The study looks at how the use of cannabis is impacting consumption in key food and beverage categories in key markets.

GlobalData’s new “Hot Topics” cannabis study on the claimed consumption behavior of cannabis users compared to non-users highlights that this is a large and growing consumer group, who are behaving differently to the general population, in ways that brand owners and their stakeholders may not fully realise.

Jenny Questier, Consumer Analysis Director at GlobalData, commented: “Currently, there is little research data or analysis available to help companies understand the impact of a new cohort of cannabis users in consumer packaged goods markets where the drug has been legalised. While this study’s findings are indicative, they could apply to any market where cannabis use is prevalent as they do provide some useful insights into the impact that cannabis users consumption behavior could have on product choices being made in key food and beverage categories and which demographics are important in future product development and positioning.”

The study entitled, “Hot Topics Report: Impact of cannabis use on consumption in key markets”, provides a top-line indication of how consumers who claim to use cannabis, describe their use of the drug in five key markets which have legalised the recreational use of the cannabis, namely: the US, South Africa, Canada, Mexico and Germany, and the claimed impact this may have on consumer consumption in the alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, savory snacks, and chocolate and confectionary categories in each of these markets.

The study reveals that cannabis users have a tendency to stay at home more, are more concerned about their physical and mental health, spend more time online, and perhaps as a consequence of this, order more food online, when compared to non-cannabis users. Interestingly, the known side effects of cannabis use of increasing hunger and thirst are significantly impacting on consumers’ net consumption of non-alcoholic beverages, savory snacks and chocolate and confectionary, however, the drug’s use currently seems to have a limited impact on alcohol consumption overall.

This is an important cohort for consumer packaged goods companies because the number of recreational cannabis users is already significant and is set to grow further. In the US, cannabis is legal for recreational use in 24 out of 50 states, according to the ^*Pew Research Centre. In the US, there were an estimated 17.7 million daily cannabis users recorded in 2022, according to research published in the journal Addiction, based on data collected by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Questier continued, “In the coming decade, the number of cannabis users is set to grow globally as more US states are likely to legalize recreational cannabis use, public support may lead more countries to do the same, and more people are likely to take up the habit as a means of relaxation, enjoyment, and for perceived health benefits. It is imperative that brands and manufacturers of food and beverages understand what this may mean for future innovation and target consumer groups.”

Here are some of the top-line indicative findings from the study for each food and beverages category surveyed in each market:

Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic Drinks

Cannabis use does not appear to have a significant impact on alcoholic drinks sales!

Claimed alcohol consumption remains largely unchanged overall as a result of cannabis use, generally holding steady at a plus or minus 1 % net change in most markets. Canada and Mexico have a small net decline in alcohol consumption with Germany’s high + 10 % net change attributed to a smaller sample size as cannabis has only recently been legalised in the country, and reported use remains relatively low.

An assumption that alcohol sales overall might suffer from the increased use of cheaper cannabis products as the stimulant effects are similar is not evident from this study. However, that’s not to say that the alcoholic drinks market isn’t changing; female cannabis users are drinking less alcohol, but males are drinking more.

Cannabis use makes you thirsty for non-alcoholic drinks!

All markets in this study saw a significant rise in the consumption of non-alcoholic drinks by cannabis users. In some markets, this rise occurred among all demographics, in other markets younger consumers dominated.

Savory Snacks and Chocolate & Confectionary

Cannabis use gives you the munchies, boosting savory snacks sales!

All markets saw a rise in savory snack consumption due to cannabis use; North American markets had particularly large rises. Unlike beverages, Gen Z do not dominate savory snack sales, instead it is older Gen Y and Gen X consumers.

Cannabis use gives you a sweet tooth, increasing chocolate & confectionery sales!

Cannabis use drives a significant rise in chocolate and confectionery consumption in most markets, although the demographic leading this varies from market to market.

Questier adds: “The top-line results from this indicative study show that cannabis users’ consumption behavior is different from other consumers. Consumption of soft drinks, savory snacks and chocolate and confectionery is significantly increased, with the balance between male and female, and young and old consumers shifting in each market. Whilst there is limited claimed impact from cannabis users on total alcohol consumption, the demographic make-up of this market is nevertheless changed by the presence of cannabis.

“With little research conducted into this area to date, the study’s indicative findings suggest that the implications of cannabis use for consumer packaged goods companies and their stakeholders could be significant for brand strategy, consumer targeting, portfolio management, innovation, sales, advertising, and marketing. Further research by brand, category, and geography could be required to ensure that these implications are understood and appropriate strategies devised to manage them.”

