Rob Brown
Rob Brown is a freelance journalist for The Grocer.
Category ReportBack with a bang: food to go trends 2024
Food to go has exploded in the past year, with annual unit sales at last overcoming the slump caused by Covid. Who’s cashing in?
Category ReportA new dawn for plant-based?
Cost of living struggles have hit plant-based sales, but the market is looking to recover with a more natural generation of products
Category ReportProtein gets the feelgood factor: protein trends 2024
Protein isn’t just for gym rats. Growing numbers of Brits are upping their intake for general health and to ‘feel good’
Category ReportHow oral care became beautiful: oral care trends 2024
After years of stagnation, oral care is now seeing demand for Instagrammable products. And it’s putting a smile on everyone’s faces
Category ReportYoghurt with benefits: Dairymen yoghurts & potted desserts trends 2024
Yoghurt sales have bounced back thanks to health-led claims from brands, which are going beyond protein and gut health
Category ReportThe coffee fan’s choice: Dairymen milk category report 2024
Coffee lovers are getting into a froth about making the perfect latte at home. Brands are responding with barista milks aplenty
Category ReportCold brew trends 2024: Full of beans
RTD iced coffee has enjoyed another growth spurt. Yet some of the giants have suffered a volume decline in the past year. Why?
Category ReportHot beverage trends 2024: How the wellness ‘mega-trend’ hit UK cuppas
The wellness ‘mega-trend’ has landed in the nation’s cuppas, as brands add fruits, herbs, mushrooms and more to hot beverages
Category ReportBreakfast trends 2024: Why brekkie is going places
As on-the-go breakfasts take off, supermarkets are going toe to toe with foodservice players. Who’s winning in the convenience era?
Category ReportReady to drink trends 2024: Hard seltzer goes soft
The forecast hard seltzer craze hasn’t materialised in the UK, prompting brands to rethink their strategies. Does the future instead lie in canned cocktails?
Category ReportKids’ lunch trends 2024: Obesity unpacked?
Childhood obesity peaked in lockdown. Today, it remains above pre-pandemic levels. So do our packed lunches need to change?
Category ReportLunch trends 2024: Why lunch is going places
As food-to-go options get more adventurous, brands are looking to broaden the horizons of lunchboxes, too. Who’s winning?
Category ReportEnergy drinks trends 2024: Can Red Bull outrun Monster?
Energy drinks brands are racing ahead, with flavour innovation, festival appearances and keen pricing broadening their appeal
Category ReportEnergy products trends 2024: Can challengers go the distance?
Can deals with influencers such as ultra-runner and ‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook help challenger energy brands go the distance?
Category ReportSnacking trends 2024: Brands fighting UPF allegations
As concerns about ultra-processed food change shopper habits, snacking brands are underlining their better-for-you credentials
Analysis & FeaturesWorkouts, sugar and snacking: 10 charts explaining UK attitudes to protein shakes
Why are consumers buying protein shakes? And how can retailers cash in on protein’s pulling power?
Category ReportSoft drinks trends 2024: Does big soda need another makeover?
As volumes sales fall, brands are turning to new looks, limited edition flavours and healthier reformulations to recover momentum
Category ReportPersonal care & beauty trends 2024: Brands fight the ‘dupe’ boom
Beauty brands are losing out to lower priced ‘dupes’ and own label. How can they salvage sales?
Category ReportLow & No trends 2024: Is alcohol-free the new cool?
Alcohol-free is continuing its upward climb with marketing aimed at trendy, young consumers
Category ReportBBQ trends 2024: Can world food put the bang back in BBQ?
Ahead of summer’s big sporting events, spiced-up, world-inspired BBQ ranges are hitting the aisles to tempt adventure-seeking Brits