Mintel Little Conversation

Latest Episodes:

Innovation and Trends at Natural Products Expo West Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Food and drink experts at Mintel discuss key innovative products and trends observed at the Natural Products Expo West. They explore the rise of hydration-focused products, the impact of upcycled ingredients, and the evolving snacking landscape. Listen to find out more about innovative cooking solutions, emerging flavors, and the importance of community and provenance in food products.

Download Mintel's FREE 2025 Global Food and Drink Trends and get in touch with our Consultants to learn about how the trends apply to your brand.

Head over to Mintel’s LinkedIn and let us know which innovative products caught your attention at Natural Products Expo West. Don't forget to visit mintel.com to become a member of our free Spotlight community.

Host: Lynn Dornblaser, Client Advisor, Mintel.

Guests: Stephanie Mattucci, Director, Mintel Food and Drink.

Food and Drink Trends for 2025 and beyond Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

Food and drink experts at Mintel explore key trends in 2025, focusing on the importance of nutrition, supply chain challenges, and the integration of technology in agriculture. Listen to find out how consumers are navigating contradictory desires for health and indulgence, the impact of global events on food sourcing, and the role of innovation in meeting evolving consumer expectations.

Download Mintel's FREE 2025 Global Food and Drink Trends and get in touch with our Consultants to learn about how the trends apply to your brand.

Head over to Mintel’s LinkedIn and let us know what trend you think will have the most impact in 2025. Don't forget to visit mintel.com to become a member of our free Spotlight community.

Host:

Lynn Dornblaser, Client Advisor, Mintel.

Guests:

David Jago, Principal Consultant, Mintel Consulting.

Jenny Zegler, Director, Mintel Food & Drink.

Beauty and Personal Care Trends for 2025 and beyond Dec 13, 2024

Show notes

Beauty and personal care experts at Mintel explore key beauty trends in 2025. Listen to find out more about the three themes that we think will be influential in 2025 and beyond: embracing ownership and individuality while prioritising functional efficacy, the merging of climate-adaptive beauty, localism and minimalism, and, finally, back-to-basics through comfort, nostalgia and slow living.

Download Mintel's FREE 2025 Global Beauty and Personal Care Trends and get in touch with our consultants to learn more.

Head over to Mintel’s LinkedIn to let us know what you think of today's episode, and visit mintel.com to become a member of our free Spotlight community.

Host:

Andrew McDougall, Director, Mintel Beauty and Personal Care.

Guests:

Alex Fisher, Associate Principal Consultant, Mintel Consulting.

Clotilde Drape, Global Beauty Analyst, Mintel.

Vivienne Rudd, Senior Consultant, Mintel Consulting.

US Election: American values and consumer sentiment Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

Culture and brand experts at Mintel explore consumer sentiment during the US election season, focusing on the stress and anxiety consumers are currently experiencing. How are brands navigating political engagement? Listen now to find out more about the evolving relationship between consumers and brands in a politically charged environment.

Disclaimer: This content does not endorse any political party, candidate, or stance in the 2024 US presidential election.

Browse Mintel’s Cultural and Identity research and buy a report here, and get in touch with our consultants to learn more.

Head over to Mintel’s LinkedIn to share your take on what brands should do to engage consumers, and visit mintel.com to become a member of our free Spotlight community.

Host:

Lynn Dornblaser, Client Advisor, Mintel.

Guests:

BJ Pichman, Principal Consultant, Mintel Consulting.

Lisa Dubina, Associate Director for Culture and Identity, Mintel.

The Silver Economy: Understanding the 55+ consumer Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

Join Mintel food and drink experts as they delve into the characteristics of the 55+ consumer group. They discuss the diverse needs of this demographic and the stereotypes that often misrepresent them, and look into the marketing challenges brands face when targeting this audience. Listen to understand the unique preferences of older consumers, including their desire for familiar, natural, and affordable products.

Learn more about our Gen X and Seniors (65+) research and buy a report here.

Head over to Mintel’s LinkedIn to share your take on 55+ consumers, and visit mintel.com to become a member of our free Spotlight community; Mintel clients can read our insight pieces on the Silver Economy here.

Host:

Lynn Dornblaser, Client Advisor, Mintel.

Guest:

Jonny Forsyth, Senior Director, Mintel Food & Drink.

Global Outlook on Sustainability 2024: Bridging the value-action gap Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

Mintel sustainability experts discuss the evolving landscape of consumer attitudes towards sustainability and climate change. They explore the mixed outcomes of consumer engagement, the challenges brands face in addressing consumer skepticism and the importance of health and wellness in the sustainability narrative. Join the conversation to find out how companies can achieve sustainability through efficiency and the need for brands to engage consumers with transparent practices.

Learn more about Mintel's Global Outlook on Sustainability: A Consumer Study 2024-25 and buy the report here.

Head over to Mintel’s LinkedIn to share your take on consumer sustainability, and visit mintel.com to become a member of our free Spotlight community.

Host:

Andrew Davidson, SVP, Chief Insights Officer, Comperemedia.

