This is one of the conclusions of the recent study by the local chapter of “Taste Tomorrow”, the study on trends in bakery, pastry and chocolate consumption.

More and more Argentines are interested in the fact that pastry, bakery and chocolate products are more connected with “plant based” diets and are produced based on sustainability criteria, according to the tenth edition of the Puratos study, which also covered Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, Peru and Mexico.

The survey also showed how the perception that sourdough improves the flavor of baked goods increased among Argentine consumers.

In the Argentine section of the survey, 400 consumers participated, who established other fundamental data about their preferences when consuming pastry, bakery and chocolate.

In the last year, Latin America is one of the regions where searches for plant-based foods grew the most. Regarding the habit of buying plant-based products, 51% do so at least once a week in the country, while 27% buy once a day. On the other hand, 76% of Argentines consider that organic products are better for the environment.

Sourdough

The use of sourdough became all the rage during the coronavirus pandemic. A key piece of information is that, at the beginning of the pandemic, Google searches for “How to make sourdough” tripled.

The health context deepened this trend among Argentines and more than half of those surveyed (51%) said that sourdough adds flavor to sliced ​​bread, when three years ago 40% thought so.

In Argentina, the consumption of bread reaches 72 kilos per capita, more than France and several European countries. According to ‘Taste Tomorrow’, 77% of Argentines consume bread daily or at least once a week, against a South American average of 61%.

The concern of consumers to inquire about whether the products they consume have been generated based on sustainability and sustainability standards is one of these consequences.

In Argentina, for example, 50% look at where the product has been manufactured, while 61% observe its nutritional value. On the other hand, 19% of consumers admitted that they consider it important to observe the sustainable nature of the product in the packaging, that is, if it has been produced with care for the environment and the producers.

The Puratos global study detected 5 representative trends that show the future of industries and how they will mark a key moment.

Holistic and hyper personal health

84% of Latin American consumers consider that dietary fiber in food has a positive effect, and 8 out of 10 affirm that it promotes general well-being and strengthens the immune system.

78% agree that a balanced diet with natural products (77%) has a positive effect on mental well-being. Hence, 80% look for options that help strengthen their defenses by being more aware of their own health; so they expect hyper-personalized products (69%) that fit their individual lifestyle.

Conscious consumer

The predilection for organic, local, sustainable products with recyclable packaging are the order of the day. 78% of consumers want to know where their food comes from and how it is manufactured to know the impact it can cause. An example of this is the predilection for organic, local, sustainable products with recyclable packaging.

Latin America is one of the regions where searches for foods of plant origin grew the most in the last year because they are considered healthier (69%).

Taste, appearance and smell

Flavor continues to be the main priority for Latin American consumers in bakery (53%), pastry (58%) and chocolate (62%); appearance has quickly taken on the same importance. 57% of Argentine consumers agree that foods that look good are also tasty and 52% consider aroma another relevant factor when buying products from these industries.

Maximum comfort

The adoption of online shopping has increased exponentially, since 8 out of 10 Latin American consumers think that it is very easy to find what they are looking for, a trend that will continue to grow as respondents indicated that in the future they will consider buying bread online (30 %), pastries (37%) and chocolate (39%).

Next level experience

Although the pandemic increased online purchases, purchases in physical stores will continue to be of great importance as consumers consider that this makes it easier to verify the freshness and quality of products.

Taste Tomorrow experts have identified the need for a seamless “phygital” (physical and digital) experience in the future, combining the advantages of both on and offline channels.

Source: Perfil