Top 5 Health Food Sector Trends for 2021

Love all things nutrition and wellness? You should consider investing in the health food sector. Before you make any legally binding moves, however, you should make sure to get a strong sense of the competitive industry you’d be entering by doing your research and discovering all that you can. Start that research right here, and discover the top five health food sector trends of 2021.

If you choose to make a career change with a health food franchise, you’ll be doing valuable work to help people become healthier, but you’ll also benefit from entry to a rapidly expanding and hugely popular growth industry. The health and wellness food market has a global estimated value of £733.1 billion, and this is projected to reach a trillion by 2026 [Statista].

What does a health food franchise do?

There are many different types of health food franchise, from food trucks, to restaurants, all the way to retail stores. Your daily tasks as a franchisee in this area will vary depending on the kind of investment you make, as you can imagine, but there are certain things you’re likely to do regardless. Things like:

• Completing nutritional research
• Focusing on healthy eating (on the menu/through your offerings/within your marketing)
• Meeting, communicating and negotiating with customers (new and repeated)
• Replenishing stock
• Adhering to all health and safety requirements associated with the food service
• Managing your business’s finances, operations and employees (if you have them)

The shape of the health food sector post-COVID

Wondering if starting your own healthy food franchise is the right move post-pandemic? That’s perfectly understandable but, the truth is, there’s never been a better time to enter the industry. Statistics show that 53% of surveyed consumers are concerned about the healthiness of food, with highly ranked associated concerns including animal welfare, ethical farming, freshness and use of chemicals [The Food Standards Agency, Ipsos Mori and Bright Harbour].

This is a huge (and increasing) base of customers to appeal to, and if anything, a healthy food franchise is a more future-proof improvement than a less healthy alternative that might not stand the test of time in terms of changing consumer priorities and preferences. In the words of Phil Lempert from Forbes, people have developed, post-COVID, “a new understanding of what and how they eat and how these foods and beverages have a significant effect on their stamina, strength and immunity to fight off viruses and other health abnormalities”.

The 5 top health food sector trends

It’s easy to see why a healthy food franchise investment is a good idea, but it’s also important to recognise that entering an industry that’s currently so well-placed to meet consumer demand is a risk. Standing out isn’t enough when the competition is tough, particularly if you lack relevant experience in the world of health food. Luckily, Point Franchise is here to help. Start your deep research into the health food industry by discovering the five trends shaping the industry as we speak...

1. Increased transparency with customers

Products with a story have increased appeal, and each ingredient in a food should have a clear purpose. Processing foods in ways that reduce the number of ingredients needed is also an area of innovation.
- Kerry Health and Nutrition Institute

Transparency is the name of the game in 2021, and if your health food franchise can recognise this, you’ll be in a good position to succeed. Customers want to be able to confidently consume your products – they want a solid sourcing story and an ingredient list that doesn’t feel about as long as a book chapter. Encourage a conversation, be open, and source ethically (if this is something your franchisor is in charge of, consider opening up that avenue of conversation with them).

2. More and more plant-based options

The number of people eating plant-based food continues to rise year on year. In 2021, about 8% of the world’s population is vegan [Deals On Health] and, as time ticks on, it becomes increasingly clear that veganism, for many, is much more than a fad or passing trend. Plant power is here to stay, and healthy food franchises are uniquely placed to respond effectively to this growing demand.

3. A growing consumer focus on improving the immune system

Post-pandemic, is it any surprise that people are more focused on their immune health than ever? Immune-boosting foods include blueberries, dark chocolate, turmeric, oily fish, broccoli, sweet potatoes, spinach and ginger – so watch out for demand surrounding these products and try to incorporate some into your franchise if you can.

4. Sustainable nutrition practices 

Sustainability and healthy eating go hand in hand for a lot of people and, if you’re doing one, you’ll probably be able to increase (and better please) your customer base by doing the other. From supporting sustainable farming to developing good sourcing practices and closed-loop supply chains, there’s a lot you can do to step up your sustainability game as the owner of a health food franchise. Get ahead of the game on day one, and you’re sure to build a business that’s here to stick around for the long haul.

5. Mood and mental wellness support

In 2021, mental health awareness is a bigger talking point than ever and the smartest food franchises are beginning to capitalise on this conversation. Who better to get in on that capitalisation than a health food franchise? There are so many different foods that are said to promote mental wellness. Try incorporating just a few, and even highlighting them in your marketing materials, and you’ll likely see some competitive success. Foods like:

• Salmon
• Chicken
• Whole grains 
• Avocados 
• Spinach 
• Yogurt
• Nuts

Start running your own business in the sector with the latest healthy food trends fresh in your mind

With this research as your jumping off point and a willingness to learn even more, you’ll be fully prepared to succeed once you start your franchise in the health food sector. Once you do, you’ll benefit from all of the associated advantages, and you’ll be able to build a profitable business in no time at all. Discover plenty of amazing healthy food franchise opportunities on the Point Franchise website, with brands ranging from subscription box services like My Local Farm Box all the way to versatile Thai restaurant chains like Camile Thai.