Food Trends for 2015

Since food manufacturers are a big part of our customer base (due to our food-grade warehouses), we like to keep pace with industry trends. And even though 2015 is halfway done, the food trends are not. We are looking at the food industry and its mid-2015 trends from delivery to insect protein. (Nope, you did not read that one wrong.) Here they are:

  1. Clear and honest labels

Clean labels have become the food industry standard in the last few years as consumers have gotten wiser about what’s in their processed food. To take this a step forward, more and more food companies are transitioning to “clear” labeling. Clear labeling is all about making fewer claims, using simpler ingredients that consumers actually know, and overall being transparent. Consumers are getting tired of reading an ingredient list and not being able to pronounce anything nor know what it is. They want simple, good, and dependable products.

  1. More and alternative proteins

Consumers are increasingly looking for protein on their food labels – from 18% percent in 2004 to 25% percent in 2015 (The NPD Group). Why are they looking for more protein in their diets? From building muscles, maintaining energy, or using it as a meal replacement, people are looking to get more protein in to their diet. Even though they’re still looking for protein through meat consumption, more people are looking to alternative sources of protein. Everything from pea, algae, whey, milk and a variety of insect proteins are becoming more commonplace.

  1. Nutraceuticals

The allure of nutraceuticals (or pharmafoods) is easy to understand. Eating delicious food or drinks with medicinal benefits, and being able to skip taking daily supplements and vitamins, is an attractive lifestyle change. This trend has the power to make taking vitamins and supplements exciting and enjoyable.

  1. Delivered Meals and Groceries

As consumer’s schedules and lives get crazier day by day, getting time to make fresh and healthy food is ever shrinking. There have been a variety of grocery delivery startups, as well as Amazon starting Amazon Fresh (available only in select Southern California areas as of right now) and testing the water with grocery delivery. Another delivery food trend is gourmet and prepared meals from restaurants and food industry startups, being delivered to your home. Beyoncé launched her vegan delivery meal service earlier this year with her personal trainer. American’s are looking to fit in more fresh food to their schedule without the hassle of preparation.

  1. Alternative Eating Habits, Sensitivities and Diets

More and more Americans are finding out they are allergic or sensitive to certain foods, or willingly cutting them out. From gluten to dairy, sugar to meat. They are also picking up on alternative diets like Paleo. To still gain their brand loyalty and purchasing power, many companies are creating new food products to fit their lifestyle or labeling their current food gluten free or vegan, etc.

  1. Texture

Even though more of consumer’s lives are getting digitized, they still want their eating experience to be full of experiences and tactile feelings. From packaging to the actual food product, more consumers want a textured and interesting product. Texture in food is one of the tell tale signs of freshness and quality in a product. Another interesting avenue food companies can want a culinary adventure and changing textures gives that to them.

  1. Tea

Though coffee is still one of the top beverage types in America, it’s growth has flat lined. Tea, on the otherhand, has grown over 20% in the last 10 years. As more consumers think more about health and are more influenced by Eastern and European culture, tea is the obvious choice. Though plant based tea is a huge part of the tea trend, Matcha and Kombucha will also play a huge role in tea’s growth.

  1. Breakfasts

Most American’s eat breakfast 5 times per week and are starting to get even more daring with it. From incorporating more spicy flavors and ethnic food, American’s might be verging away from the cliché cold bowl of cereal in the morning. Another trend is “brinner” or breakfast for dinner; used as a treat by many families to make a complex breakfast meal in the evening when they don’t have time to go “all out” on it in the morning.

  1. Shorter meal times

This trend is no surprise as it has been continually on the rise over the past few years, but consumers are looking for simple recipes that take under 20 minutes to make. This is option in between gourmet meals delivered for families and home cooking a meal for over an hour.

Is your company following any of these trends – or was it one of the trendsetters for it? Give us your answer in the comments section below!