Paleo: A fad, a trend, or the start of a new food movement?

By Elaine Watson

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Supermarket Catering Organic food

Is Paleo a trend or a fad? And are 'plant-based foods' just a sexier term for meat & dairy alternatives, or the start of a new food movement? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Blake Mitchell, president of food packaging and branding design agency Interact Boulder, at the Healthy & Natural Show to get his take.

In general, said Mitchell, who spoke to us after delivering a presentation at the show, food trends are moving much more rapidly from the niche to mainstream, and ideas that begin in a food truck, juice bar or a farmer's market can spread like wildfire in the age of instagram.

Meanwhile, many brands that begin in the natural retail channel can build a mass market presence in record time.

This change of pace is partly due to social media, more travel, and multiculturalism, but also driven by the commercial reality that natural & organic food brands are doing better than their ‘legacy brand’ counterparts and big retailers want a slice of the action, he told delegates at the show.

To keep up with trends, Mitchell and his team like to stay "curious​" and get "a bit uncomfortable,​" by visiting new food stores, food trucks, markets, restaurants, food festivals, trade shows and bars to try and stay ahead of the curve.

I like to look at trends like a Seurat painting, finding the interesting little dots that make up a whole movement,” ​he said. “I think we spend more time in grocery stores looking at what’s on the shelf than anyone else.”

Read more about Interact Boulder HERE​.

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