EHL Ingredients looks ahead to 2021 food trends

Predicting food trends for the year ahead has never been so unpredictable, however Tasneem Alonzo, joint managing director at EHL Ingredients, has shared insights into what we can expect to see on tables during 2021.

Chickpeas are set to shine, meat-free and plant-based foods will continue their foray into the mainstream, allergen awareness will still be a top priority, and organic foods that fit into mindful eating and wellness trends will grow in importance, according to EHL.

The year of the chickpea

The humble chickpea is finding favour thanks to its versatility and nutritional value and EHL expects this popularity to grow further in 2021. Chickpeas are the main ingredient in hummus and falafel, so are popular with vegans and vegetarians, but they are also being widely consumed dried, puffed or roasted as a snack, or coated in flavour. We’re even starting to see high-protein chickpea-based versions of classic foods such as pasta, rice and ice cream hitting store shelves.

Chickpeas can be a great addition to a salad, Middle Eastern stews or tagines, curries, or an Italian soup, and are a great meat replacement, particularly in meat-free burgers, fritters and fajitas. Their popularity is driven, says Alonzo, by the fact they are a familiar food, which encourages consumers to try new formats, their inexpensive price, and the fact they make such a great addition to so many dishes and snacks. They have a fairly neutral flavour so they work well with many herb and spice seasonings – from smoky BBQ and paprika, to classic salt and vinegar – and sweet coatings such as dark chocolate, coconut and sesame.

Cutting down on meat

Consumers of all ages are becoming increasingly experimental with their food choices, with a surge in those following a plant-based, meat-free, vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian diet, and those cutting out animal products from their diets for health, lifestyle and environmental reasons.

Campaigns such as Veganuary, as well as TV programmes and documentaries, certainly help increase awareness and interest in the benefits of a plant-based or meat-free diet, but year-round, there are consumers who follow a flexitarian diet and often choose to eat meat-free for personal health and environmental reasons.

Meat-free and plant-based foods are set to continue their popularity during 2021. Bakeries have launched vegan versions of existing products, from sausage rolls, pasties and pies, croissants, and pains au chocolate, with smaller regional bakers launching their own versions of vegan sweet and savoury baked goods.

Alonzo says that EHL’s herbs, spices, seasonings and blends can help create new plant-based and meat-free products and open up new opportunities for brands and manufacturers. Foods such as vegan paté or ‘faux-gras’, veggie black pudding, meat-free pies, pasties, sausages and plant-based burgers will be in demand during 2021, according to the company, so EHL says it is key to trial and test products before you launch them to market, to ensure they are hitting all the key notes in terms of flavour, texture, aroma, convenience and overall satisfaction.

Non-allergen

Non-allergen food is a huge area of growth for EHL at the moment, says Alonzo; demand for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and sulphite-free food ingredients has increased in recent years and it is a market EHL expects to develop even further during 2021.

Alternative flour is an area that EHL expects to grow over the next two to five years. The company has reportedly experienced increases in demand and sales of alternative flours such as gram, buckwheat, coconut, almond, and rice flour, which can all be used to substitute wheat flour when baking sweet or savoury goods.  Flours derived from ancient grains such as quinoa, spelt, teff, millet are also on the rise as shoppers look for alternative, healthy ingredients for baked goods.

EHL has expanded its production and handling across its three sites in Stockport and installed completely separate lines for non-allergen ingredients to give its customers extra reassurance that no cross contamination has occurred during our handling. Alonzo relays that the company overhauled its production lines and storage to completely segregate ingredients containing allergens and non-allergen products and installed new machinery.

Organic

Organic foods are a popular choice, and according to Alonzo, EHL is seeing high demand for organic bakery ingredients such as flours, seeds, herbs and spices, organic sunflower, pumpkin and lin seeds. From a product point of view, since the Covid-19 outbreak EHL has reportedly had higher demand for organic and clean label ingredients than in previous years. Alonzo says the company has noticed an increase in demand for turmeric from its customers, and has increased its orders to suppliers in India. In particular, organic turmeric is in high demand among EHL’s customers and uses of turmeric are increasing within food and drink products in the UK.

To find out more about EHL Ingredients, visit: www.ehl-ingredients.co.uk.

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