NEW YORK — After tasting its way through the Summer Fancy Food Show, held June 12-14 in New York City, the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) Trendspotter Panel revealed the top trends and flavors gaining prominence in the specialty food industry. Brands can stand out by taking note of their five main trend categories: packaging innovation, vegetable chips, sustainable and ethical choices, alternative comfort foods, and spicy flavors.
“This marketplace has grown into a $175 billion industry, and it’s fueled by the creativity of specialty food producers,” said Denise Purcell, SFA’s VP of content and education. “Innovation was on display at the Summer Show, with our Trendspotters highlighting unexpected twists on classics, reconceived packaging options, better-for-you indulgences and comfort foods, global flavors, and growing interest in sustainability and ethical production.”
The Summer Trendspotter Panel included Melanie Bartelme, associate director of market research firm Mintel; Mikel Cirkus from flavor technology company Firmenich; Jenn de la Vega, editor of Put A Egg on It magazine; Jonathan Deutsch, PhD, professor at Drexel University; Victoria Ho, co-founder of food start-up incubator SherpaCPG; Lindsay Leopold, culinary director at marketing firm Marquee Brands; Patsy Ramirez-Arroyo, sustainability and investment leader at Caribbean and Latin American food company incubator Homera; Stan Sagner, founder of consultancy We Work for Food; and Kantha Shelke, PhD, fellow at nutrition research firm Corvus Blue.
