The time has come around again for… All Things Love! It's Valentine's Day, and people are seizing the opportunity to celebrate with loved ones. Our full seasonwatching Valentine's Day roundup is now live on TrendHub, where we deep dive into key themes and trends from this year – including flavours, formats, gifting, sweets, drinks, meal occasions and more.
Three key take-outs from our report are:
1. 50 Shades of Pink – After the recent success of films like 'Barbie' and 'Mean Girls: The Musical', consumers are embracing every shade of pink – from pale rose to vibrant fuschia, and plenty in between. And the 'coquette aesthetic' is in, following on from Barbiecore. Cue hyper playful, flirtatious, romantic and retro takes on anything from fashion to food… Think bows, ribbon, lace, pastel hues, vanilla milkshakes with a cherry on top, white chocolate dipped strawberries, towering cakes with retro pink and red frosting, and edible roses.
2. Modern Love – Once reserved for romantic love, Valentine's has become a celebration of love full stop. Galentines, palentines, self-love, and even 'situation-ships' are worthy of mention – all love is welcome here! Moving away from the typical dinner for two, friends gather for the ultimate slumber party, and there's plenty of going out experiences too… Wine tastings, pizza parties, and DJ sets till the early hours of the morning offer a new experience for those who want to rethink the Valentine's status quo.
3. Affordable Gourmet – As many consumers look to treat their loved ones without breaking the bank, thoughts move towards achieving moments of indulgence on a budget. Gourmet experiences come to you, as consumers seek the comfort of their homes. Menus with slow-roasted duck legs, bombe puddings, and espresso martinis bring the feeling of a romantic restaurant meal to your table… at a fraction of the cost. Even baked goods get in on the action… Instead of a whole cake, for instance, those with a sweet tooth opt for a beautifully decorated cupcake, or perhaps a plain croissant upgraded with indulgent touches. Berries n' cream croissant with white chocolate glaze and rose petals, anyone?
trendhub subscribers can access the full Valentine's Day seasonwatching report on the hub, here. If you're not yet subscribed, but are interested to find out more, please get in touch.