A new class of weight loss drugs called GLP-1 agonists is
driving down consumers’ appetites at an unprecedented
scale, forcing the food industry to reconsider long-established
assumptions about what we eat – and how much. As GLP-1’s popularity booms, experts are asking, is this a fad or a
fundamental shift for the food and beverage industry?
- New Zealand food producers assume they’re feeding an endlessly hungry world. What happens when the world loses its appetite, eats smaller portions, and no longer wants a leg of lamb?
- GLP-1-drugs are forecast to shrink ‘stomach share’ and drive a shift to smaller, fewer, nutritionally dense meals.
- Shrinking diets reinforce New Zealand’s longstanding message ‘good for you, good for planet’, producing ethically-sourced, healthy whole foods.
- New opportunities are emerging in personalised nutrition, bundling AI and nutrient intense foods to improve health, especially for those with dietary problems.
- Re-positioning dairy as an essential source of amino acids and proteins (already happening in the USA) could create renewed demand in China.
- And there will be increased demand for novel foods, like meat-plant based hybrids and lentil creams, and meals as experiences and art.
