Unilever says Feel-good foods and upcycled ingredients are the next big thing in food sector

Unilever anticipates an increase in contrasting flavors, textures, and cooking methods that produce multimodal experiences to tempt consumers

Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) predicts unusual flavor combinations, feel-good foods, and repurposed ingredients to be some of the primary trends shaping menus this year. The forecasts are a part of the organization's 2023 Future Menu Trends research, which forecasts important market trends by combining the opinions of more than 1,600 chefs with an examination of more than 77,000 search terms.

Unilever anticipates an increase in contrasting flavors, textures, and cooking methods that produce multimodal experiences to tempt consumers searching out novel dishes as one of its initial trends. Potential pairings include mixing hot and cold ingredients in a single dish, crunchy and chewy textures, and sweet and spicy flavors.

Another of USF's trends for 2023 is comfort cuisine, which may be given a tasty twist by using uncommon tastes, ingredients, and preparation methods. To take advantage of the rising demand for modernized versions of traditional dishes, particularly among younger consumers, foodservice operators should embrace this trend. The usage of upcycled ingredients is expected to rise, according to organizations like the International Food Information Council, Whole Foods Market, and the Specialty Food Association.