Comfort and familiarity are the two pillars when it comes to the specialty food industry. Currently, the specialty food industry is valued at $170.4 billion, according to the Specialty Food Association’s trendspotting panel.
Panel members have researched the number of specialty food beverage products all around the globe. Denise Purcell is the vice president of content and education for SFA. He utilizes those sourced findings to conclude the five trends that are likely to offer growth in specialty food consumption in 2022.
As we are moving ahead to 2022 and around the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the comfort is overwhelming with the theme, Ms. Purcell mentioned. She further states, the events in the past 18 months show that consumers are inclining towards comforting and familiar food & beverages but with some excitement with specific diets along with the health concerns in mind.
The low carb and keto diet have significantly lowered pasta sales in the recent year, to which a pandemic-driven growth and comfort food will assist to revive the category. The SFS foresees the pasta is likely to come back in the forthcoming years along with new shapes, alternative grain options alongside gluten-free products.
Purple carrot, red lentils, pumpkin, and black rice are on the surge, and these are expected to bring new spins in the traditional pasta in Instagram friendly ways, mentioned Jonathan Deutsch, the founder-director of Drexel Food Core Lab and member of SFAs trendspotting panel.
The upcoming year is expected to see more meat-free versions of the nostalgic favorites making comfort food more available to the customers following different diets. The pea protein-based crumbles and plant-based diets are likely to be used in nuggets and tacos made of Chilean seaweed, among the trending innovations highlighted at the SFA’s virtual Fancy Food 24X7 show held from September 27 through October 8.
The global flavors facilitating people’s culinary adventures in the name of traveling during the pandemic along with their growing dominance is likely to offer innovations to several treats and snack categories in the years ahead.
Consumers are gaining more knowledge regarding snacking condiments and right peppers. All thanks to the growing number of pepper flakes, right peppers, regional chili peppers, and chili crisps hitting the market, according to the SFA. Flavored innovations include cooking oil enhanced with paired coffee along with spicy chilies on display at the Fancy Food 24/7.
However, the upcycle ingredients are likely to get popularity as young generation consumers as they are highly inclined to opt for sustainable brands. Some of the examples include the ready-to-drink beverages along with avocado seeds and broth concentrate as an upcycled vegetable along with cacao tea that makes use of leftover products from a chocolate-making process according to SFA.