Expect immunity to be a long-term topic and trend, as people of all ages are mindful of shoring up physical and mental health.

Amidst turbulent economic conditions amplified by the pandemic, supply chain issues, and inflation, new data released by the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), The Good Food Institute (GFI), and SPINS, shows US retail sales of plant-based foods grew 6.2% in 2021 over a record year of growth in 2020, bringing the total plant-based market value to an all-time high of $7.4 billion.

Bell Flavors & Fragrances is announcing the release of the 2022 Spark trend toolkit to identifying modern innovations within the flavor and fragrance industries. The toolkit has been reimagined and includes both macro and micro trends that are applied to a flavor or fragrance categories to identify what’s next.

Overall competition for meal solutions is increasing as the restaurant industry rebounds. Industry market and consumer insights tracker NPD Group, Chicago, says the US restaurant industry ended 2021 better than the year began. Moreover, NPD predicts industry operators could recover 98% of pre-pandemic visits by the end of 2022.

Every year poses its share of market challenges to companies operating in the snack and bakery market—a vital economic sector, which at retail alone accounts for over $100 billion in annual US sales.

About a quarter of US adults report to NPD they are on a diet, and 16% of those are on "their own diet" versus a  formal diet plan, like intermittent fasting or keto. 

Kroger's 2022 Food Trends Report is curated by Kroger's food experts – from Our Brands product developers to culinary specialists. The report contains 10 top trends that will influence consumer food purchases in 2022, while uncovering the "why" behind the trends.

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I love surprises—especially when they are of the culinary sort. When Prepared Foods asked me to write about future food trends, it led me to think about all the change our food and beverage industry has endured during the past few years. I also am thinking how we’ve adapted so quickly, and with such extraordinary ingenuity. I started to reflect on what surprised me the most and what sort of change we can expect in the future.

From news to new products, to trends and research, our audience found itself engaged with specific pieces of content throughout 2021. Here is a look what you, our audience, found most useful and inspirational in 2021.

Nearly two-thirds of US adults agree that the pandemic has made them reevaluate their life priorities, according to Mintel research on American values. In food and drink, US adults say the pandemic caused the most change in where they eat, how they grocery shop and how they approach their diets.