As the Specialty Food Association kicks off its Winter Fancy Food Show today in Las Vegas, several top trends for 2022, identified by the SFA Trendspotter Panel in November, continue to gain momentum as new products come to market. The Trendspotter Panel, which is made up of specialty food industry professionals, will be working the Show over the next few days, reporting on strengthening and emerging trends.
Following are examples of products that fit the trends:
Sustainability and the elimination of food waste. More food products are hitting the market that incorporate upcycled ingredients, but the trend extends to nonfood products and packaging as well. Examples include:
• Ficacci Olive Co., new paper recyclable packaging for the olive industry
• Foraged & Found pasta sauces made with wild harvested Alaskan bull kelp
• Incredible Eats, edible straws and sporks
Global flavors in sauces, dips, and spice mixes. African, Latin American, and Southeast Asian flavors are increasingly popular. Examples include:
• Food Innovation Center, Somali sauces and Ethiopian hot sauce
• Kit and Boodle street food spice mixes in Hot Jerk and Masala that highlight the street food of India and the Caribbean
• Marina BBQ Salt, a South African product with traditional flavors debuting in the U.S.
• Parmalat sweet clotted cream breakfast spread popular in Mexico and Latin America
Comfort foods for alternative diets. Plant-based and dairy-free options are popping up in savory and sweet categories. Examples include:
• Bold Palate No Cows on the Range Dairy-Free Ranch
• Plant Based Foods' hemp sausage crumble
• Queen of Hearts hemp dressing
• Rind carrot-based vegan cheese slices
• Whoa Dough, plant-based cookie dough bars
Pasta's comeback. Stalled for a while due to the rise in low-carb and Keto diets, pasta’s resurgence as a COVID-influenced stay-at-home comfort food is continuing, especially with the introduction of less common varieties to the U.S. market. Examples include:
• Borgo de Medici, multi-color lingue di suocera (mother in law's tongue) are long, colorful ribbon pasta colored with turmeric, spinach, beets, and paprika
• Pansardo Taccone, a Sardinian pasta in a short ribbon shape
• Savello Malloreddus, a Sardinian variety in thin ribbed shells
Related: Top Cheese Trends to Watch in 2022; Natural Grocers Predicts Top 10 Nutrition Trends for 2022.