tomato and cucumber just doesn’t cut it these days. Salads today are stuffed with shoots, sprouts, seeds and grains, with a generous helping of something roasted, smashed or shaved on top. According to Deliveroo data, customers are three-times more likely to order a salad than this time last year – and with double the types of salad available on the platform.
Cooking from scratch, simply
The rise of food delivery firms and ready meals might make you think that cooking from scratch is a dying art. Not so – more half of us cook from scratch at least five days a week, according to Lakeland, while three-quarters do so at least three times a week. But, while cooking is still king, most of us cook our evening meal in less than 30 minutes, according to Waitrose, and more than a third are taking shortcuts such as using pouches of rice or grains, frozen chopped vegetables or herbs, and batch cooking.
Green cleaning
As eco and vegan trends continue to rise, people want to make conscientious choices with cleaning products too. Sales of eco household cleaning products at Waitrose are up 17%, eco laundry sales have risen 40% and eco dishwashing products are up 26%. Even recycled toilet paper is selling 39% more than last year. With Lakeland also launching a new eco cleaning range, expect others to follow suit.
Unpackaging
This is set to be the year of ‘unpackaging’ where more products are sold with minimal packaging, or none at all. Brands that start 2020 on the back foot when it comes to packaging, may find themselves paying for it later in the year. According to Lakeland’s trends survey, six in 10 shoppers say they now consciously try to shop at an outlet that is cutting back on single-use plastics.
- For more of this year’s top trends, tune into the Product of the Year Awards 2020, live on twitter @POY_UK on January 23.