Free sample pages from the “Hot Topics Report: Impact of cannabis use on consumption in key markets”, are available here

^*Source: Pew Research Centre: here

People who use dietary supplements are significantly more likely to trust Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology than those who don’t, according to consumer research¹ commissioned by Ingredient Communications – the global B2B PR agency for ingredient companies.

In the survey, conducted by SurveyGoo, 64 % of supplement users² agreed that AI was generally positive for humanity, compared with 40 % of non-supplement users. When asked about the use of AI in the food and beverage industry, 55 % of supplement users said they felt positively about it, compared with 30 % of non-supplement users.

Supplement users in the survey were more likely to be willing to allow AI to make decisions on their behalf, with 62 % stating they would be prepared to let the technology analsze their own genetic make-up and dietary needs in order to make personalised nutrition recommendations. By contrast, only 33 % of non-supplement users said they would be willing to do so.

In a similar vein, 59 % of supplement users agreed that AI could be trusted to make decisions about their diet and nutrition that were in their best interests. Only 28 % of non-supplement users felt the same way.

However, by contrast, respondents who were supplement users were slightly more likely to want safeguards around the use of AI in food and beverage products. When asked if products made with the help of AI should declare this fact on the label, 87 % of supplement users said they wanted this, versus 79 % of non-supplement users.

Meanwhile, 68 % of supplement users agreed that a product made with the help of AI should not be described as ‘natural’, with 62 % of non-supplement users taking this position.

Richard Clarke, Managing Director of Ingredient Communications, commented: “Our survey indicates that consumers who take supplements are much more likely to embrace the application of AI in the food and beverage industry than those who do not. More research would be needed to reveal why this is the case. But we can speculate that the profile of a typical supplement user is someone who is more likely to embrace scientific and technological innovation if it enhances their wellbeing or gives them an edge in physical and mental performance.”

He continued: “At the same time, however, it’s important to note that our findings show supplement users still expect transparency around the use of AI in the food and beverage sector. Again, to speculate, this might be because they tend to be an engaged and knowledgeable consumer demographic that accepts no compromises when it comes to safety and regulation. The message from supplement users, therefore, is clear: go ahead and innovate with AI – but be sure to take us on the journey with you.”

¹Online survey of 1,040 consumers in UK and USA, conducted October 2024
²Supplement user = a respondent who had used a supplement within the past three months

Prinova research has revealed wide variations in the needs of sports nutrition consumers, with those who exercise less frequently more likely to prioritise goals such as weight management and immune health. The survey also shows that more casual sports nutrition consumers are more likely to value taste and texture.

Prinova, the leading provider of bespoke premixes and blends, surveyed 1277 European consumers of sports nutrition products. Although all were physically active, exercising at least twice a week, their preferred activities, goals, needs and purchasing habits varied significantly by activity level.

Respondents were presented with a list of 15 possible goals and asked to pick the five that were most important to them when using sports nutrition products. The three most common were energy (71 %), post-exercise recovery (51 %) and muscle growth (48 %).

However, the research suggests that the mainstreaming of the consumer base has increased the importance of goals not traditionally associated with the category. Consumers who exercised twice a week were almost twice as likely to prioritise immune health as those who exercised daily (20 % vs 11 %).
The less frequent exercisers were also significantly more likely to target weight management (24 % vs 16 %) and digestive health (11 % vs 7 %), and to list taste and texture as a purchase influencer (33 % compared to 22 %).

Tony Gay, Technical Sales Director, Nutrition, at Prinova Europe, said: “Sports nutrition has emerged from its niche of serious athletes, resulting in a more mainstream consumer base. This research suggests that people who exercise less regularly tend to have different goals from their more ‘hardcore’ counterparts and are more likely to have needs that overlap with other categories, such as immune health and weight management. The key takeaway is that there is no ‘typical’ sports nutrition consumer, and as the market becomes more fragmented, there will be growing demand for innovative bespoke and hybrid products targeting more than one goal.”

Prinova is a leading global supplier of ingredients and premix manufacturing solutions. Its branded products for sports nutrition include:

• enduracarb^® – a science-backed, slow-release ‘double sugar’ which outperforms other carbohydrate sources over prolonged periods of intense exercise
• Aquamin – a range of plant-based, clean label, marine multimineral-complex products supported by more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications
• EAAlpha^™ – a patented, balanced blend of nine essential amino acids (EAAs) with arginine, providing an optimal ratio for muscle protein synthesis.

The survey of 1277 consumers in the UK, France, Germany Italy and Spain was carried out in April 2023. The full results will be published in a Prinova report.