NPD in action: Performance nutraceuticals

Consumers are increasingly looking to make dietary changes to improve their health and match specific lifestyles. Food fortification and reformulation are both strategies used by companies across F&B categories to answer this consumer demand. Sports Nutrition is the fastest growing category of products fortified with vitamins or minerals (Global, 2016-2020).

Weight management claims are increasingly made on foods, beverages and supplements around the world and are mainly seen in the Sports Nutrition and Supplement categories. Keto products are gaining momentum in the weight management segment, with keto claims witnessing an average annual growth of 67 percent (Global, CAGR 2015-2019) in food, beverage and supplement launches.

With “Transparency Triumphs” as Innova Market Insights’ leading trend for 2021, a growing number of sustainability claims are seen among supplements and nutraceuticals launches. Other trends such as “Tailored to Fit,” “In Tune with Immune” and “Mood: The Next Occasion” are fueling the growing overlap between supplements and food & beverage.

Busy lifestyles are putting a spotlight on products that can offer stress relief, mood-balancing effects and other functional health benefits. Adaptogens such as ashwagandha, ginseng and cordyceps mushrooms are increasingly included across food, beverage and supplement market categories, with many innovative examples seen in the US in particular.

Protein claims remain on trend for sports nutrition, with 31 percent average annual growth seen globally between 2015 and 2019. Performance proteins are evolving from being mainly applied in sports bars and sports powders to also appearing in other formats such as oats, protein waters and ready-to-eat meals. Vegan and plant-based performance proteins are key varieties to watch out for.

As consumers look to live healthier lifestyles, the overall active nutrition industry has seen significant growth in recent years. Active nutrition is especially seen in the supplement segment, with an increasing variety of active health claims for holistic well-being targeting mood, beauty and energy.