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Are these the foods millennials want to eat? Are these the foods millennials want to eat?
(32 minutes later)
Andi Naude, a veterinary student, stops to look at a coconut and chocolate bar that calls itself a "complete meal" in a "convenient" pack.Andi Naude, a veterinary student, stops to look at a coconut and chocolate bar that calls itself a "complete meal" in a "convenient" pack.
Then she spots the £4 price tag.Then she spots the £4 price tag.
The bar is part of a new trial range at Sainsbury's called "Taste of the Future", which the supermarket hopes will bring in more millennial shoppers.The bar is part of a new trial range at Sainsbury's called "Taste of the Future", which the supermarket hopes will bring in more millennial shoppers.
It includes crisps made from salmon skin, alcoholic kombucha and a bottle of chocolate-flavoured powder that forms another "complete meal" when mixed with water.It includes crisps made from salmon skin, alcoholic kombucha and a bottle of chocolate-flavoured powder that forms another "complete meal" when mixed with water.
But the stand is failing to excite customers in the supermarket chain's Camden store; Ms Naude describes the range as "sort of unique" but says the high price is putting her off.But the stand is failing to excite customers in the supermarket chain's Camden store; Ms Naude describes the range as "sort of unique" but says the high price is putting her off.
In her basket are eggs and chicken but also veggie burgers and tofu. At 23 she is one of a growing number of young people trying to cut back on the amount of meat she eats.In her basket are eggs and chicken but also veggie burgers and tofu. At 23 she is one of a growing number of young people trying to cut back on the amount of meat she eats.
While the number of people who class themselves as vegetarian had stayed steady at roughly one in 20 over the last five years, Katie Shade, an analyst at Kantar, says there's been an increase in the number of people who consider themselves flexitarians.While the number of people who class themselves as vegetarian had stayed steady at roughly one in 20 over the last five years, Katie Shade, an analyst at Kantar, says there's been an increase in the number of people who consider themselves flexitarians.
Sainsbury's isn't the first established brand to try and tap into a new wave of health-conscious consumers.Sainsbury's isn't the first established brand to try and tap into a new wave of health-conscious consumers.
The supermarkets are keen to tap into that market of so-called "conscious consumers", who are concerned about the sourcing of the food they eat but also the health benefits.The supermarkets are keen to tap into that market of so-called "conscious consumers", who are concerned about the sourcing of the food they eat but also the health benefits.
In 2013, Coke launched Coca-Cola Life, which was packaged in a green can and had less than half the calories of the brand's flagship, red-can formula.In 2013, Coke launched Coca-Cola Life, which was packaged in a green can and had less than half the calories of the brand's flagship, red-can formula.
At the time, the drinks giant said Coke Life was "well-positioned to meet changing lifestyle trends, providing people with a great-tasting, lower calorie cola sweetened from natural sources".At the time, the drinks giant said Coke Life was "well-positioned to meet changing lifestyle trends, providing people with a great-tasting, lower calorie cola sweetened from natural sources".
But Coke took the green cans off the shelves just four years later after sales of the drink, which was sweetened with stevia, dipped to make up less than 1% of the drink maker's UK revenues.But Coke took the green cans off the shelves just four years later after sales of the drink, which was sweetened with stevia, dipped to make up less than 1% of the drink maker's UK revenues.
And last year, Sainsbury's rival, Tesco, started selling smaller wine bottles targeted at millennials that want to cut back on their drinking. And last year, Tesco, started selling smaller wine bottles targeted at millennials that want to cut back on their drinking.
A number of other brands have also been targeting the growing market for meat-free products with KFC launching a vegan burger in a bid to mimic the success that bakery chain, Gregg's, achieved with its vegan sausage roll.A number of other brands have also been targeting the growing market for meat-free products with KFC launching a vegan burger in a bid to mimic the success that bakery chain, Gregg's, achieved with its vegan sausage roll.
'Modern medicine''Modern medicine'
Sainsbury's aim is trying to create a "modern medicine cabinet", according to Alex Beckett, a food and drink analyst at Mintel.Sainsbury's aim is trying to create a "modern medicine cabinet", according to Alex Beckett, a food and drink analyst at Mintel.
