NEW YORK — In 2021, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) Trendspotter Panel virtually assembled to research thousands of specialty food and beverage products from around the world. After recording their extensive findings, Denise Purcell, VP of content and education for the SFA, deciphered five trends that will drive the growth of the $170.4 billion specialty food industry in 2022.
“As we head into a second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, comfort is an overriding theme,” Purcell said. “The events of the past 18 months have consumers seeking out familiar and comforting foods and beverages, but often with a twist for some excitement, or with specific diets and health concerns in mind.”
The 2022 Specialty Food Association Trendspotter Panel included Melanie Bartelme, global food analyst, Mintel; Bread + Butter affiliated culinary students from West Ashley High School; Jenn de la Vega, editor of Put A Egg On It; Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D., professor of culinary arts and food science, founding director of Drexel Food Core Lab; Seyma Ozkaya Erpul, owner, Funky Bakers; Amethyst Ganaway, professional chef and writer; Megan Giller, founder and CEO, Chocolate Noise; Kara Nielsen, director of food and drink, WGSN; Leticia Moreinos Schwartz, journalist and food expert; Kantha Shelke, Ph.D., principal, Corvus Blue LLC; Denisse Soto, manager and mixologist, Osito’s Tap; and V. Sheree Williams, founder of The Global Food Drink Initiative and publisher of Cuisine Noir Magazine.
Here are the top trends they found.