Consumer
Insights

Trend - The gut health movement is experiencing a strategic pivot as brands increasingly favor prebiotic ingredients over traditional probiotics. This shift is particularly pronounced in the baked goods category, where prebiotics like inulin chicory root and resistant starch are appearing in everything from protein bars to artisanal breads.

Insight - This prebiotic preference reflects brands' need to balance consumer wellness demands with operational realities. Unlike probiotics, which require careful handling and cold storage to maintain live cultures, prebiotics offer the digestive benefits consumers seek without the logistical headaches. For manufacturers, this means greater product stability, longer shelf life, and the ability to incorporate gut health benefits into ambient temperature products like granola bars, crackers, and baked snacks.

Trend - Companies are launching health-focused lollipops enriched with ingredients like collagen peptides, fiber, vitamins, and probiotics, tapping the gummy-supplement boom by transforming nutrient-dense formulas into a familiar, on-the-go candy format.

Insight - Busy lifestyles and supplement fatigue primarily drive demand for convenient, enjoyable wellness rituals. Consumers want micro-dosed nutrition rather than fully investing in perceivably 'boring' health routines. This, mirroring the rise of gummy vitamins and collagen chews, has led to even more disguised health formats. Additionally, children's aversion to traditional medicines and supplements, combined with previous pressures, has led to supplement brands launching health-focused lollipops.

Trend - Computer manufacturers are unveiling Windows tablets built for gaming, featuring high-refresh displays, discrete GPU support, beefed-up cooling, and gaming-optimized controllers. These offer desktop-level performance with portable form factors and upgradability through eGPUs.

Insight - Today's gamers crave mobility without compromise, driven by cloud streaming, promises of eSports, and the strong desire to play anywhere. Traditional windows tablets fall short on graphics horsepower, thermal management, and input responsiveness. Under pressure to diversify beyond productivity use cases, manufacturers integrate gaming-grade components and software, answering the desire for a powerful, on-the-go gaming rig that doubles as a Windows tablet.

Trend - CPG brands are debuting pickle-flavored crust sauces and pickle-topped pizzas combining tangy dill with cheese, sauce, and traditional crust. These products aim to capitalize off of the recent pickle flavor popularity while diversifying pizza offerings for fans of the meal.

Insight - Modern consumers crave bold, novel flavors that stand out amid flavor fatigue caused by the large variation of options. Additionally, social media buzz plays an increasingly prominent role in food popularity. One viral social media flavor is pickle, with an acidity and crunch that deliver nostalgia and novelty. Under pressure to innovate quickly and capture Gen Z and millennial interest, pizza brands leverage this fusion to create shareable, crave-worthy pickle products.

Trend - Brands are developing compact, clip-on microphones that wirelessly transmit audio to a receiver, enabling high-quality sound capture. Ideal for formats like vlogs, tutorials, and interviews, these mics provide clear, consistent audio—even when the speaker is moving or needs to remain unobtrusive.

Insight - As content creation evolves into a legitimate career path for many, consumers are increasingly seeking tools that enhance the professionalism of their work. In response, audio brands are focusing on compact, portable solutions that deliver high-quality sound while meeting the needs of on-the-go creators. These creator-focused solutions help brands differentiate themselves from broader consumer electronics by offering purpose-built gear that supports modern streaming and digital production.

Trend - Brands are crafting cooking oils with ingredients that support metabolic health. These oils often feature healthy fats and added nutrients to enhance the flavor of food and support weight management and hormone balance, allowing consumers to shift from passive consumption to intentional nourishment.

Insight - In today’s wellness-focused culture, consumers are often looking for products that go beyond basic function to actively support their health goals. In response, brands are designing metabolism-conscious grocery products that deliver added health benefits in addition to nourishing the body, allowing consumers to elevate their daily food choices. This kind of cross-category innovation helps foster deep consumer bonds, especially when the product offers tangible or perceived physical benefits.

Trend - Brands are rolling out child-focused smartwatches with built-in GPS tracking, geofencing, SOS alerts, secure voice/text messaging, activity monitoring and preloaded educational games—delivering age-appropriate connectivity, safety and cognitive engagement without full internet access.

Insight - Modern parents juggle the need to keep kids safe and connected to themselves with the desire to limit screen time and exposure to online risks. Simultaneously, children crave independence and interactive experiences for entertainment and development. These pressures answer have led smart wearable manufacturers to create smartwatches catered for children, stimulating young minds with bite-sized educational content and offering parents' peace of mind with inbuilt safety features.

Trend - Raw materials companies are rolling out clean mining projects embracing renewable energy power, low-carbon extraction methods, digital monitoring, water recycling, and waste repurposing. These initiatives shrink eco footprints, comply with stricter regulations, and future-proof supply chains.

Insight - Heightened ESG mandates, activist scrutiny, and community expectations are putting traditional mining’s carbon intensity and pollution under the microscope. Investors and regulators push for transparent, low-impact operations, while social license to operate hinges on environmental stewardship. Raw materials companies are responding to these pressures with clean mining initiatives that cut emissions, reduce waste liabilities, and reinforce long-term viability and trust.

Trend - CPG brands are rolling out spicy dairy offerings, such as jalapeno cheddar, chili-infused cream cheeses, or turmeric-spiced milks. These are designed to add bold flavor and enhance digestibility. These products tap into the rising appetite for functional, flavor-forward innovations.

Insight - Consumers seek more exciting, healthful dairy options amidst heightened interest in gut wellness and global flavors. Spicy ingredients like chili, turmeric, and ginger not only deliver the bold taste these consumers desire, but also support digestion while offering anti-inflammatory benefits. Faced with flavor fatigue and a push for functional foods, shoppers embrace spicy dairy as a way to diversify routines while aligning with wellness goals.

Trend - Hotels are introducing jute-based rugs, slippers and bathmats crafted from natural, biodegradable fibers. These products leverage jute’s low-carbon, renewable profile to deliver sustainable, stylish décor while reducing reliance on synthetic materials.

Insight - Modern travelers and regulators are increasingly prioritizing factors beyond price, such as comfort and eco-friendliness. Some expect sustainable practices from check-in to room experience. Hotels face pressure to cut single-use plastics and synthetic textiles, lower carbon footprints, and earn green certifications. In order to address these concerns and improve environmental efforts, hospitality brands are turning to jute for its biodegradability and renewability.