Guest:

Richard Cope, Senior Trends Consultant, Mintel Consulting.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to sustainability trends

(03:08) Consumer engagement with climate Change

(05:55) Global perspectives on climate change

(09:20) Demographics and climate engagement

(11:32) Skepticism and corporate responsibility

(13:47) The Value-Action gap in sustainability

(17:10) Emerging sustainable behaviors

(21:08) Health and sustainability intersection

(25:19) Brand strategies for sustainability

Declining FMCG innovation: What should brands do? Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

Mintel innovation experts discuss how critical new product development is at this pivotal moment in the FMCG industry. They reveal surprising data from Mintel Global New Product Database, showing declines in innovation, and share insight into the key drivers behind the trend. Join the discussion about what successful innovation looks like and the competitive edge it offers brands. Get the experts' take on the looming threats to big brands as Mintel predicts a coming wave of innovation competition.

Learn more about The Role of Innovation in the Future of the CPG Industry and download our free insight piece.

Head over to Mintel’s LinkedIn to let us know what you think of this episode, and visit mintel.com to become a member of our free Spotlight community.

Host:

Lynn Dornblaser, Principal Consultant, Mintel Consulting.

Guest:

Jonny Forsyth, Senior Director, Mintel Food & Drink.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:05) Importance of innovation in FMCG

(02:25) Decline of true innovation in the industry

(08:20) Impact of the economic downturn on innovation

(11:08) Rise of private label brands

(15:36) Need for big brands to innovate faster

(17:41) Embracing digital technology for innovation

(19:06) Understanding consumer needs and using data and AI

(21:28) Should brands focus on their core business or work on innovation

(25:47) Conclusion and key takeaways

Paris 2024: What Marketers need to know about the Olympics Jul 27, 2024

Show notes

Brand and marketing experts from Mintel talk about the Paris 2024 Olympics and what this means for brands. Is there a pivotal role of TikTok in reaching Gen Z audiences? How do athletes and brands alike leverage different platforms for maximum impact? Join this engaging discussion that bridges the gap between marketing strategies and the ever-evolving landscape of social media during one of the world's most anticipated sporting events.

Head over to Mintel’s LinkedIn to let us know what you think of this episode, and visit mintel.com to become a member of our free Spotlight community.

Learn more about Mintel Comperemedia's 2024 Telecom and Media Marketing Trends. Read our media and advertising insights about the Olympics here.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction and Advertising Spend for Paris 2024 Olympics

(04:38) The Impact of the Olympics on Fitness Trends

(10:54) Marketing Strategies During the Games

(19:19) The Merging of Pop Culture and Sports

(22:51) The Role of TikTok in Engaging Gen Z

(28:31) Key takeaways

Host:

Andrew Davidson, SVP/Chief Insights Officer, Mintel Comperemedia.

Guests:

Bella Broccolo, Associate Research Analyst, Mintel Comperemedia.

Diana Kelter, Associate Director, Mintel Trends, North America.

Are ultra-processed foods the new tobacco? Jul 19, 2024

Show notes

Food industry experts at Mintel dive into the complex world of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). They discuss consumer understanding of food processing and the impact of clean label trends. How do global variations in food regulations and market preferences pose challenges for the food industry? Tune in to find out more!

Head over to Mintel’s LinkedIn to let us know what you think of this episode, and visit mintel.com to become a member of our free Spotlight community.

Find out how Mintel Consulting helps you make better strategic marketing decisions. Discover Mintel Ingredientscape AI and innovate with confidence.

Timestamps:

(00:03) Introduction

(01:21) Discussion on Clean Label and consumer understanding

(04:40) NutriScore and its adoption

(06:52) WHO study on Ultra-Processed Foods

(08:45) Convenience and affordability as purchase drivers

(11:12) Industry response to Ultra-Processed Foods

(13:44) Regulatory challenges for the food industry

(15:33) Varying demographic perception to Ultra-Processed Foods

(18:03) What do young consumers think

(22:05) Key takeaways

Host:

Lynn Dornblaser, Principal Consultant, Mintel Consulting.

Guests:

David Jago, Principal Consultant, Mintel Consulting.

Stephanie Mattucci, CFS, Director, Food and Drink Research, Mintel.

How Euro 2024 affects consumer travel, leisure and spending Jul 05, 2024

Show notes

Travel and leisure experts from Mintel look into how Euro 2024 is generating consumer excitement in Europe. They dive into the ripple effects of the Euro 2024 on consumer habits across Europe, discussing trends in travel, hospitality, technology, and retail. The conversation reveals insights into how the excitement around the tournament influences various sectors, including the impact on the hospitality industry, changes in consumer purchasing behaviours, and innovative marketing strategies employed by brands to capitalise on this major sporting event.

Head over to Mintel’s LinkedIn to let us know what you think of this episode, and visit mintel.com to become a member of our free Spotlight community.

Visit the Mintel Store to explore all our research on the European Leisure market.

Timestamps:

(00:03) Introduction by Andrew McDougall

(01:18) General trends in consumer behaviour during Euro 2024

(04:40) German consumer behaviour and cultural influences

(06:58) Impact on the travel industry in Germany and the UK

(09:49) UK travel and hospitality industry reactions

(13:17) Influence on technology and retail sectors

(20:12) Brand campaigns about Euro 2024 that energise consumers

(26:10) Engaging consumers using social media during sporting events

(28:55) Opportunities for brands to engage with women during sporting events

(31:54) Takeaways