Trends are everywhere: trends are in cars, clothing, television shows, books, and even foods. Recently spotted on the horizon of upcoming trends is food which can be customized. This can be done in many different ways. Many companies are now offering a “customizing” service, which consumers are able to order their own personalized food labels to put on the product. Heinz, for example, has a website designed specifically for this use.
Another trend-leader in this category is M&M-Mars. On the M&M’s website, anyone can create their own personalized message to be custom printed on the M&M’s of their choice. This is extremely popular for events like weddings, birthday parties, bat or bar mitzvahs and business parties. Personalized candies also make a novel gift. This trend, while generally lead by foods like candy, is growing. Consumers are now able to have customized labels printed on anything from condiments to hard liquor.
Another way in which this trend is being used by companies is the ability of the consumer to hand pick ingredients and flavors. Customizable sodas are popping up, allowing customers to add or subtract the amounts of certain ingredients like ginseng and caffeine, as well as create their own personal flavor concoctions.
Businesses, especially those specializing in novelty foods like candy, would likely benefit from adding this service. Customizing your own foods and candies are a great way to catch people’s attention. People tend to enjoy having things that reflect their individuality, and this trend is just another way for people to express just that. If they want their ketchup to have their last name on it, now they can.
This trend is not limited entirely to the United States. In fact, the trend is now international. In Denmark, a brewery offers customized labeling on beers on orders of over 30 bottles. In Asia, there is a growing trend of edible business cards. A person’s name and info is printed on anything from chocolate to peanuts, and passed out to clients. Though some might feel that this is silly, the novelty of the trend perhaps grabs the attention of those who are given such a unique “business card," which is probably the reason for which more and more business people are turning to this unique option.
Though it is not easy to tell how long this specific trend will last, it does look like it has potential for some lasting power. Because people like to have things personalized, and because of the vast opportunity to make unique, silly gifts is part of this trend, it is very likely that more vendors will begin to offer this service.
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