Prepared Foods logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Prepared Foods logo
  • TRENDS
    • Prepared Foods The Year Ahead
    • Innovation Month
    • *Sustainability*
  • PRODUCTS
    • Bakery
    • Beverages
    • Breakfast, Cereals & Bars
    • Candy
    • Cannabis
    • Dairy
    • Meals & Sides
    • Meat, Poultry & Seafood
    • Sauces & Marinades
    • Snacks & Appetizers
    • Soups
  • INGREDIENTS
    • Antioxidants & Nutritionals
    • Colorings
    • Dietary Fiber
    • Emulsifiers, Fat & Oils
    • Flavors, Seasonings, Spices
    • Flours, Grains, & Pasta
    • Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts
    • Gums & Starches
    • Phosphates & Acidulants
    • *Proteins*
    • Sweeteners
  • FORMULATION
    • Allergens & Intolerance
    • Authentic & Ethnic
    • Cost Reduction
    • Fat Reduction
    • Gluten Free
    • *Immunity*
    • *Natural / Organic*
    • *Plant Based & Vegetarian*
    • R&D Lab Tech / QA-QC / Food Safety
    • Shelf Stability
    • *Sugar Reduction*
  • BETTER FOR YOU
    • Functional New Products
    • Functional Ingredients
    • Functional Benefits
  • FOOD MASTER
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Infographics
    • First Person Q&A
    • Favorite Products Poll
    • Play With Your Food Game
    • Webinars
  • STORE
  • EVENTS
    • Spirit of Innovation Awards
    • Industry Events
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Retail Market Trends

US Food Market Outlook: 5 Key Trends

2018 trends: Cereal beyond breakfast, chocolate as food not candy, snack and meal bars’ ecommerce expansion, cheese evolution, and probiotic breads

February 5, 2018

Today’s food retail trends will shape the industry for years to come, and retailers know it. In the brand new report US Food Market Outlook 2018, market research firm Packaged Facts examines and forecasts how current trends across 14 food retail categories will influence growth through 2022.

Here are five of the most intriguing trends and opportunities identified in US Food Market Outlook 2018:

Cereal reimagined: Marketers will continue to make their existing big cereal brands as healthy as possible, although many new products will still be focused on indulgence and decadence. Next generation innovation will focus on expanding use of cereal in new ways, and experimenting with ingredients and processes to enhance nutrition. Don’t be surprised to see marketers creatively repositioning cereal into other products and meals beyond breakfast.

Emphasis on chocolate as “food” not “candy”: Can chocolate build a reputation as a healthy snack choice rather than merely as a satisfying indulgence for America’s sweet tooth? Marketers are betting on it. Says David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts, “Chocolate companies are increasingly jumping on the better-for-you snacking trend, which leverages frequency of snacking by Americans with a balanced approach to nutrition that explores realistic options rather than a more dogmatic philosophy that forbids snacks or sweets altogether.” The key will be creating healthier, more nutritious chocolate “foods” that don’t sacrifice the all important taste component.

Ecommerce market for meal and snack bars deepens: Although online sales for meal and snack bars are relatively small, they are expected to increase with the advent of online grocery shopping, which allows consumers to receive bars and other foods without having to browse store shelves. The convenience of online grocery shopping is especially appealing to Millennials and families with small children, as they often have busy schedules and do not have time to plan and shop for groceries.

The continued evolution of cheese: America’s love affair with cheese is both deepening and evolving. Consumers increasingly want healthier, better-for-you cheese that isn’t only low in fat or sodium, but is fresh, organic and made from healthier milk. Today’s busy consumers also demand convenience and manufacturers continue to offer products and packaging that are easy to use and store, and are portable. Cheese manufacturers are capitalizing on the snacking and on-the-go eating trends with a slew of new products in special cuts, sizes and packs. Packaged Facts forecasts innovation will continue to maximize the experience of eating cheese with unique takes on flavor and indulgence, craftsmanship and authenticity, and health and nutrition.

Bread baked for digestive health: With the increased focus on their potential, probiotics have become one of the biggest trends today in the food and beverage industry. Nonetheless, the food industry itself hasn’t figured out how best to market probiotic food and beverages, beyond yogurt and similar traditional sources. But that is changing, at least in the bread industry. For instance, Orlando Baking’s True Grains was one of the first lines of probiotics breads in North America. The Cleveland-based company partnered with the Cleveland Clinic in association with the clinic’s Go! Well for Healthy Eating initiative to develop the products. True Grains Seed’licious bread is made with probiotic cultures to promote digestive health, and features flax seed, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and millet for a good source of Omega 3. Packaged Facts expects to see an expansion of probiotic breads in the coming years.

KEYWORDS: chocolate food trends online food shopping

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Women in beverge isle

    Ingredient Demonization May Not Drive Consumer Behavior

    While tracking cultural conversations around demonized...
    2025 Food and Beverage Trends
    By: Prepared Foods Editorial Staff
  • Bubs Candy Packages

    Sweden’s Viral Candy Brand BUBS Lands in US Retail Nationwide

    TikTok videos of BUB's unique chewy-meets-marshmallow...
    Products
    By: Prepared Foods Editorial Staff
  • Innovation Month Logo Orange

    Introducing Innovation Month: A Deep Dive into the Future of Food & Beverage

    The next wave of food innovation is here. Dive into the...
    Breaking News
    By: Prepared Foods Editorial Staff
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Newsletters
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Circana Pacesetters 2026

Circana Highlights 2025 CPG Pacesetters

General Mills US250 Packages

General Mills Launches 79 Limited-Edition Summer Products

Bushs Baked Beans LTO Flavors

Bush’s Beans Debuts Summer-Inspired Flavors

PF Webinar sponsored by FoodChain: Signals to Shelf: Turning Consumer Insight into Executable Innovation

Events

June 18, 2025

Master the Art of Plant-Based Dairy

ON DEMAND: Whether you're in R&D, formulation, or innovation, this session will provide enzyme-driven insights to improve your plant-based dairy portfolio.

June 25, 2025

Market in Motion: Active Nutrition

ON DEMAND: Once targeted at athletes, active nutrition products with benefits like energy, focus, hydration, and protein are now winning over everyday consumers seeking support for their busy lifestyles.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

CHECK OUT OUR NEW POWER TRENDS

Immunity Logo
Natural & Organic Logo
Plant Based Logo
Protein Logo
Sugar Reduction Logo Sustainability Logo

Related Articles

  • US Food Market Outlook 2019: 4 Key Trends

    See More
  • 5 Key Trends Shaping Food and Beverage Packaging

    See More
  • 3 Key Trends in the US Beverage Market

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • GlobalData_logo_blue_header.png

    Milk (Dairy and Soy Food) Market in the United States of America – Outlook to 2024

  • marketsandmarketslogo.jpg

    Prepared Food Equipment Market by Type...

  • GlobalData_logo_blue_header.png

    Ambient (Canned) Soup (Soups) Market in the United States of America - Outlook to 2025...

See More Products
×

Unlock the Future of Food and Beverage Innovation

Are you a leader in research & development? Stay ahead of the curve with Prepared Foods, the premier source of information and insights for today's trend leaders and taste-makers in food and beverage manufacturing.

JOIN TODAY
  • Resources
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Join
  • Sign Up Today
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • Services
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • Stay Connected
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing