Alternative cheese, grilling products, kid-sized snacks, seafood substitutes, and dairy-free dips are Whole Foods’ predictions for plant-based trends. Looking ahead to summer and beyond, the grocer’s Trends Council pooled members’ industry knowledge, product-sourcing expertise, and hands-on work with emerging and existing plant-forward brands to inform the predictions.
“Plant-based is the grocery category to watch right now as brands continue to innovate by using new ingredients and processes that make plant-based products exciting for shoppers,” said Parker Brody, senior global category merchant for plant-based at Whole Foods Market, in a statement. “And in the laid-back days of summer, we find that customers are breaking out of their routines and are more open to trying something new, whether they’re longtime vegans or just starting to experiment with plant-based eating. So, expect to see gourmet plant-based cheese alternative spreads at picnics and fish alternatives made from banana blossoms on the grill this season.”
Not only are plant-based cheese makers using nut-based milks and ingredients like black garlic truffle, dill Havarti, and chive, but they are also replicating the methods used to make dairy cheeses for more authentic textures and flavors. In addition, ingredients like legumes and banana blossoms are being used to mimic the flaky texture of seafood, leading to products like alternative fish sticks and no-tuna sandwiches.
For summer get-togethers, plant-based products like hot dogs, Italian-style sausages, and jackfruit BBQ will be popular with grillers while creamy non-dairy dips that highlight traditionally milky flavors like French onion, ranch, and queso can be paired with a crudité spread, according to Whole Foods. Additionally, kid-forward plant-based options like nuggets, yogurt tubes, and ice pops will appeal to on-the-go families, it says.
Instacart also shared its take on plant-based trends in its recent Plant Power report. According to Instacart sales data, one in three customers has purchased a plant-based meat or milk product. Further, according to a recent Instacart survey conducted by The Harris Poll, when asked about the grocery and food habits adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic that they’ll keep for the long term, 30 percent said they plan to continue eating healthier by preparing lighter, plant-based meals.
“Plant-based food has grown from a niche category into a grocery staple over the past two years,” said Laurentia Romaniuk, Instacart’s trends expert and senior product manager, in a statement. “Searches for terms like ‘plant -based,’ ‘meatless,’ vegetarian,’ and especially ‘vegan’ took off on Instacart as consumers looked for healthy at-home meals during 2020 lockdowns. And this trend is turning into a long-term lifestyle — search popularity has been growing even more in 2021.”
The Plant Power report highlights trends such as meat and milk alternatives going mainstream, a heavy competition between oat and almond milk, and the rise of jackfruit consumption. In addition, Instacart found that plant-based consumers tend to be younger and consume traditional meat alongside its plant-based counterparts.
Data from Instacart also showed that customers who only buy plant-based ground meat are more likely to buy tofu, kale, kombucha, sardines, and avocados, and those who buy only conventional ground meat are more likely to buy gravy mix, canned pasta, donuts, pastry dough, toaster pastries, juice boxes, cola, chocolate milk, and iceberg lettuce.
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