Significant COVID-19 Impact on Super Foods | Food and Beverage Industry | Data B

Posted by Prakash on April 19th, 2021

COVID-19 Impact on Super Foods in the Food and Beverage Industry

The outbreak of the coronavirus across the world has affected badly which includes population and also the economy. It has been estimated by IMF that the crises have led the economy growth down by 3.0% in the year of 2020. They have also stated that this is “far worse” condition when compared to the 2009 global financial crises.

The main reason for the economy got down is that the various industry sectors have been affected with this pandemic in which one of them is super foods market. When the outbreak took place and cases started increasing across the world, the governing authorities took decisions of lockdown in order to avoid further spread. Due to the lockdown, the supply and demand chain got affected and the market for the super foods decreased during the start of the 2020.

Super foods include various products such as berries, fish, leafy greens and many others. Due to the lockdown, the final products were not reaching to the customers.

Further, governing authorities allowed for essential products marketing in the super foods market. The super foods come under essential products. In the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are now more focused towards essential products, hence, it is one of the demanding sector at present. A super food boosts immune system and also maintains health of consumers. Sitting at home, the consumers are getting more awareness regarding the health foods to immunize themselves from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the high demand, now growers and processors of fruits and vegetables are more focused towards nutritional daily essentials products. For instance, people have started buying huge amounts of shelf‑stable and processed food. This has led to the high demand for canned beans, fruit and vegetables. The demand for the small cans having processed fruits and vegetables are high from the retail sector, whereas, from the food services sector, the demand is decreased as lockdown doesn’t allow people to go out.

Due to high demand, there is pressure on producers and processors for providing the products in the super foods market as there is shortage of labor in the industry due to pandemic. For instance, in Philippines, people are locked in their homes or houses. This action has halted the production and delivery of desiccated coconut and dehydrated bananas and others fruits and vegetables.

The demand is high but somewhere supply chain issues may restrict the super foods market growth at this period of time. For instance, logistics sector reported that it is facing problems in finding enough truck drivers. Also, the industry sector has stated that the restrictions on sea transporters and the lack of air freight are a major problem for exporters from developing countries.

Also, in Europe region, there are transport delays of the products. Internal border controls are causing long waiting times of up to 18 hours. To provide the ease of food supply in the super foods market, the European Food Safety Authority is about to introduce alternative checks.

For instance, the authorities may take decision of accepting digital copies of documents via phones.

Manufacturers are now focusing on collaborating with e-commerce sector to deliver the products to doorsteps of consumers.

For instance,

• LVL Life, a Singapore-based company have seen sales surge during the COVID-19 outbreak with rising consumer demand for its plant-based super food powder blends. The company has taken strategic decision of e-commerce introduction for getting success in selling products in the super foods market.

At present, the super foods demand is high as it helps to maintain the health of consumers and mainly demand from retail sector is high. But, in future once the pandemic situation is under control, the demand for the super foods will increase as food services sector also will get combined and will enhance the super foods market growth as in previous times or may also grow more depending on the consumer behavior.

SUPER FOODS MANUFACTURERS: PERSPECTIVE AND INITIATIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic have drastically changed the food consumption pattern of the living being, which is counted as 8 out of 10 people have changed their ways of eating habits and have incorporated nutritional enriched food products in their day-to-day life. For instance, According to the International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) 2020 Food and Health Survey, 85% of Americans have made changes in the food they eat or how they prepare food because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Read more…