Lifestyle Consumer Insights

Trend - Bubble tea options have expanded into ready-to-drink formats, and even brewing companies are taking inspiration from the beverage's ingredients. Specialty brews with creamy textures, tapioca pearls, brown sugar and fruity flavors offer a new take on the popular Taiwanese beverage.

Insight - Gen Z and Millennials are adventurous eaters, with these generations more likely to try new F&B products and explore global foods. Their openness to F&B has been impacted by social media--where being introduced to global cuisines or novelty foods is the norm. These demographics seek out new food experiences and purchase from brands that prioritize authenticity when replicating traditional foods.

Trend - CPG brands and restaurants are launching foods made with chai ingredients. Chai is popular in drinks for its strong, spicy, floral flavor, and its health benefits. This is now being made available to non-tea-drinkers in the form of snacks, breakfast bars, bakery items, and packaged goods.

Insight - The modern consumer in North America has countless flavors from international locations available to them for snacks, drinks, and foods. These consumers are willing to try new flavors, pairings, or interpretations of recipes, to find a new flavor, with priority given to functional foods. Some of the most popular flavors for drinks, such as chai tea or blue curacao in alcohol, are often only found in beverages, making it difficult for certain customers to ever try these flavors.

Trend - Amid the rising cost of chicken set on by the pandemic, restaurants are turning to dark meat alternatives for chicken wings. Chicken thighs are meatier and often richer in taste, making them a popular choice for QSR brands across North America. These are served fried, tossed, or with sauces.

Insight - Restaurants were of the industries hit the hardest by the pandemic, with rising costs of supply and an ever-dwindling consumer base willing to dine in. Following the pandemic, while indoor dining has returned, prices and supply have yet to return to normal. Restaurants with affected supply sought alternative products to ensure steady supply and affordable pricing, creating demand for typically less-used parts of foods in North America, such as chicken thighs or feet.

Trend - As more consumers turn to healthier alternatives to alcohol, no or low-alcohol beverages and mixers are being infused with vitamins to up their nutritional benefits. Wine, beer, seltzers and mixers are all being adapted for the modern, health-conscious consumer.

Insight - Millennial and Gen Z are changing what social drinking looks like, opting for low abv, healthy ingredients, or alternatives to alcohol altogether--like using cannabis instead. These consumers are increasingly seeking out drinking experiences that help relax them and make them feel good--on top of being better for them. As Gen Z consume less alcohol than proceeding generations, they seek out brands that adapt to their lifestyle and more casual approach to drinking.

Trend - Apps and virtual care that are specifically designed for people with gastrointestinal diseases are on the rise--addressing illnesses like IBS and GERD. These apps both educate and help users track symptoms--allowing them to identify and avoid triggers, and create plans to optimize wellbeing.

Insight - The growth of virtual care and wellness industries has allowed individuals to find community and get ahead of their health, particularly those who have illnesses that are stigmatized. Combining this sense of community with predictive monitoring allows for a personalized approach to healthcare--which isn't always possible in traditional medical settings. Targeted virtual care makes individual lifestyles and needs a priority, while reducing costs for patients.

Trend - Brands and charitable orgs are addressing how women's health can impact their employment. These brands are raising awareness about how PMS and menopause symptoms can impact one's ability to work, and campaigning for policies (like paid leave) that address this concern.

Insight - Brands are addressing gender discrimination through updated hiring practices, maternity leave, education, and pay equity. However, some of the challenges women face in the workforce are less outwardly visible--but have a significant impact nonetheless. Menstruation and menopause symptoms can impact performance and cause unintended gender gaps at work. Brands that address these concerns with paid leave and extended benefits create more supportive and (therefore productive) workplaces.

Trend - Coffee brands have focused their sustainability goals to the pods and coffee grounds themselves, but some brands are now making machines and brewers that are also eco-friendly. Brewers are being made with low-power functions, recycled (and recyclable) materials, and extended lifespans.

Insight - As more consumers are introduced to convenient and effective eco-friendly alternatives to traditional products, they're more likely to value sustainability when searching for products they intend to use in the long term. Eco conscious consumers are looking for ways to steadily adopt a lifestyle that has minimal environmental impact--and seek out brands that make sustainable claims without asking consumers to change their habits and routines.

Trend - Brands are creating towels woven with a waffle-like pattern. These towels dry faster, are more absorbent, and are naturally antibiotic when compared to traditional towels. Towels styled like this are also less prone to mold or unwanted scents due to the aerated design.

Insight - With rising water and energy costs in many regions, consumers are becoming more conscious of how often each textile must be cleaned to remain sanitary. These consumers are drawn to products that stay fresher for longer, effectively saving time and money on cleaning. One such area of concern is the bathroom, where people often leave the same towel for hand-drying for long periods. These consumers are investing in waffle-woven towels for their antibacterial and fast-drying traits.

Trend - Travel agencies are offering 'microcation' packages that include short-duration, event-packed getaways. These vacation are more affordable and are easier to plan than vacations, making them fit for customers of all ages. Microcations can also be taken in quick succession for versatility.

Insight - Each year, studies reflect that workers are taking fewer vacations and less off-time. This is due to rising costs of living, competitive workplaces, and scheduling constraints. As a result, many workers are gravitating toward microcations. These workers prefer microcations for the reduced cost, lowered environmental impact, the ease of slotting them into busy schedules, and the versatility of being able to take shorter vacations, but more frequently.

Trend - Brands in the sleep industry are transitioning to "greener" business models, and recent products include comforters made from recycled materials. Recycled plastic comforter fillings promote a brands' environmental priorities without altering the quality or lifespan of the products.

Insight - While more people are making sustainable purchase decisions and lifestyle changes, they're also looking for ways to be eco-friendly without altering their quality of life. Brands that help consumers transition to sustainable lifestyles while prioritizing equal (or better) product experiences will have a competitive edge as the market for sustainable products continues to grow.