{"id":486,"date":"2025-04-04T11:34:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T09:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/?post_type=news&p=486"},"modified":"2025-04-07T19:48:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T17:48:41","slug":"how-to-deal-with-the-uncertainty-of-ingredients-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/news\/comment-faire-face-a-lincertitude-des-ingredients-en-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"How do we deal with the uncertainty of ingredients in 2025?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The food and drink industry is at a critical crossroads in 2025. As global demand continues to grow, brands face increasing instability in supply chains, fuelled by climate, health and economic crises. In both the US and Europe, these challenges are manifesting themselves in unique ways, and companies are having to navigate an increasingly uncertain environment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impact of ingredient uncertainty<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The latest Mintel report<\/a> points out that ingredient uncertainty has become a major problem in the United States<\/strong>, This is a time of unprecedented volatility in commodity prices. A striking example is the 20.3 % rise in egg prices<\/strong>, caused by the H5N1 avian flu epidemic, which has reduced the size of the national flock. This situation is not confined to eggs: products such as citrus fruit and cocoa<\/strong> are also affected by disease and extreme weather conditions. These shortages lead not only to price rises, but also to difficulties in guaranteeing a stable and predictable supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Europe, the situation is similar<\/strong>, But the challenges are deeply rooted in the economic and environmental realities of each region. The year is 2025, wheat supply <\/strong> was disrupted by extreme weather conditions, with yields falling by 15 %, leading to a rise in flour prices. Olive oil<\/strong> has seen prices soar by 60 % due to drought in Spain and Italy, forcing brands to explore alternatives such as sunflower oil. As for eggs<\/strong>, The shortages caused by avian flu have reduced livestock numbers, prompting companies to look for alternative solutions, in particular plant-based alternatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food inflation in Europe has reached 7.2 % in 2024, according to NielsenIQ, and this has a direct impact on consumer purchasing behaviour. This inflation is reflected in the price of basic food products and essential ingredients, putting additional pressure on food companies. Brands find themselves in a position where they not only have to manage fluctuating ingredient prices, but also respond to growing consumer concerns about ever-higher prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategies adopted by American brands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Faced with this uncertainty, American brands have reacted diversifying their supply chains<\/strong> and looking for alternative solutions<\/strong> to offset price rises. For example, some have set up partnerships with local producers to guarantee a more stable supply. Others have explored substitutes for the products most affected, such as the use of vegetable substitutes for eggs or alternative ingredients for cocoa-based products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These strategies are not just a response to the crisis, but also a way of winning the loyalty of consumers who are concerned about the environmental and economic impact of their food choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

European consumer behaviour: a quest for transparency and value for money<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Europe, consumer behaviour is changing rapidly in response to inflation and rising prices<\/strong>. According to NielsenIQ, 45 % of European consumers have reduced their spending on non-essential food products, and 32 % are turning to private labels to cope with rising costs. Of particular importance is the fact that 78 % of consumers want to greater transparency<\/strong> about the origin and production methods of the food they buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that transparency is now at the heart of European consumers' concerns. They are demanding greater visibility of supply chains,<\/strong> looking for brands that don't just sell a product, but also share information about how ingredients are produced, processed and transported. Food companies that succeed in meeting this demand will gain the trust of their customers and position themselves as leaders in social and environmental responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, the quest for value for money is stronger than ever. <\/strong>By 2025, NielsenIQ predicts that FMCG prices will have risen by around 3 %, and consumers' main concern remains rising food prices (33 %), followed by rising service costs (20 %). In response, brands need to adjust their pricing strategies while maintaining an attractive value proposition and offering quality products at competitive prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innovative responses and resilience strategies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Faced with these challenges, food brands must not only survive, but thrive. To do this, they need to adopt innovative strategies that enable them to remain flexible and resilient in an unstable environment. Here are a few recommendations to help you navigate through these uncertain times, and avoid the \u00abjellyfish raft\u00bb effect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Diversifying sources of supply<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the first responses to ingredient uncertainty is to diversify your sources of supply. This allows you to reduce your dependence on a single supplier<\/strong>, This is particularly important when a single producer or region is experiencing difficulties. Exploring new supply markets or new local suppliers allows you to guarantee greater stability. What's more, diversifying your ingredients allows you to offset the rising cost of certain raw materials by exploring cheaper but equally effective alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Focus on sustainability and transparency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To meet consumers' expectations in terms of social and environmental responsibility, you also need to reinforce your commitment to sustainability<\/strong>. This means using ingredients from responsible farming practices, reducing your carbon footprint and implementing traceability mechanisms to guarantee that every product sold has been produced ethically (Ecovadis<\/a>, for example). By integrating technologies such as blockchain, you can offer complete traceability of their ingredients, ensuring total transparency for consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Blockchain as a strategic lever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blockchain has been emerging for some time as a powerful lever for increasing the transparency of food supply chains. Unlike artificial intelligence, which focuses more on automating processes, The blockchain makes it possible to guarantee rigorous traceability of ingredients, ensuring that each product is tracked from its source to the end consumer.<\/strong> This technology makes it possible to create an immutable, publicly accessible register in which every stage of the production process can be verified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of blockchain in the food sector not only guarantees the quality of products, but also reassures consumers about the provenance of ingredients. For example, a brand that uses blockchain to prove that its products are derived from sustainable practices, are locally sourced or meet strict animal welfare standards, can differentiate itself significantly in the market. For consumers, this represents a guarantee of trust, a crucial factor in retaining the loyalty of a customer base that is increasingly demanding when it comes to ethics and transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion: An opportunity for innovation and differentiation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The uncertainty of ingredients, although a source of challenges for food brands, is also an opportunity for you to innovate and stand out from the crowd.<\/strong> By adopting diversification strategies, emphasising transparency through technologies such as blockchain, and strengthening your commitment to sustainability, you can not only overcome these obstacles but also position yourself as leaders in an ever-changing market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adherence to values such as sustainability, transparency and environmental responsibility is no longer an option, but a necessity for brands wishing to ensure long-term consumer loyalty. In this sense, uncertainty can become a catalyst for positive change in the food sector.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NielsenIQ - Mid-Year Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2025 (2024)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mintel Insights - \u00abHow food & drink brands can adapt to ingredient uncertainty\u00bb (2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NielsenIQ - European Food Inflation Report (2025)<\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false},"class_list":["post-486","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nutrimedia.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}