Trends in Soups & Stews

With temperatures continuing to drop, soup season is officially upon us. Soups and stews are staples in many consumers’ diets, due to their comforting nature, their association with health and wellness, and their many, many varieties. Just like just about every other food and beverage category, trends in soups and stews have continued to evolve at a rapid pace as consumers continue to update their preferences and seek out new and different options.

While classic soups and stews, like chicken noodle and beef vegetable, will always be popular, thanks, in part, to nostalgia, consumers have been on the hunt for soup and stew products and menu items that stand out and feature trendy flavors and ingredients. Keep reading for our experts’ takes on the latest trends in this category.

Inspired by International Cuisine

Consumers have grown increasingly curious about how people in other parts of the world eat, and, as a result, international cuisines have continued to trend in recent years. Especially with travel being out of reach for many right now amidst economic uncertainty, consumers have grown reliant on global cuisines for satisfying their cravings for adventure.

Unsurprisingly, soups and stews are popular around the world, serving as staples in a variety of international cuisines. Look to trending cuisines for inspiration for new soup and stew products and take your target demographics into account when choosing a global cuisine to get inspired by. Asian, African, and Mediterranean cuisines have all been trending lately, with younger consumers gravitating toward more exotic options, and older consumers playing it a bit safer, seeking out foods and flavors from more mainstream cuisines.

Brands should consider bringing classic soups and stews from around the world to delight adventurous consumers. Think a Senegalese style peanut stew, kimchi-jjigae, a Korean stew featuring kimchi, and Lebanese style red lentil soup.

Embracing the Health Halo

Soups and, to a lesser extent, stews have long been perceived as healthy, with even heavier, cream-based soups possessing the much-coveted health halo, especially when compared to other convenient food options. Consumers recognize that many soups are, in fact, quite healthy and nutrient dense, making them a go-to food for a variety of health and wellness aims, including recovering from illness and aiding in weight loss.

With health and wellness continuing to be a top priority for consumers going into the new year, they’ll be on the lookout for healthy soups and stews that allow them to address their health and wellness concerns. Brands can embrace soup’s reputation as a healthy food in a few ways. One of those ways? Incorporate functional ingredients into soups and stews to really play up the health halo.

Functional ingredients, including spices like turmeric and ginger, have been trending, as consumers have been seeking out ways to address very specific health concerns with food items rather than medications. Ingredients that have anti-inflammatory properties, in particular, have been trending lately, as have ingredients that support brain and heart health, as consumers have been trying to be proactive about future health concerns. Soup and stew brands should consider innovating with trending functional ingredient to attract health-conscious consumers and help them support their long-term health goals.

Another option for embracing the health halo associated with soups and stews? Lean into the plant-based food trend. Many soups and stews are already plant-based, or at least prominently feature vegetables and legumes, presenting a major opportunity for brands. The plant-based diet has continued to trend, with a wide range of consumers trying to improve their wellbeing by consuming more plants. Soup and stew brands should consider innovating with trending plant-based ingredients, such as chickpeas, mushrooms, and cauliflower, to get in on the plant-based food trend.

Looking to create innovative soups and stews? The experts at Fuchs North America have got you covered! Contact us today to see how Fuchs can help you make something special.