Health-related goods seen profitable in new normal

CEBU, Philippines —  Anything related to healthy lifestyle and products, is seen to rake in good business revenues going forward in the new normal era.

“The Trend Driver Wellbeing and its Nutrition Pillar shape consumer behavior. We will see more brands use superfoods and other fortified ingredients that support lifestyle changes,” said the Market Intelligence Digest, an online publication of the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB).

According to the report, consumer demand for healthier and natural products is growing, as they adopt alternative diets and become more health-conscious.

Because of this shift in consumer preference, most brand are adding natural, organic, and beneficial ingredients to their offers.

Brands are joining emerging ingredient trends, such as the use of pea protein and other superfoods, it added.

The report sees an increase in the launch of healthy snacks and indulgent products to promote healthier lifestyles without compromising on taste.

These offer consumers more alternatives to choose from, especially to those looking for more innovative plant-based alternatives.

“These will allow consumers to improve their health by supporting their digestive system or even manage their emotions, reducing stress and anxieties. With an increase in the adoption of plant-based diets, we will see the creation of more natural and healthy, yet indulgent, products,” the report added.

Nestle is making available YES! snack bars with pea and nut protein in European countries including the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic.

The new YES! bars contain 10g of plant protein from nuts and peas, high in fiber, no artificial colors or preservatives, and are gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians.

Meanwhile, Mintel, a London-based market research firm, emphasized that a plant-based diet is a growing trend around the world while health will be a focus for drink launches as more consumers are getting health-conscious especially amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

This will make a significant rise “flexitarian” consumers as plant-based diets with less animal protein will no longer be a fad, but it will also become a new normal for growing consumers regardless of age.