With more than 1,500 exhibitors from around the world showcasing 80,000 different specialty food and beverages, there were plenty of items for the Specialty Food Association’s Trendspotter Panel to consider.

At every Fancy Food Show, the Specialty Food Association’s Trendspotter Panel, which consists of top food journalists and consultants, identifies the top five trends in food. This year, the panel selected the following top trends, each represented by particular products:

Southeast (Asia) Meets West

Little Red Dot Kitchen - Bak Kwa meat snacks
Saffron Road - Tandoori Seasoned Chicken Nuggets
Wei Kitchen - Shallot Oil
Hey Boo – Thai Iced Tea Coconut Caramels

Grazing on Grass

Organic Valley – Vanilla Grassmilk Yogurt
The New Primal - Grass-Fed Beef Jerky
Dahlicious, Inc. – Organic Cucumber Mint Lemon Lassi with grass-fed milk
Steve’s Ice Cream - Made with grass-fed milk

Pushing Protein

Bitty Foods - Chiridos - snacks made with cricket flour
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods - Cinnamon Hemp Heart Bites
Explore Cuisine - Organic Edamame Spaghetti
Chicago Bar Company – Chocolate Sea Salt RXBAR

By the Cup

Ricebliss - Acai & Chia Brown Rice Snack
Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods - Sweet Potato Kale Quinoa Salad
Purely Elizabeth - Cranberry Pecan Ancient Grain Granola Plus Puffs
LonoLife - Chicken Bone Broth in Recyclable K-Cup

Purple Reigns

Back to the Roots – Organic Stoneground Purple Corn Flakes
Love Beets - Smoky BBQ Shredded Beets
Lotus Foods – Purple Potato and Brown Rice Ramen
The Republic of Tea – Sonoma Cabernet Iced Tea