FuturistU > Lifestyle > Modern Foodies > Module 2 / 4

The Modern Foodie and Prosumerism

Instructor: Blaine Aberdeen
Millennial Lifestyle
Download the Millennial Lifestyle Trend Report
Today, it’s easier than ever for consumers to create their own content. Anyone can become an expert and because of this, "Instagrammable" food is no longer enough. Brands are adapting to the rituals of Millennials and Gen Z with store designs that mimic the social media-friendly visuals that are so popular today. Consumers are craving Insta-worthy aesthetics on and off their plates - as brands look to speak to the changing values of consumers their spaces must cater specifically to their consumers' desire for shareable experiences.


In this module, you will explore the Modern Foodie through the lens of Trend Hunter’s Megatrend Prosumerism. You will look at how consumers’ preferences have changed when it comes to sharing on social media and what brands are doing to keep up. We will highlight the importance of shareability when it comes to the food we consume and the environment in which we consume it.
Related Trend Report: Millennial Lifestyle
Workshop Questions:
1. What relationship does your brand have with visual indulgence?
2. Which social media site should your brand lean into and why?
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Featured Insights

Social Setting
Cafes and restaurants are designed around "Instagrammable" aesthetics
Trend - Restaurant and cafe brands are adapting to the rituals of Millennials and Gen Z with highly "sharable" store designs. Mimicking the social media-friendly visuals that are so popular today, this focus on design has become absolutely central to the experience these places provide.
Workshop Question - Conceptualize a social media-friendly space that your brand could offer its customers.
5.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Aesthetic Eating
Beautiful presentation elevates the dining experience through visuals
Implications - Restaurant menus are catering to those interested in Instagram-friendly dining experiences by producing brightly colored, aesthetically pleasing dishes that lend themselves to image-based social sharing. This shift speaks to the interest in creating social media-friendly experiences that offer rare elements of joy and delight, while it also highlights the innate interest in curation as a means of having specific control over something tangible in a time of great cultural and social stress.
Workshop Question - How can your product or service lend itself to the desire for up-leveled aesthetics?
4.6
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Activity
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Megatrends

Insights by Trend Hunter AI

QSR Patty
QSR chains introduce their beloved burger recipes to grocery stores
Trend - Quick-service restaurant (QSR) chains are increasingly launching burger patties designed for sale in grocery stores or supermarkets. These ready-to-cook offerings are crafted to mimic the flavors that fans associate with their favorite meals, delivering a taste of the restaurant experience at home.
Workshop Question - How can your brand mimic part of its product/service in a new way to reach more consumers?
4.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Boldened Snack
Packaged snack brands are refreshing packaging portfolios to improve recognition
Trend - CPG snack brands are refreshing their packaging designs to draw more attention to their products while emphasizing standout features. These features include better-for-you ingredients and reduced environmental impact, with intent to capture younger audiences with such practices.
Workshop Question - How might we innovate our brand's approach to packaging and product design to effectively resonate with environmentally conscious and health-focused younger consumers?
6.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Analog Hobbyfication
Young consumers create formalized offline hobby communities
Trend - Young consumers are deliberately seeking out analog hobbies and forming structured social groups around traditional pastimes like chess, backgammon, and mahjong. This movement extends beyond just casual interest - enthusiasts are creating formal clubs, organizing regular meetups, and building communities around these activities.
Workshop Question - How might your brand facilitate meaningful offline connections for digital natives?
5.4
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Popularity
Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends
Culinary Connection
Cookbook stores increasingly operate as community hubs for food enthusiasts
Trend - Cookbook stores now operate as community-centric “third spaces” to help consumers bond over the culinary arts through events like cooking classes and book signings. This speaks to a deepening interest in food as more than sustenance; it is now a means of social engagement and personal expression.
Workshop Question - How can your brand inspire collaboration in unexpected or unconventional spaces?
4.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Fashion Cafe
Luxury fashion labels are opening in-store cafes to foster in-person connection
Trend - Luxury fashion labels across Europe and Asia are opening dedicated restaurants and cafes. These are designed to transform the boutiques from simple shopping ventures, to full-blown experiences. The experiential retail helps build consumer connections to one another and the brand.
Workshop Question - How can your brand integrate unique experiential elements to foster deeper connections with consumers?
5.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Gamified Storefront
Brands are gamifying brick and mortar stores for the retailtainment trend
Trend - Brick-and-mortar storefronts are adding elements of gamification and entertainment to improve the in-store shopping experience. These 'retailtainment' initiatives add immersive experiences and interactive elements to increase consumer engagement and pull the focus away from simply spending money.
Workshop Question - How can we integrate gamification and entertainment into our physical spaces to create a more engaging and immersive experience for our customers?
6.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Seamless Engagement
Pop-ups that require minimal time to engage consumers are gaining traction
Trend - Brands are creating passive pop-ups, such as billboards or signposts, that beget consumers to engage with only a brief action. These are more engaging than regular billboards while not requiring much time from consumers. Additionally, brands do not need to staff these pop-ups, thus reducing costs.
Workshop Question - How could your brand benefit from passive engagement opportunities to enhance its marketing strategies?
5.7
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Popularity
Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends
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Hug-Activated Marketing Machines
UNIQLO France and The Pull Launch the Hug to Unlock Ad
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McDonald's Transformed Billboards into Digital Food Truck Displays
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Maybelline New York & FFFACE.ME Debuted a Large Interactive Experience
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Silk & Spice Set Up a Billboard for Fans to Go and Find
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Freeze-Dried Organic
CPG brands are using freeze-drying to preserve organic snacks more naturally
Trend - Brands are using freeze-drying to better preserve the freshness and flavor of foods without extra additives or preservatives. This results in all-natural, organic products with authentic flavors. These snacks are positioned as better-for-you treats with extended shelf lives.
Workshop Question - How could your brand ensure its products are meeting as many needs of its consumers as possible, rather than focusing on one?
6.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Social Community
New social media platforms are launching with an emphasis on personal connections
Trend - Companies are opening new social media services with the intention of fostering more intimate connections between users. In a rebellion against social medias built around endless feeds, these platforms connect users with similar interests and have convenient public and private group chat systems.
Workshop Question - How could your brand ensure its products or services are meeting the needs of its more niche consumer demographics?
4.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends