US adults anticipate at least partial returns to in-person work. Nearly two in five US adults expect their employers to institute hybrid arrangements that blend going into work and working from home. The move to flexible work schedules aligns with more casual and less strict approaches to routines that were established during at-home time in 2020 and early 2021.

Home has been a safe space with fewer rules than the outside world. Consumers embraced the freedom to establish their own meal times and common menu items. This will place new demands on convenience food that can be personalized to fit in with any application or occasion, whether it be grab-and-go for in-person work days or slow-cooked dinners on work-from-home days.

Recommendations to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus caused nearly half of US adults to change where they eat. After eating most meals at home from March 2020-April 2021, one-third of US adults say they are sick of cooking for themselves or their household. By saving consumers time and effort, convenience food and drink can be positioned as solutions that alleviate feelings of anxiety, stress or burnout that consumers are feeling after a tumultuous 18 months.

Brands still can suggest options for customization. Products that can be personalized would appeal to consumers who want to adapt food to their household’s preferences or show off newfound cooking skills – when time allows.

Cultivate the loyalty of new eCommerce shoppers
Online food and drink shopping is here to stay. Now that COVID-19 broke the ecommerce barrier for food and drink, retailers and brands can increase loyalty with low delivery fees and personalized promotions and recommendations.

Retailers and brands will need to ensure the ecommerce services that consumers enjoyed during the pandemic remain accessible and affordable when “the next normal” arrives.

The pandemic accelerated consumer acceptance of ecommerce grocery options. As of January 2021, nearly three in five US grocery shoppers who shop in-store and online were shopping more online during COVID-19.

In July 2020, Mintel predicted that “as lockdowns lift, many consumers will be hesitant to give up the newfound convenience of grocery delivery.” Indeed, the time savings and feelings of safety of not shopping in person during COVID-19 are likely among the reasons why more than half of US adults who are shopping more online for groceries during COVID-19 plan to continue doing so when COVID-19 is no longer a threat.

Millennials are more likely than all adults to plan to increase their online grocery shopping in 2021. This reflects anticipation of busier routines, especially for Millennials who are parents.

Baby Boomers are most at risk of defecting from online shopping. One US male aged 55-64 told Mintel that minimum purchase requirements for free delivery were a downside to online shopping. Low fees can keep these shoppers, especially those shopping for smaller households.

Embrace the new, more holistic view on health
Brands will need to fit into consumers’ new all-encompassing views of health. The future approach to “self-care” will move from “comfort food” to nutritious food. Functional formulations and convenience items can help offset daily stressors because “healthy” now includes proactive solutions to physical, mental and emotional health.

The pandemic has prompted new proactive approaches to health, as predicted by Mintel in 2020. Health tops the list of people’s 2021 life priorities, only slightly edging out family life and relationships, according to Mintel research on American values.

Similar to the disparity in the pandemic’s economic impact, not everyone has been able to use the slowdown in activity to focus on their health. Nearly half of US adults felt more in control of their health in November 2020 than they did in January 2020, while more than a quarter felt less in control, according to Mintel research on health management trends.

Food and drink has an opportunity to help people balance moods and emotions, according to Mintel’s 2021 Global Food & Drink Trend, “Feed the Mind.”

The pandemic has accelerated the importance of mental and emotional health. The focus on mental and emotional health should be regarded as a long-term trend because people aged 18-34 are most likely to be open about and seeking mental health solutions, according to Mintel data on US health management trends.

As the Delta variant pushes recovery farther into the future, the looming danger of anxiety overload and burnout only rises. “Pandemic fatigue” has depleted many people’s energy levels, making consumers look for new ways to relax and recharge.

In addition to functional formulations, convenience products can be positioned as ways to reduce stress by saving time or effort.

Jenny Zegler is an Associate Director of Food and Drink at Mintel. Jenny blends her trends expertise with food and drink topics such as health, formulation, sustainability and premiumization. Visit www.Mintel.com for more information.