Driven by consumers and the growing popularity of certain health food and niche markets, predictions for 2020 and beyond include quite a few food and beverage trends worth paying attention to.
Recently, Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) released their top ten food predictions for 2020, based on reports from their team of experts. Their list: "regenerative agriculture, flour power, foods from West Africa, out-of-the-box into-the-fridge snacking, plant-based beyond soy, everything butters and spreads, rethinking the kids' menu, not-so-simple sugars, meat-plant blends, and zero-proof drinks."
With the rising popularity of the paleo diet, as well as the increase in gluten free eating, it's no surprise that different types of flours will continue to hit the market. Consumers will see "more interesting fruit and vegetable flours (like banana!) ... with products like cauliflower flour in bulk and baking aisles, rather than already baked into crusts and snack products," Whole Foods said.
In addition to offering wheat alternatives, Whole Foods predicts that more soy-free products will also emerge on the market. Some alternative ingredients will include "grains, mung beans, hempseed, pumpkin, avocado, and watermelon seed," according to CNBC.
If consumers wish to get a head start with tasting these trends, Whole Foods offers some suggestions. For West African cuisine, try Ginjan Organic Ginger Juice or Yolélé Fonio. For a butter alternative, consider Milkadamia Butta-Bing Butta-Boom Buttery Spread. For different kinds of snacks for the kids, check out Whole Foods Market Limited Edition Lemon Basil Chia Cookies or Happy Fish Responsibility Farmed Salmon patties. And for sugar alternatives that aren't made with honey or stevia, try D'vash Sweet Potato Nectar, Just Pomegranate Syrup, or Birch Benders Monk Fruit Sweetened Pancake Syrup.
Some additional predicted food and beverage trends, which include a rise in products that appeal to various growing markets, include gluten free, dairy free (including oat milk), nut free, soy free, grass-fed beef, CBD-infused snacks, puffed snacks, non-GMO, paleo baking, keto-friendly foods, and vegan snacks.