NEW YORK, USA – The experts on the Specialty Food Association (SFA) Trendspotter Panel scouted the sold-out 68th Summer Fancy Food Show for products, and flavors, and innovations that speak to where the specialty food industry—and by extension, food consumers as a whole—is headed. In their report, the Panel identified Bespoke Baking, Original, Daring, Different (ODD), Lavender, Fast & Fancy, Warmth & Comfort, Upscaling At Home, and West Asian and North African Flavors as the top emerging trends.
These notable commonalities, outlined in detail below, were spotted among the more than 2,400 domestic and international companies that exhibited at the Show, which took place June 23-25 at the Javits Center in New York City.
“Trends from the Summer Fancy Food Show, which covers not just one or two categories but the entire specialty food landscape, are uniquely powerful at telling the story of changing consumer tastes, needs, and values,” said Leana Salama, SVP of marketing and communications at SFA.
“Trends that start in specialty hit menus and mainstream retail shelves in the blink of an eye. So the Trendspotters’ observations from this year’s Show offer a snapshot into the future of not just specialty but all food and beverage.”
Original, Daring, Different (ODD) “A significant emerging theme was the embrace of the ‘odd’ — a celebration of the original, daring, and different,” said Trendspotters Mikel Cirkus and Hannah Rogers of dsm-firmenich. “Exhibitors showcased products that pushed the boundaries of traditional food and beverage norms, challenging consumers to step outside of a culinary comfort zone and drop their biases towards the unusual.” Examples:
- Success Import Bread in the form of a banana, with a banana-flavored filling
- Country Fresh Food & Confections Inc. Dill Pickle Fudge
- CUPFFEE Edible Coffee Cups
- Dixie Grace Boiled Peanut Hummus
- The Foodie Family Food Crayons
- MushGarden White Chocolate Covered Mushrooms
- Pastazerts Chocolate Ravioli
- Pump Street Bakers & Chocolate Makers – Croissant
- Tamalitoz by Sugarox Fruity Popcorn and Chili Pops
- K-Wook Best-Ever Seaweed Snacks – Chocolate
Lavender “Lavender signaled for the first time as a stand-out flavor at the Fancy Food Show. Weaving its way through a diverse array of products, this fragrant herb, traditionally associated with relaxation and calm, was featured in everything from beverages and confections to savory dishes and snacks,” said Trendspotters Cirkus and Rogers.
- Bluestem Botanicals Lavender Simple Syrup
- Dripdash Lavender Maple and Oat Milk Latte
- Lunae Sparkling Lavender Water
- Moment Blackberry Lavender Sparkling Adaptogen & Botanical Drink
- Savannah Bee Lavender Raw Honey
