New York, NY—The Specialty Meals Affiliation Trendspotter Panel has uncovered 5 tendencies that may drive the expansion of the $170.4 billion specialty meals trade in 2022, in response to a press launch.
Over the course of three digital SFA exhibits, the Panel assembled to analysis 1000’s of specialty meals and beverage merchandise. Denise Purcell, VP Content material and Training for SFA, delved into their findings to seek out the tendencies. A prime discovering: consolation is essential. “As we head right into a second 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, consolation is an overriding theme,” stated Purcell. “The occasions of the previous 18 months have shoppers searching for out acquainted and comforting meals and drinks, however usually with a twist for some pleasure, or with particular diets and well being issues in thoughts.”
The tendencies:
- Pasta. Current keto and low-carb tendencies have slowed the pasta practice, but it surely’s revving up once more as folks search for consolation meals. It’s coming again totally different, although—in shapes like cascatelli, that are unfamiliar to the U.S. market, or in alternative-grain choices.
- Plant-Based mostly. Nonetheless comforting, although. As plant-based consumers go searching for consolation, choices are making it to market to accommodate them. The SFA press launch factors to tenders and nuggets made with Chilean seaweed as one instance.
- World Snacking. With motion restricted, journey has been completed via the plate—and now snacks are catching up, with keto-friendly, prebiotic-rich, Thai flavor-inspired snack bars; foie gras-flavored potato chips; and extra: Trendspotter Kantha Shelke pointed to peanuts flavored with turmeric and chili “just like the spicy peanut snack from hawkers on avenue corners in Bangkok that I relished as a toddler.”
- Peppers. There are regional chili peppers, chili crisps, dried peppers, and extra, together with a cooking oil that paired espresso with chilis. “Ajvar is a lesser-known purple pepper and eggplant condiment that’s made in Turkey and is vegan,” says Trendspotter Jenn de la Vega. “Dua Lipa mentions ajvar on Sizzling Ones and recommends it with Albanian cooking.”
- Practical. Customers are searching for immune advantages from meals—and that need for perform is migrating as shopper worries do too, searching for anti-aging antioxidants, collagen drinks, and extra.
Plus, different tendencies are projected to proceed, together with upcycling, mocktails, and chocolate improvements.
Curious about extra tendencies? Don’t miss this:
Whole Foods Market’s Top 10 Food Trends for 2022
Associated: Specialty Food Sales Hit $170.4B, SFA Reports
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