Retail Market Trends

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The Specialty Food Association’s Trendspotter Panel reviewed 80,000 specialty food and beverage products to select a robust group of products and companies representing eight notable trends in the specialty food and beverage industry.

Whole Foods Market awarded three national suppliers, those available in four or more Whole Foods Market regions, and 11 local and regional partners with “Supplier of the Year” recognition and honored others for their contributions in categories aligned with Whole Foods Market’s mission.

According to a 2019 Innova Consumer Survey, 63% of global consumers are increasingly trying to incorporate plant ingredients in the diet. Not surprisingly, sauce, dressing and spread manufacturers have been finding creative ways to address the trend as well.

Dairy foods and beverages are facing challenges that include competition from plant-based dairy wannabes, global trade obstacles and more. But the odds are in dairy’s favor as processors home in on consumers’ evolving wants and needs.

In findings from the EcoFocus Worldwide 2019 US Trends Survey, millennials put a significantly higher priority on sustainability than have the generations before them.

Interest in flavor, novelty and variety is high, according to a new report from Innova Market Insights revealing that three-quarters of global consumers "love to discover new flavors."

Kroger plans to continue to expand its diverse portfolio of Fair Trade Certified products in 2020, as well as complete its plan to standardize date labels for its Our Brands food products.

Over the past 10 to 20 years, the ripples of change in the global soft drinks market have threatened to become tidal waves, with new categories emerging constantly and genuine novelty flooding the shelves.

‘Storytelling: Winning with Words’ leads the list of trends for 2020, with consumers increasingly interested in discovering the stories behind their food. When it comes to sweets and snacks, value can be found not only in ingredient provenance but also in small batch or artisanal production and even in a celebration of different cultures.