Overview: This year’s 2022 predictions are very consistent, popular trends include: foods/ingredients that support health/brain health, foods to address immunity and stress/burnout including pre/probiotics, functional ingredients, foods and drinks, citrus/botanicals and adaptogens; plant-based; shoppers seeking sustainable products and looking to address food waste; global flavors for diversity and ‘superfood’ attributes.
Keep your eye on this: trending of recipes on social media as Instacart’s 2021 Year in Groceries report notes – almost half (46%) of 2,000 people in an Instacart survey said they’ve tried a recipe they saw on social media.
Need more evidence of social media’s influence on what we eat? TikTok partners with Virtual Dining Kitchens to prepare dishes available in the TikTok app for delivery only to be in about 300 locations initially; by the end of 2022, 1,000 locations expected. In keeping with the viral nature of TikTok, recipes will be changed quarterly.
Trend reports…
- Here’s the NYT take on trends after reviewing reports and interviews w/leaders: ingredient of the year…mushrooms; kelp/seaweed; a more caffeinated coffee bean due to climate change and cost of arabica; edible dinnerware/packaging; sweet ‘n spicy flavors; Indian old and flavor of the year… hibiscus.
- In trending flavors, fruits/botanicals provide a perception of health as these flavors signal immunity to shoppers.
- Whole Food’s trends include functional drinks with prebiotics and botanicals, reducetarianism, urban farming, hibiscus, moringa, yuzu and sunflower seeds.
- Specialty Food Association trends include plant-based comfort food, pasta in new shapes/made from diverse ingredients and peppers.
- Natural Grocers’ team of experts (nutrition educators, data analytics) predict that the healthy eating focus will continue (with an interest in pet health too!), immunity interest continues with herbs and spices that offer health benefits, addressing burnout/stress with adaptogens such as mushrooms.
- EatingWell’s trends include kelp, seaweed, zero food waste cooking, superfood lattes, brain foods, plant-based and sustainable grains.
Eating out trends…
- Restaurant trends include organic/sustainable/gluten options, self-service kiosks in fast casual restaurants, ‘wellness’ options such as functional foods and limited-time-offers (LTO) on the rise as they drive traffic.
- Kids’ eating trends: breakfast all day, handheld food, veggies/plant-based, gardening at home and school, foods from different cultures, noodles.
Specific food markets…
- Health food industry trends include pre/probiotics, alternative nut butters and flours, dairy alternatives in smoothies, and West African flavors seen as ‘superfoods’.
- Trends shaping meal kits include sustainability, more meals offered including snacks, more personalization including lifestyles, competitive pricing, pre-made/pre-cooked meals needing no prep/assembly and extended delivery.
- Forbes’ plant-based and alternative protein trends: mixtures of meat and veggies, mushrooms and their functional contributions, restaurants/fast foods continue to offer plant-based menu items, plant-based focusing on better nutrition profiles, cell-based meat in grocery stores.
- FairTrade America’s trends include sustainability, mission-focused brands.
Cars and food in 2022…