Rabobank on top natural food trends at Expo West: Ginger and turmeric are in, kale is so last year
Ginger, turmeric and sprouted grains are hot, while kale and Greek yogurt are cooling off, according to trend watchers at Rabobank International who walked the floor at the 2015 Natural Products Expo West show in Anaheim earlier this month.
According to Nick Fereday, executive director and senior analyst, food & consumer trends, at Rabobank International:
What’s hot?
- Alternative proteins: From cricket flour to plant-based proteins (rice, pea)
- Ancient grains & sprouted grains: From chia and quinoa (technically seeds) to sorghum, millet and amaranth
- Chips that aren’t made from potatoes: Chips made from beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, rice
- Coconut: From coconut meat to coconut oil and coconut water
- Craft Soda: Dry, less sweet soda is in
- Ginger and turmeric: Gaining momentum in foods and beverages
- Gluten-free: Still going strong, “but surely close to its peak”?
- Meat jerky: Part of the wider interest in protein (Click HERE and HERE for more on meat snacks)
- Tea: Hot, cold and kombucha
- Water: Artichoke (click HERE), caffeinated, ionized, and olive oil…
- Snack bars: Paleo, fresh (in the chiller), bars for pregnant women…
- Snack balls/bites: “Are balls the new bars?”
- Raw: “Raw everything. Minimally processed.”
- RTE popcorn: “Well beyond the fad phase”
- Pouches: “Not just for babies …”
- Aussie-style yogurts, kefir and cottage cheese packaged like Greek yogurt: Click HERE
- B corporations: Many more B corps spotted (click HERE for details)
- Plus…. Dark chocolate, hot dips and sauces, small batch ice cream
Not so hot…
- Kale: “Adieu, kale chips.”
- Greek yogurt: “Getting rather passé”
Watch Nick on camera talking about the ready-to-eat popcorn category HERE.
Check out our trend-spotting galleries from Expo West: DAIRY, SNACKS, & BEVERAGES.
Watch more videos from the show:
Plant waters: Maple water, artichoke water, cactus water
