Hartman Group

Now published: "Health Benefits 2024: From Energy to Immunity" A companion study to our longstanding Health & Wellness research series, this report is distinctly focused on how consumers leverage functional foods/beverages and supplements to support their nuanced approaches to health — and where brands can step in to meet their evolving needs. The report offers targeted insights and actionable recommendations across consumers’ top eight health priorities: weight, sleep, energy, emotional health, beauty, gut health, cognition and immunity. Get a sneak peek inside the report here: https://ow.ly/lWw850TCvue

A new study has linked certain gut bacteria to food addiction in both mice and humans. The researchers also noted that taking certain prebiotics (lactulose and rhamnose) helped increase the presence of a strain of “good” bacteria called Blautia, which led to improvements in food addiction in mice — pointing to potential benefits for humans as well. Consumers have become increasingly aware of the connection between gut health and other dimensions of health, from mental wellbeing to weight management. According to our new "Health Benefits 2024" report, 60% of consumers are actively taking steps to manage their weight and, among those consumers, 51% are ALSO managing gut health. Key takeaway: Whole, real and functional foods are among the top products used by consumers to manage both gut health and weight. As such, probiotic- and prebiotic-rich products that are are grounded in real food values and specifically targeted to weight loss will likely broaden the reach of gut-health products while continuing to enhance the connections consumers make between digestion and weight loss. https://ow.ly/zisu50TJ1Qi

Sugar reduction is a key interest in beverage consumption among consumers. You can listen to the fantastic panel discussion we had on the topic via the Food Navigator link below.

Join us October 23rd for a look inside the top health benefits driving growth in the CPG industry! 88% of consumers are actively taking steps to address at least 1 of 8 key health benefits, with an average of 3.7 benefits being addressed per person. This free webinar will provide a sneak peek at key insights from "Health Benefits 2024" and highlight opportunities for brands and products to support consumers' targeted needs for functional foods/beverages and supplements. Register here: https://ow.ly/Zw1q50TJ11Z

The holiday shopping season is right around the corner, and food inflation continues to impact how and where people grocery shop. How will you navigate shopper perceptions of inflation and value as these trends evolve early next year? Our seasoned quantitative analysts can help you translate complex data into concrete opportunities. Let's chat about your objectives: https://lnkd.in/g7ajYP98

Learn how the Gen Z consumer shops, what product attributes they look for and how store brands can tap into this new generation in Laurie Demeritt's recent presentation for PLMA - Private Label Manufacturers Association's online speaker series: https://lnkd.in/ekXwswWh

Ever wondered why you can customize almost anything about the food you order from a restaurant...except the portion size? According to the National Restaurant Association's 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry Report, more than 75% of customers want smaller portions for less money. See what Shelley Balanko and other industry experts have to say about the driving forces behind this shift, like the new value paradigm, the snackification of meals, a focus on sustainability and more: https://ow.ly/AVA550TCwna

Food is an avenue for self-expression and connecting with culture. As a result, consumers have high expectations for brands today: aligning with their values, creating unique experiences, enabling personalization, leading with aesthetics and more. However, meeting these expectations alone does not lead to brand relevance. And cutting corners can lead to viral missteps fast. Download our latest white paper to see why empathy is the lynchpin of culturally-aware marketing: https://ow.ly/p5Ot50TtGhA

Do consumers want candy-flavored sports performance products? With the rise of ideals like fresh, minimally processed “real” foods, it may seem odd for legacy confectionary brands like Hershey to be associated with health at all. However, classic sports nutrition is not necessarily as much about health as it is about performance and ingredients that deliver. Having good taste has not been an expectation within this category until recently. The sports nutrition company Ghost pioneered the strategy of licensing confectionary flavors in beverage powders in the mid-2010s. As other brands have followed suit, the strategy has become a playbook for expanding sports nutrition into the mainstream market by offering a good taste as well a product that performs to expectations. As always, correctly interpreting consumer needs on specific occasions and within specific categories is critical to long-term success. https://ow.ly/veAu50TtFG7

22% of restaurant-sourced occasions are motivated by a desire for “food that would delight me.” As a result, consumers often have higher expectations for these foods and beverages. What exactly are those expectations, and how do consumers live them out? How do restaurant-sourced occasions compare to occasions sourced elsewhere? Our new 13-page report, "Eating & Drinking Occasions Landscape: Restaurant-Sourced vs. Non-Restaurant-Sourced Occasions," helps you understand exactly how these two occasion types differ with data-packed dashboards and key takeaways. See all the topics covered and purchase your copy here: https://ow.ly/ZKo850TuNOX