Tastewise, the AI-powered food intelligence solution, launches in the UK

AI-powered platform Tastewise predicts the way consumers order, cook and eat through analyzing restaurant menus, social media interactions and online home recipes. After debuting in the U.S. last year, the insights company is now launching in the UK.

In conjunction with its launch, Tastewise released a report exploring consumer food trends in the UK, analyzing how the pandemic has upended trends and consumer preferences. Among its findings, the report shows that health is a major driver in the food choices made by Brits.

In fact, vegan or plant-based options are experiencing considerable demand with the trend thriving particularly well in Wales where 8.3% of all eating occasions are vegan. Scotland is also showing a fast-growing interest in vegan dishes, with interest in the cuisine up 47%, rising at twice the speed as in England.

While plant-based is hot, Brits are also interested in real spice. South Indian cuisine, which is a cuisine that is traditionally geared toward a vegan diet, has seen a 97% rise in demand from this time last year. Tastewise shows that a craving for spice doesn’t stop at South Asian cuisine. Korean gochujang, a sweet and spicy condiment, is outpacing the popularity of sriracha by 5 times.

However, traditional English staples have not fallen completely out of fashion. The stalwart English breakfast is making a comeback, but just a little healthier. Baked beans, which are a standard accompaniment to the morning fare, are being replaced by green beans. Interest in the vitamin-rich legumes is up 112% since January.

Ingredients, however, are only one part of the equation. Brits are also interested in replicating the experience of going out in a manner that is reminiscent of pre-pandemic life. Meal kits, which have waned in recent months, have seen a resurgence, with interest in these kits up over 200% across England, Wales and Scotland. In Wales, the interest stems from a desire for weight loss, which drove 70% of the searches for meal kits in the country.

Tastewise’s approach to market research is novel in that it instantly captures real-time data and allows manufacturers to analyze consumer preferences on a minute-by-minute basis. This approach allows for “laser-focused views” into consumer behavior, by offering in-depth insight into the motivations behind consumer choices to allow companies to innovate through data-driven product development, marketing strategy, and sales that are closely aligned with consumer demand.