Retail Market Trends

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Artisan products have a new position in the US market as more consumers express interest about what's in their foods and drinks—as well as where and how those items are produced.

With the pre-popped convenience of RTE popcorn offering a perfect medium for a range of flavors and toppings, consumers today are interested in flavor innovation—both familiar and unexpected—in the popcorn category.

Everything starts at the ground level. Initial distribution of ingredients was based on regional availability and classic preservation techniques. A return to roots is happening. When the farm-to-table trend hit restaurants, it was a game-changer. The landscape shifted, and specific farms were highlighted on menus. Farmers, in turn, gained name recognition for humanely raised poultry and meats, unique herbs, and heirloom varietals of corn, tomatoes, plums, and other produce.

Prepared Foods reaches and serves all those food and beverage manufacturing professionals involved in the new product development cycle. These functional leaders are those in marketing, sales and consumer insights, R&D, innovation, culinary, purchasing and packaging.

If only a minority of consumers are following meatless diets, then why is there continuous growth of plant-based food at restaurants?

Each day brings more new foods and drinks exclusively developed for online sales—ranging from Amazon’s Wickedly Prime teas, snacks, soups and spreads; to PepsiCo’s “Drinkfinity” flavor pods.

Many observers believe that the grocery business is headed for a widespread incorporation of self-run, full-service restaurants inside of the traditional grocery walls.

“While the overall number of Americans over 50 who grocery-shop online is relatively low, the findings can help us forecast future trends as technology use becomes even more common among older adults and other age groups,” said Alexandra Lewin-Zwerdling, Vice President of Research and Partnerships at the IFIC Foundation.