For the first time in two years, the Specialty Food Association’s Trendspotter Panel gathered at the Winter Fancy Food Show to search the aisles for the hottest trends of 2022. The Show, which took place in February in Las Vegas, featured thousands of products from around the world, with companies ranging from established to startup.
“Health, comfort, and sustainability are threads throughout several trends coming out of the Winter Fancy Food Show,” said Denise Purcell, SFA’s vice president, content & education, in a statement. “We continue to see the effects of the pandemic through the popularity of comfort food and snacks, innovations in environmentally conscious products like upcycled foods and hemp are increasing, and plant-based meat and dairy alternatives are going strong as are global flavors across categories. We’ll be looking for these to show their prominence at the Summer Fancy Food Show in June.”
Here’s a snapshot of the trends. See the full list here.
Hemp in the Spotlight: The nutritious seed was included in alternative burgers, dressings, and as a better-for-you ingredient in chocolate.
Tea and Coffee Innovations: An abundance of beverages in new formats were on display, including tea discs and alternative fig-based coffee.
Dates Proliferate: Fiber- and antioxidant-rich dates are popping up as snacks on their own, in sweet treats, or in rich spreads.
Snacks with Benefits: From nutrient-rich chocolate bars to pizza crust made from carrots, better-for-you snacks that boast health benefits, are trending.
Alternative Comfort Foods: Plant-based and dairy-free options are popping up in savory and sweet categories like chickpea butter and plant-based cookie dough bars.
Sustainable Options: The upcycled trend extends to nonfood products and packaging, from paper recyclable options for the olive industry to edible straws and sporks.
Peppers Are Hot: The panel continues to see a variety of peppers as ingredients in sauces and condiments from around the world like chile-infused honey and hot pepper bacon jam.
The Fully Stocked Bar: Mixers and concentrates in tropical flavors and uncommon garnishes keep at-home cocktail preparation interesting with items like caramelized pineapple concentrate.
A World of Snacks: Sweet and savory snacks capturing recipes and local ingredients are bringing global flavors to U.S. consumers with Icelandic chocolate and taro bubble tea oatmeal.
The 2022 SFA Trendspotters included:
• Chef Jon Batista, co-owner Jinelle Batisa, chef Jordon Dunewood, and chef Juan Montano, Artisanal Foods, Las Vegas
• Melanie Zanoza Bartelme, associate director, food and drink, Mintel, Chicago
• Chef Osei Blackett, and chef Picky, Brooklyn, New York
• Kantha Shelke, PhD, CFS, IFT Fellow, principal, Corvus Blue LLC, Chicago
• V. Sheree Williams, executive director, The Global Food & Drink Initiative, editor, Cuisine Noir, Oakland, California.
Related: Top Cheese Trends to Watch in 2022; Slideshow: Whole Foods Predicts 2022 Trends.