Dive Brief:
- Mintel has released its lists of consumer trends in regions across the globe. Many of the trends will have a considerable impact on food production, marketing, and sales.
- In the U.S., a rise in "clicktivism" and consumers' ability to force change, as well as broadening of how gender roles are perceived, will alter marketing. Mobile wallets and blurring the lines between online and real-world shopping will alter retail.
- In Asia, a growing focus on functional food is driving change, whereas in Europe the trends are largely the same as in the U.S., with the exception of a rising interest in Europe on products with "green" credentials.
Dive Insight:
The particular trends that Mintel sees on the rise - more power for consumers, more shopping choices, a more open and inclusive view of gender, a desire to protect the planet, etc. - point to a future that looks remarkably like the one we would hope for.