Bite-sized insights from the protein ingredient experts

Explore 2024’s Top Industry Trends

Protein is Still King
The Spicier, The Better
Manufacturing's Emerging Technologies
C-Stores Become Food Destinations
Retail Pizzas Evolve to Meet Today's Trends
Meat Snacks
Popularity Growing

TREND #1

Protein is Still King

Consumers are reaching for protein. Ready-to-eat protein options are filling the shelves as consumers seek protein sources for every meal. Alternative meat consumption, however, continues a downward trend. 1

Key Insights:

  • 17% of consumers prioritize protein for
    every meal.     2
  • More than one-third of consumers focus
    on a high-protein diet.     2

TREND #2

The Spicier, The Better

Consumers are obsessed with spicy foods, with more people adding heat to every meal. Hot sauce on eggs, spicy barbeque for lunch and cocktails made with hot peppers are how people are embracing their spicy side.

Key Insights:

  •  Over a third of people (36%) have introduced chili into their diets in the
    last two years, and 70% now say they 
    love spicy food.     3
  • 71% of menus and 11% of drink menus
    feature the word “spicy.”     3 

TREND #3

Manufacturing’s Emerging Technologies

More companies are mitigating supply chain risks and enhancing quality control by leveraging 
new technology.

Key Insights:

  • Frito Lay uses wireless audio sensors that can predict mechanical failures, helping to eliminate production slowdowns and interruptions. This new technology has added 4,000 hours a year
    of manufacturing capacity.     4
  • T. Marzetti uses real-time data from their automated weighing devices to detect product overfill and adjust as needed. This ongoing data analysis has helped cut product waste by 50%. 4

TREND #4

C-Stores Become
Food Destinations 

With the combination of people returning to offices and keeping nonconventional work hours, c-stores have been experiencing rapid growth. People are turning more and more to c-stores
as food destinations, and operators are filling
the shelves with innovative, ready-to-eat
meals and snacks.  

Key Insights:

  • Afternoon and late-day snacks are the most common time for c-store snack purchases. 5
  • 60% of consumers see convenience stores as food destinations, with 25% regularly visiting
    c-stores for lunch.     5

TREND #5

Retail Pizzas Evolve to
Meet Today’s Trends

Tighter budgets and rising grocery costs have consumers opting for frozen or grocery store pizzas instead of restaurant or takeout pizzas. Pizza manufacturers are innovating to make
frozen pizzas more appealing, but consumers
still love the classics.

Key Insights:

  • With the popularity of cupping pepperoni, Hormel Ingredient Solutions has introduced FONTANINI® Cup & Char Sausage to make
    toppings more appealing.     6
  • Pizza is the go-to food for more than half
    of Gen Z, beating out tacos and burgers.     7

TREND #6

Meat Snacks Popularity Growing

Meat snacks consumption is projected to grow as more people are following high-protein diets. The number of refrigerated meat snacks is growing as consumers look at snacking as a “lifestyle.”

Key Insights:

  • 49% of consumers snack three times or more a day. 9
  • Meat snack sales have increased 40% in the last four years. 10

Hungry For More?

The solutions-driven team at Hormel Ingredient Solutions is ready to help answer questions and find the best solution for you.

Let's Talk
  1. https://www.fooddive.com/news/plant-based-meat-alternatives-continue-decline-sales/689470/
  2. https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/protein-attracts-new-customers-2023-ingredient-trends-for-food-drinks-dietary-supplements-and-natural-products
  3. Looking Forward to 2023 Trends. Food & Beverage Insider. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.foodbeverageinsider.com/market-trends-analysis/looking-forward-2023-trends
  4. https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/24296-spicy-seasonal-flavors-drivingsummerfoodtrends#:~:text=Within%20the%20world%20of%20spice,increases%20during%20the%20same%20period
  5. https://www.kitameraki.com/post/staying-ahead-of-the-game-how-food-manufacturers-are-utilizing-technology-to-stay-on-top li>
  6. https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/24807-slideshow-innovation-fueling-c-store-growth
  7. https://www.hormelfoods.com/newsroom/press-releases/the-makers-of-the-fontanini-brand-revolutionize-pizza-toppings-with-the-launch-of-the-first-ever-cup-char-sausage/
  8. https://in-sight.symrise.com/article/delicious-pizza-trends-for-2023#:~:text=Interestingly%2C%20sharp%20flavors%20%E2%80%94%20think%20aged,appeal%20to%20changing%20customer%20preferences
  9. https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/24864-resiliency-prevails-in-snacking-segment
  10. https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/28916-next-generation-meat-snacks#:~:text=The%20study%20showed%20that%20meat,to%20%244.9%20billion%20in%202022
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Bite-sized insights from the protein ingredient experts

