Inclusivity, Skincare, Plant-Based Products: The Latest Consumer News Trends

A look at consumer and retail news from PR Newswire in March and April that you might have missed.

 

 

By Katie Nuttall | Published May 9, 2023

 

As we approach the beginning of the summer months, the Cision team has been tracking noteworthy consumer industry trends. Cision’s experts analyze thousands of wire releases each month to determine key themes influencing the way retail brands interact with their target audiences. Using our collective knowledge to make an impact for our customers and industry professionals alike is one of the things we do best!

Throughout March and April, we noticed consumer press releases focusing on inclusivity and the ways retailers are working to make sure every consumer feels seen. We also saw an uptick in releases featuring plant-based products and a focus on skincare.

Overall, Cision distributed nearly 5,000 releases covering consumer news in March and April!

Let’s take a closer look at the noteworthy trends we’ve seen across the consumer wire in recent months.

Some of the Most Popular Consumer Releases

• ALDI launched its largest gear collection yet, complete with trendy belt bags, bucket hats, and track suits (all under $10!).
• Crash the Cat from Boise, Idaho, was crowned the winner of the fifth-annual Cadbury Bunny Tryouts making him the first cat to take home the coveted Cadbury Bunny ears.
• Jennifer Lopez announced the creation of THE HOUSE OF DELOLA LLC, a company she founded to launch unique, mixology-level ready-to-enjoy cocktails.
• The Dove Self-Esteem Project partnered with Lizzo, Common Sense Media, and ParentsTogether Action to advance legislation around social media safety for kids.
• Pepsi unveiled a new logo and visual identity system, the first update of the iconic Pepsi globe logo in 14 years.

 

Consumer and Retail News Trends

Here’s a look at a few of the trends we noticed among consumer and retail-related press releases in March and April, with a few examples of each.

Inclusivity

Social ethics are affecting the way the modern consumer shops and it has shown on the wire as well. Consumers want to support brands whose values match their own. In fact, 40% of Gen Z and 31% of Millennials say diversity and inclusion is the most important brand value to them when shopping for beauty products.

After years of many consumers feeling underrepresented in the retail space, they are now expecting brands to offer their products to all and recognize that one size or skin tone does not fit all.  Inclusivity is a trend that is here to stay.

Here are some examples from March and April:

• Dove Launches Love Your Hair Collection to Empower Women to Love & Embrace Their Hair - However They Choose to Wear It
• H&M Strengthens Mission of Inclusivity by Expanding Their Extended Size Offering in the U.S.
• Laura Geller Beauty Sheds Light on The Invisible Woman
• Live, unapologetic and unretouched, Knix debuts an all new swim campaign in real time
• Men's Wearhouse Celebrates Prom Season with a New Campaign Continuing its Commitment to Supporting U.S. Schools, Underscoring Diversity and Inclusion, and Providing Innovative In-Store and Digital Experiences

Skincare

Now more than ever consumers are focusing on self-care and wellness, including skincare which is expected to grow annually by 3.42% (CAGR 2023-2027). Thanks to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Gen Z buys more skincare products than previous generations.

This year, we have seen an uptick in technology-powered skincare as well as a focus on clean ingredients.

Throughout the last two months, more than 400 cosmetics and personal care releases crossed the wire. Check out some examples from March and April:

• Cetaphil® unveils digital AI skin analysis tool to empower and educate users with sensitive skin
• LivePURE Announces Launch of C'ENCIA, a Revolutionary New Skincare Line
• Clinique Announces the Virtual Launch of The Clinique Lab
• Sky Organics Announces 2023 Rebrand, Doubling Down on Its Commitment to & Leadership within Organic Beauty and Sustainability

Plant-Based Products

Consumer interest in plant-based food products is rising across the U.S. In fact, six in ten households purchased plant-based foods in 2022. Some opt for a plant-based diet for health reasons whereas others choose it to support animal welfare or other moral values. Whatever the reason, there are more plant-based products than ever on the market currently, many of which were featured at Natural Products Expo West 2023 in March.

We’ve seen plenty of releases featuring new products and innovations hit the wire over the past 2 months — with more than 450 releases mentioning "plant-based" — including:

• Renegade Foods Launches Industry First Shelf-Stable Vegan Deli Meat
• The Hershey Company Introduces New Plant-Based Additions to Hershey's and Reese's Brands
• Amid Rapid U.S. Growth, Wicked Kitchen Adds Birthday Cake Flavor to Award-Winning Ice Cream Line Up, Debuts New Heat-and-Eat Stews, Mac & Cheeze
• The ISH Company Launches Plant-Based Seafood to U.S. Foodservice Companies with Dot Foods
• So Delicious® Dairy Free Brings Innovation to the Yogurt Aisle with New 0g Added Sugar Yogurt Alternative
• Babybel Plant-Based White Cheddar Joins Babybel's Dairy-Free Portfolio as its First New Flavor

Conclusion

Keeping in line with other industries, consumers are focused on purchasing from brands whose values align with their own and offer products specifically for them, whether it be a clothing or food retailer. A focus on clean, plant-based products is also on trend across various industries. We expect to see news of continued innovation in both the skincare and plant-based food industry cross the wire in the coming months. 

 

 

About the Author

Katie Nuttall is a Senior Content Specialist at Cision PR Newswire and has been with the company since 2018. She graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in Communications. When she's off the clock, Katie enjoys reading, yoga, walking her dog Harry, and traveling.