He says under-40s want "quick-fix health products that promise added vitamins, gut health, protein, relaxation" in an "affordable pocket-sized offering".He says under-40s want "quick-fix health products that promise added vitamins, gut health, protein, relaxation" in an "affordable pocket-sized offering".
"It's the mindset that everything has to do something else, has to be multi-functional, in this smartphone generation - and that goes for food and drink as well," Mr Beckett says."It's the mindset that everything has to do something else, has to be multi-functional, in this smartphone generation - and that goes for food and drink as well," Mr Beckett says.
That's not the only way smartphones have influenced the millennial palate. The retail analyst says younger shoppers are looking for "distinctive trophies" - unusual new foods to share pictures of on social media.That's not the only way smartphones have influenced the millennial palate. The retail analyst says younger shoppers are looking for "distinctive trophies" - unusual new foods to share pictures of on social media.
Thomas Brereton, a retail analyst at Global Data, is more cynical, describing the new Sainsbury's range as a "marketing ploy".Thomas Brereton, a retail analyst at Global Data, is more cynical, describing the new Sainsbury's range as a "marketing ploy".
He sees these new food fashions as something similar to High Street fashion trends, something to take photos of before you go back to your usual diet.He sees these new food fashions as something similar to High Street fashion trends, something to take photos of before you go back to your usual diet.
"It's why people like to drink gin out of jam jars. It's basically a novel experience for these people, that they haven't tried the latest seaweed crisp or whatever it is.""It's why people like to drink gin out of jam jars. It's basically a novel experience for these people, that they haven't tried the latest seaweed crisp or whatever it is."
But he says it's important to distinguish between fad products and those that seek to serve growing markets, like meat-free foods.But he says it's important to distinguish between fad products and those that seek to serve growing markets, like meat-free foods.
Of the quirkier products finding their way onto supermarket shelves, Mr Brereton says he doesn't expect many of them to be around in six months time.Of the quirkier products finding their way onto supermarket shelves, Mr Brereton says he doesn't expect many of them to be around in six months time.
Some of them may not last that long.Some of them may not last that long.
In the Camden Sainsbury's 45-year-old Kay, says her eye has certainly been caught by the colourful packaging on a pack of smoked seaweed essence.In the Camden Sainsbury's 45-year-old Kay, says her eye has certainly been caught by the colourful packaging on a pack of smoked seaweed essence.
But she says that at £9 it and the other products seem over-priced.But she says that at £9 it and the other products seem over-priced.
Store manager Richard Green says the range is targeted at "people who like trying new things" and those that "don't mind paying a premium for premium products".Store manager Richard Green says the range is targeted at "people who like trying new things" and those that "don't mind paying a premium for premium products".
"The only way you make money on your core range is volume, if you make money at all," he says. The branching out away from the bread-and-butter products is something Sainsbury's has always done, he says."The only way you make money on your core range is volume, if you make money at all," he says. The branching out away from the bread-and-butter products is something Sainsbury's has always done, he says.
"Most of our margins on food are tiny, the margins on that [the new range] will be fierce," he says."Most of our margins on food are tiny, the margins on that [the new range] will be fierce," he says.
But Sainsbury's head of brands, Rachel Eyre, says the pricing is "just how we normally price."But Sainsbury's head of brands, Rachel Eyre, says the pricing is "just how we normally price."
Ms Eyre says the chain charges "what we think that a customer will find fair for a product that they're considering". The 14-week trial of the new range will show whether the chain had got the pricing right, she adds.Ms Eyre says the chain charges "what we think that a customer will find fair for a product that they're considering". The 14-week trial of the new range will show whether the chain had got the pricing right, she adds.
Sainsbury's is hoping that the range will appeal to all ages, she adds, testing the ground for more new emerging products.Sainsbury's is hoping that the range will appeal to all ages, she adds, testing the ground for more new emerging products.
"Every bit of space on every shelf in every supermarket is incredibly important to us. It's a highly competitive market so we wouldn't have put anything on there if we didn't have some belief that it could do well.""Every bit of space on every shelf in every supermarket is incredibly important to us. It's a highly competitive market so we wouldn't have put anything on there if we didn't have some belief that it could do well."