As we end the year, I wanted to take a look back at the food and beverage industry trends that have shaped the first half of the decade. The Internet and social media not only continue to affect our professional lives to a large extent, they also have presented many challenges to the food and beverage manufacturing industry. The result is a concerted effort by the industry to respond to consumers who are demanding total transparency, clean labels and organic, gluten-free, locally sourced and fresh products. Many of the Millennials expect nothing less when it comes to the food and beverages they consume.
While consumer demands shift, reducing meal prep time will remain a priority for most working people. The growing snacking versus meals trend supports this point.