The lowdown on 2019 Food Trends

As an office full of food lovers, we’re excited to see what food and beverage trends will be emerging in 2019. Hold onto your hats, there may be some surprises…

Ongoing food and beverage trends

Vegan

The plant-based food trend has seen a boom throughout the year, with Veganism becoming a trendy lifestyle choice for many. Vegan meal-prep queen and our pal, Feed Me Momma, is tempting us to give it a go. Check out her feed full of colourful deliciousness. Similarly, brands such as Pret A Manger and Marks & Spencer have hugely extended their Vegan-friendly options during the past 12 months.

Plastic-free packaging

More and more brands are jumping on the plastic and packaging free bandwagon. Chichester-based brand The Refillery are doing just that. Situated in the quaint spot of Draper’s Yard, it’s hot on banning packaging for things like laundry detergent and washing up liquid. They also stock dry grains and store cupboard essentials. Simply take along your reusable (plastic free!) containers and they’ll refill them for you, you pay for what you want by weight – genius! If you’re down by the water then you’ve also got the fantastic Mind-Body Medical in East Wittering who offer a similar service as well as wellness courses and Ayurvedic medicine services.

Food swapping is still very much a thing…

Think ‘courgetti’, ‘nicecream’ and ‘cauliflower-rice’, to name a few. Pizza brand Magioni now offer four gluten-free, wheat-free and totally Vegan alternatives to the classic base: Cauliflower, beetroot, courgette and pumpkin and they’re flying over the counter! We are loving Halo Top, the low-calorie ice cream allowing you to eat the whole tub and not feel guilty about it. If you’re based in London then make sure you hunt down some Co-Fro, the UK’s first free-from paleo and vegan soft serve ice cream, it’s divine!

Some emerging trends for 2019

Alternatives to dairy

Dairy-free alternatives will see an even larger spike in 2019, replacing the cow’s milk we usually consume on our cereal, tea and coffee and in cooking. Previously popular nut milks such as almond, coconut and hazelnut, are being replaced by the mighty oat. Brands such as Oatly, Alpro and Innocent have already rolled out their own versions. Soya is now a thing of the past and plant-based is the way forward!

Kids snacks will get a revamp

The New Year will see a shift in the way of nutritional plays on traditional kids’ favourites and will also see adult snacks becoming more child-friendly. The ingredients in cereal bars, cookies and crackers will get a nutritional re-boot and the contents will become ‘cleaner’. The Happy Snack Company are already full steam ahead with delicious and good for you snacks which cater for adults and children alike.

‘Better for you’ beverages

…And yes we mean non-alcoholic too. Fortunately, they are perfect for the post-festive season detox. Seedlip are leading the way and have released a grown-up drink that tastes like it should contain alcohol, but doesn’t. ‘Grove 42’ is the third drink in their range, to accompany the existing ‘Spice 94’ and ‘Garden 108’. You can also buy their cocktail book full of recipes for those of you who are giving Dry January a go.

Premium spice packets

Gone are the days of meal subscriptions, cooking kits and jars of spices in racks. 2019 will see a surge in portion-controlled spice packets and simmer sauces for home cooking. Fresh-ingredient curry kit suppliers, Tastesmiths are already leading the way! The team are passionate about sourcing fresh ingredients to provide authentic taste without compromising on quality and minimising waste. Give them a go and shop their kits here.

We’re looking forward to seeing what a New Year brings to the food and beverage industry, and sampling all the food of course!

All the love, Kitch X

To read our other blogs, click here.