Explore 2024’s Top Industry Trends

Protein is Still King
The Spicier, The Better
Manufacturing's Emerging Technologies
C-Stores Become Food Destinations
Retail Pizzas Evolve to Meet Today's Trends
Meat Snacks Popularity Growing

TREND #1

Protein is Still King

Consumers are reaching for protein. Ready-to-eat protein options are filling the shelves as consumers seek protein sources for every meal. Alternative meat consumption, however, continues a downward trend. 1

Key Insights:

  • 17% of consumers prioritize protein for every meal. 2
  • More than one-third of consumers focus on a high-protein diet. 2

TREND #2

The Spicier, The Better

Consumers are obsessed with spicy foods, with more people adding heat to every meal. Hot sauce on eggs, spicy barbeque for lunch and cocktails made with hot peppers are how people are embracing their spicy side.

Key Insights:

  •  Over a third of people (36%) have introduced chili into their diets in the last two years, and 70% now say they love spicy food. 3
  • 71% of menus and 11% of drink menus feature the word “spicy.” 3 

TREND #3

Manufacturing’s Emerging Technologies

More companies are mitigating supply chain risks and enhancing quality control by leveraging new technology.

Key Insights:

  • Frito Lay uses wireless audio sensors that can predict mechanical failures, helping to eliminate production slowdowns and interruptions. This new technology has added 4,000 hours a year of manufacturing capacity. 4
  • T. Marzetti uses real-time data from their automated weighing devices to detect product overfill and adjust as needed. This ongoing data analysis has helped cut product waste by 50%. 4

TREND #4

C-Stores Become
Food Destinations 

With the combination of people returning to offices and keeping nonconventional work hours,
c-stores have been experiencing rapid growth. People are turning more and more to c-stores as food destinations, and operators are filling the shelves with innovative, ready-to-eat meals and snacks.  

Key Insights:

  • Afternoon and late-day snacks are the most common time for c-store snack purchases. 5
  • 60% of consumers see convenience stores as food destinations, with 25% regularly visiting c-stores for lunch. 5

TREND #5

Retail Pizzas Evolve to
Meet Today’s Trends

Tighter budgets and rising grocery costs have consumers opting for frozen or grocery store pizzas instead of restaurant or takeout pizzas. Pizza manufacturers are innovating to make frozen pizzas more appealing, but consumers still love the classics.

Key Insights:

  • With the popularity of cupping pepperoni, Hormel Ingredient Solutions has introduced FONTANINI® Cup & Char Sausage to make toppings more appealing. 6
  • Pizza is the go-to food for more than half of Gen Z, beating out tacos and burgers. 7

TREND #6

Meat Snacks Popularity Growing

Meat snacks consumption is projected to grow as more people are following high-protein diets. The number of refrigerated meat snacks is growing as consumers look at snacking as a “lifestyle.”

Key Insights:

  • 49% of consumers snack three times or more a day. 9
  • Meat snack sales have increased 40% in the last four years. 10

Hungry For More?

The solutions-driven team at Hormel Ingredient Solutions is ready to help answer questions and find the best solution for you.

Let's Talk

Resources >

  1. https://www.fooddive.com/news/plant-based-meat-alternatives-continue-decline-sales/689470/
  2. https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/protein-attracts-new-customers-2023-ingredient-trends-for-food-drinks-dietary-supplements-and-natural-products
  3. Looking Forward to 2023 Trends. Food & Beverage Insider. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.foodbeverageinsider.com/market-trends-analysis/looking-forward-2023-trends
  4. https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/24296-spicy-seasonal-flavors-drivingsummerfoodtrends#:~:text=Within%20the%20world%20of%20spice,increases%20during%20the%20same%20period
  5. https://www.kitameraki.com/post/staying-ahead-of-the-game-how-food-manufacturers-are-utilizing-technology-to-stay-on-top li>
  6. https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/24807-slideshow-innovation-fueling-c-store-growth
  7. https://www.hormelfoods.com/newsroom/press-releases/the-makers-of-the-fontanini-brand-revolutionize-pizza-toppings-with-the-launch-of-the-first-ever-cup-char-sausage/
  8. https://in-sight.symrise.com/article/delicious-pizza-trends-for-2023#:~:text=Interestingly%2C%20sharp%20flavors%20%E2%80%94%20think%20aged,appeal%20to%20changing%20customer%20preferences
  9. https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/24864-resiliency-prevails-in-snacking-segment
  10. https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/28916-next-generation-meat-snacks#:~:text=The%20study%20showed%20that%20meat,to%20%244.9%20billion%20in%202022