With the news of prominent restaurants going meatless, Mintel Senior Trends Analyst Diana Kelter and Global Food Analyst Melanie Zanoza Bartelme discuss the shifting impact of fine dining and fast casual influence.

Mintel, a leading market intelligence agency, identified five key trends set to impact the global food and drink market in 2018.

A recent marketing research report by Mintel among British consumers that buy butter, spread, oil and fat reports a remarkable drop in the frequency consumers are frying at home.

As Americans continue to diverge from a traditional three-meals-a-day eating schedule, more are seeking healthy snack options throughout the day, and customers are willing to pay more for high quality healthy snacks.

Foods bearing “free-from” claims are increasingly relevant to Americans, as they perceive the products as closely tied to health. Mintel research reveals that 84 percent of American free-from consumers buy free-from foods because they are seeking out more natural or less processed foods.

According to the recent report from Mintel, Snacking Motivations and Attitudes US 2015, nearly all Americans (94 percent) snack at least once a day. What is more, half (50 percent) of adults snack two to three times per day.

It's confirmed: the recession really did make us chow down on potato chips and other salty snacks. A new report from Mintel shows that after years of mediocre sales increases, the potato chip market grew 22% during the economic downturn.