Take a deep dive into how the month of February has shaped up over the years with research from our 17 Years In Food & Beverage Trends EBook.
thefoodpeople was established in 2005 rooted in our purpose to shift the future of food and drink by inspiring and informing people, business and institutions to harness the power of trends and foresight. Why do we do what we do? Well, we believe that food & drink connects us all, by working with our community, industry and our collaborators, positive impact in food & drink can shape a better future for all.
Since then a lot has changed across the food and beverage landscape, change that we've looked to capture in our 17 Years In Food & Beverage Trends E-Book. We look at what events, people, culture, regulations, technologies, and products defined these years, as well as the changes and impact on these for the future.
Here are some of the highlights captured from various months of February between 2006 and 2022.
February 2008 - Bistronomics came into being as the new culinary concept for 2008. Referring to haute cuisine at bistro prices, it reflected a demand for quality dining that was also approachable, casual and (most crucially) affordable. February was the month that saw James Nathan announced as the 2008 winner of MasterChef having shown immense flare and skill in preparing seafood and game dishes, which have since become his signature style. Over in Japan, Garlic Chocolate was for sale just in time for Valentine's Day, whilst in the UK M&S launches a light-but-flavoursome pink port in the wake of the soaring demand for rose wine.
February 2011 - Forget the old principle of consuming five portions of fruit and vegetables each day ... this number was said to be more like eight to better safeguard against heart disease following findings from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) heart study. Elsewhere, celebrity chef David Burke opened his eponymous new restaurant in Soho, NYC, with an industrial-style airy loft designed by James Beard Award-winner Thomas Schlesser. Whilst also in the US, LA-based Mylkman Company started to deliver raw organic almond mylk to your door every week.
February 2014 - This month saw the Michelin Guide for France released and the big news was that a third star went to L'Assiette Champenoise in Reims. Head chef Arnaud Lallement, 39, said his first reaction on hearing the news of his third star was to think of his father, Jean-Pierre, who died at the age of 50 in 2002. In the UK, the BMW Square Meal Restaurant of the Year was awarded to The Five Fields, London, with judges deciding thtit combined "stand-out, adventurous food with personable, friendly service to deliver luxury without overblown formality - all at a fair price." Finally, Coconut Bacon launched on the US market - a vegan, gluten-free, cholesterol-free product.
February 2016 - This year saw Meal Kits become our new best (kitchen accessory) friend. Particularly appealing to the millennial community, those time-poor but experimental and creative people, who wanted some say over how and what they cooked, but not the whole responsibility of scratch cooking. In other news, the Creme Egg Cafe opened in London in a bid to win back favour with British consumers following the sale of the brand from Cadbury to US firm Kraft, as well as reducing the number of eggs in a pack! Finally, ice cream aficionados Ben & Jerry's went dairy free with their new line-up. Flavours included P.B. & Cookies; Vanilla with Chocolate Sandwich Cookies & Crunchy Peanut Butter Swirls; Chocolate Fudge Brownie and others.
February 2019 - With gut health on the lips of every diet guru, it was no surprise that fermentation was bubbling over - and the humble cabbage was king, being the key element in kimchi, rød kraut and sauerkraut filling and topping many a street food. In the awards space, The World's 50 Best Restaurants list underwent a shake-up, announcing that any former winner of the Best Restaurant title would not be eligible for voting any more, instead uniting to become a Best of the Best group in their own right. In the UK, Public Health England considered rolling out calorie limits on food products including pizzas, sandwiches and ready meals. This proposal was criticised for being too restrictive on food manufacturers though and education was preferred on how to eat well. Finally, February 2019 saw the City fo Venice in Italy introduce a day visitors tax, whilst it was also the Year of the Pig for Chinese New Year.
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A lot has happened in the month of February over the years - discover more in our 17 Years In Food & Beverage Trends EBook. Find out how you can get your copy here.