TJC Selects Favorite Trends in Food, Beverage, Travel and Wellness for 2022 and Beyond
Call it what you like (2022, 2020 too…), the new year is upon us. It’s that time of year when we begin looking forward, tracking trends and planning accordingly, ready to sink our teeth into what’s to come.
We know that the events of the past few years have had an astronomical impact on the industries in which we work: food, beverage, travel, and hospitality. With another year of unprecedented times in the book–and the many ways we’ve changed and adapted to deal with them–we’re looking forward to seeing what the future will hold for these industries.
Our team weeded through trend reports from key voices + leading brands in these spaces to make our picks for the trends and changes we’re most excited about. Sharing a few of our hand-picked favorites below:
It’s story time: A Pop Up Grocer survey found that 21% of its shoppers were interested in learning about a brand’s founder and ethics--according to Emily Schildt, people are ‘really gravitating toward the humanity behind a product.”
In addition to the human touch, we also know that real, actual sustainability is more important than ever: both from a practical perspective, and also from that of consumer want.
According to Fast Company + American Express, “More than ever, travelers want to reduce their carbon footprint when exploring the world. Experts agree there will be greater loyalty for hotel brands that are eco-conscious and supportive of local communities. According to Accenture, 86% of travelers want to travel more sustainably, but only half of that number manage to do so often. American Express’ Global Travel Trends Report indicated that 72% of respondents agree that they are passionate about traveling to destinations to help boost tourism revenue and the local economy, and 77% agree they want to be more conscious about supporting small, local businesses while traveling.”
Wine intelligence also highlighted the importance of sustainability. Luxury brands now need to be sustainable, too (and not just by greenwashing), and consumers are likewise going to see lighter bottles hit the shelves as the industry accounts for the impact of shipping weight.
The pandemic has made us love our pets more than ever (is that even possible?!) VRBO sees traveling with our furry friends as a key consideration in future trips.
“With the huge uptick in pet ownership over the course of the pandemic, more families are opting to bring Fido and Fluffy along on vacation’ 40% increase in year-over-year demand for pet-friendly vacation homes.?
Pinterest predicts that the age of relaxation is here in travel:
“Forget jam packed itineraries, Millennials, Gen X and Boomers are turning to resorts and all-inclusive packages for easy, relaxing getaways.”
In ingredients: Well + Good’s Betty Gold sees seaweed as the new wave (no pun intended) of the next must-eat-green. “Step Aside, Kale: In 2022, Your Favorite Form of Leafy Green Won’t Grow on Land.”
Functional beverages aren’t going anywhere, besides on more shelf space. According to TODAY, “prebiotic sodas from brands like Poppi, Gist and Olipop are bubbling up. These sparkling tonics come in nostalgic flavors including root beer, cola and grape offer up something many of us are missing out on — fiber.”
Other functional beverages, like fast-growing Sunwink, use adaptogens and herbs in their sparkling tonics to offer benefits such as immune support and stress relief.”
Also from Well + Good—and we love this one: kitchen design is getting a refresh to focus on the increase in plant-based diets--and our want for access to freshly grown foods.
And all of that kitchen design goes hand in hand with dinner parties. Better Homes & Gardens sees 2022 as the year of the “resurgence of the dinner party.”
Beyond dinner parties, celebrations abound. Following the reality of the past two years, “Alt-bashes are here.” Pinterest has seen a major uptick in people embracing parties to bring attention to life’s most uncelebrated moments. Cue the divorce parties, pet birthdays and break up cakes.
Hey, we’re all just looking for something to celebrate, right?
Cheers, and happy new year.