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Market and investment trends are always changing. Leveraging our 30+ years of experience serving private equity clients, Grant Thornton Stax Consumer group has compiled the Top 5 investment themes within the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector that investors should keep on their radar. From insights on preferred ingredients to upstream activity, these insights highlight the strongest tailwinds in a continually evolving and resilient market.
1. Quest for Real Ingredients:
Consumer expectations on 'better-for-you (BFY)' are shifting, with demand growing for 'real' ingredients and less focus on brands that promote functional attributes (e.g., zero sugar, high protein, no additives) but sacrifice on ingredient transparency.
2. Continued Popularity of Functional Beverages:
Within 'better-for-you,' specific momentum towards functional beverages, with new entrants/upstarts further fragmenting the beverages segment. That said, competitive intensity, alignment with fed trends, and challenges to scale pose risks to smaller brands.
3. High Protein:
Protein continues its resurgence (across all formats/meal occasions), with innovation in categories historically not associated with protein (pasta, sauces) and in traditional protein where emphasis is on clean/transparent sourcing.
4. Investing Upstream:
Up/midstream investment in private label/co-manufacturing and ingredient suppliers remains attractive given higher business resiliency during downturns market uncertainty persists.
5. Flavor Exploration Persists:
Growing interest in international cuisines, particularly from South Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia, continues to drive investment tailwinds across the value chain (e.g., specialty distribution, branded products, ethnic retailers) as consumers experiment and expand their culinary preferences.
Interested in pursuing a seat at the table? Contact the Stax Consumer team to learn more about how F&B investments can spice up your portfolio. Click here to contact us directly for more information.
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