This week, we’ve been taking inspiration from the Waitrose Food & Drink Report that looked at the trends that defined 2023-24.
As kitchen designers, we love to understand how people want to dine at home, and anticipate how this might influence our thinking when it comes to creating spaces for our clients.
The Waitrose Food & Drink Report offers valuable insights into evolving consumer preferences, which can directly influence our designs.
Gut Health and Protein-Rich Diets
The report highlights a growing focus on gut health and an increasing demand for protein-rich foods. This shift suggests that homeowners are likely to stock more protein-rich items, such as beans, legumes, and fresh meats, and fish in their kitchens. With butter beans seeing a 63% increase in popularity and chickpeas not far behind at 51%, it’s clear that pantries will need to accommodate these staples.
Design Inspiration: For those prioritising bulk buying, full-height storage solutions with plenty of shelves and pull-out features can be incredibly beneficial. These allow for easy access and organisation of canned goods, which are both heavy and numerous. Furthermore, larger refrigerators with advanced features, like those offered by Gaggenau and Siemens, can ensure optimal storage conditions for fresh proteins, preserving flavour and nutrition through precise temperature control.
The Rise of Izakaya Bites
Japanese cuisine, particularly the casual and sociable style of eating known as Izakaya, has gained popularity, with an 11% increase in interest. Izakaya dining involves sharing small, savoury dishes, often accompanied by drinks, making it a perfect choice for social gatherings.
Design Inspiration: To recreate this experience at home, the BORA Tepan Stainless Steel Grill is an excellent addition to your kitchen space. This grill offers precise temperature control, making it ideal for cooking a variety of dishes including Izakaya. Its sleek design and efficient functionality support an interactive and engaging dining experience, allowing hosts and guests to participate in the cooking process.
Home Bars and Evolving Drink Preferences
The report also notes a shift in how people enjoy alcoholic beverages. There’s an increased demand for high-quality, unique drinks, with a noticeable trend towards low and zero-alcohol wines and spirits. Moreover, traditional perceptions around wine consumption are changing, with chilled reds becoming more popular.
Design Inspiration: Home bars have become a desirable feature, whether as a dedicated space or integrated discreetly behind pocket doors that can reveal a bar area during gatherings. For wine enthusiasts, proper storage is essential. Brands like Kaelo offer innovative wine cooling solutions that maintain the ideal serving temperature, whether it’s for a crisp white or a slightly chilled red.
Personalised Nutrition and Wellbeing
A particularly thought-provoking aspect of the report is the emphasis on personalised nutrition. As more people tailor their diets to their specific health needs, the design of kitchen spaces must also adapt.
Design Implications: We foresee a growing need for personalised storage solutions that cater to individual dietary requirements. This might include custom pantry layouts, specialised refrigeration units, or even integrated technology for smart inventory management. Additionally, creating a kitchen environment that promotes overall wellbeing is becoming increasingly important. Incorporating natural light, using sustainable materials, and ensuring ergonomic design can all contribute to a space that not only functions well but also enhances the occupants’ quality of life.
As kitchen designers, our goal is to create spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful, reflecting the latest trends in food and drink. By understanding our clients’ needs and the broader shifts in consumer behaviour, we can craft kitchens that are perfectly suited to today’s lifestyles.
