food trends

The industry is buzzing with predictions about the future of food in 2018. While no one has a crystal ball to know what the new year might bring, we do have data and reports from industry experts making their best educated guesses.

As 2018 nears, some of industry’s biggest thought leaders are gazing into their data-driven crystal balls to envision the future of food. Among the predictors is Innova Market Insights, which last month declared its top 10 trends for the new year.

Kara Nielsen, an expert in the study of food and beverage trends and the consumer values, and a researcher with Packaged Facts, presented a webcast, which highlighted flavors, products and categories emerging from fine dining, food halls, entrepreneurs and start-ups, last month. Here are five trends Packaged Facts researchers think you can expect to see enter the culinary spotlight in 2017.

Matcha has long found its way into Japanese sweets from macarons to mochi, cakes to cookies, and even chocolate bars, but during this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show (WFFS) in San Francisco, it was clear the traditional ceremonial tea powder has moved beyond the teacup and into the North American snack market, too.

In the first podcast of 2017, the podcast team is joined by joined by Project NOSH Editor Carol Ortenberg, BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman and Brewbound Editor Chris Furnari, each of whom offered their take on the most pertinent trends and issues within the industries they cover.

The certified organic, cold-pressed juice and clean food company launched its first line of vegan bottled soups, chickpea kale and spiced carrot, in December.

Mintel isn’t just predicting upcoming trends in healthy food for 2017; it’s also inferring trends in how consumers want those items presented to them in the new year.

What the new year holds is still a surprise, but, when it comes to eating, Innova Market Insights thinks it has an idea what to expect.