Ocado whets consumer appetites for 2017 with top food trends
Ocado reveals its predictions for the top food and drink trends for 2017. Wave goodbye to the courgetti bolognese and kale smoothies of 2016 and say hello to melon juice, goat meat and alcohol-infused foods.
Melon juice
Move over coconut water – melon juice is the new super-drink of 2017. It even has the backing of Beyoncé, who recently bought a stake in WTRMLN WTR. Brands like Mello produce raw, fresh melon juice in a range of flavours, including cantaloupe and watermelon, with no added sugars or preservatives.
As well as being especially good for hydrating, melon juice is a great source of vitamins and minerals: cantaloupe contains vitamins A and C, known for helping to clear spots and charge up your immune system; watermelon promises to speed up your metabolism.
Mello Raw Fresh Watermelon Juice - £2.49 from Ocado
Goat meat
Goat meat makes up 60 per cent of red meat worldwide, but has rarely made it on to the dinner table in the UK – until now. Naturally low in fat and higher in protein and iron than other red meats; goat meat is mild-flavoured, tender and comparable to lamb. Eating goat meat can also be considered a more ethical choice too – currently female goats are farmed primarily for their milk to make goats cheese, and creating a market for goat meat allows the male goats to be reared and live longer lives.
Brands such as Cabrito offer goat meat in a number of forms, including diced kid meat, chops, mince, joints, sausages and meatballs – so there’s something for everyone!
Cabrito Provencal Kid Sausages - £7.99 from Ocado
The new ice (cream) age
As consumers want to be able to eat more natural foods while indulging in their favourite frozen delights, a new trend is emerging for ice creams containing ancient ingredients. Fans of sweet treats now no longer have to compromise when it comes to eating great-tasting comfort foods while keeping an eye on the ingredients and calorie count.
Ice cream maker Oppo uses ancient ingredients such as baobab, lucuma and spirulina in its products, which come out at just 38 calories per scoop. By swapping traditional ingredients for natural ingredients such as virgin coconut oil, stevia leaf and erythritol (a natural sweetener found in melons and grapes), these ice creams are still sweet and creamy but with 50 per cent less sugar and calories than regular vanilla ice cream.
Oppo Madagascan Vanilla & Baobab Ice Cream - £4.99 from Ocado
Alcoholic non-drink products
Ocado has seen a clear trend of consumers starting to experiment more and more with alcohol to enhance the flavour of food, with an 71 per cent increase* in sales for boozy food products, e.g. chocolate, ice cream and condiments with an alcoholic twist.
Whether your tipple is vodka, gin or whisky, alcohol-infused food has the benefit of your favourite drink flavour without the worry of a sore head the next day!
Stokes Bloody Mary Ketchup with Vodka - £2.98 from Ocado
*Ocado total unit sales data compared: Nov 2015 – Nov 2016