Fancy Food !Trade Show

2016 Trend Report

Over 47,000 attendees!

21% of purchases direct from

local suppliers!

2,670 Exhibitors!

$34: Average transaction size

for retailers!

55 Countries Represented! Most important

natural claim to consumers: !

Today - Organic!In 3 yrs: Non-

GMO!

67% of manufacturers

seeking to create/market new

products with existing brands! 100,000 pounds of

specialty food donated!

80% of importers had sales gains in 2015!

9 Miles Walked!

Source: Specialty Food

By The Numbers: Fancy Food Show and

Specialty Foods

Packing a PunchEuropean brands (especially) use a variety of fonts, shapes, contrasts and colors to convey the best image of their product and draw the consumer in. !In general, packaging is moving towards a more simplistic approach while still sending a clear, bold message. Earth tones such as dark blues, greens, browns, and reds are the popular colors of the moment. !These earthy colors are joined by unique packaging shapes like triangles and circles to provide consumers with a lasting experience.

Chia ManiaChia is becoming more and more popular due to its incredible versatility. Easy to digest and packed with protein, chia is the trending superfood. !Chia-infused healthy snack choices like seeds, puddings, juices and more provide a wide variety of options to health-conscious consumers. !Many chia options are also all-natural, non-gmo, or organic, giving consumers everything good and nothing bad. !!

It’s Go TimeAs lifestyle trends change, so does the food that keeps us going. Today’s on-the-go lifestyle is no exception and, as a result, the portable nature of snack sized foods has made them increasingly popular. However, unhealthy snack foods are becoming a thing of the past as consumers look for healthier snack options to keep themselves on track. !Whether jumping from meeting to meeting or constantly being on the move, these smaller snacks are perfect for the short breaks today’s consumer has throughout the day! !Today’s snack foods combine their small size with big taste and bigger nutrition to make snacking small one of the biggest trends.

Cut and DriedDehydrated fruits are allowing for healthier and tastier food options for consumers. This new way of thinking about fruit adds variety to meals and means the products last longer after the package has been opened. !Chocolate-covered dried fruits are also becoming more popular, as chocolate pairs perfectly with a wide variety of fruits. !Both professional chefs and everyday consumers are using dried fruit to complement their meals and change-up old favorites.

Fried No MoreFinding substitutes for fried foods has been key to achieving health goals and consciously healthier eating. !Snacks like kale chips and quinoa have become more well known as restaurants have begun utilizing these foods for salads and dishes. !A desire for the familiarity of fried food without the guilt has opened the door to healthier alternatives such as Veggie “Fries.” !

Infused TeasFlavor-infusing takes traditional tea and allows for a better tasting and more appealing flavor to non-tea drinkers. !Tea drinkers can find a variety of organic hot and cold flavor-infused teas to choose from as companies look to expand their offerings while meeting consumers’ expectations. !Different styled tea bags allow for individualized packaging and an opportunity for each brand to showcase their own unique offerings to consumers.

Soda AlternativesConsumers crave the taste and feel of soda without the sugar and calories, making soda alternatives increasingly popular. With the convenience of on-the-go sizes and overwhelming health benefits, these alternatives gives consumers exactly what they are looking for. !There are many options to choose, from sparkling concoctions to fresh kombucha drinks, each offering intense flavor and supreme health. !Drinks like Sparkling Bitters, Efferve, and Kombucha Wonder Drink are a few of the many to look out for.

Milk Without the CowMoo-ve over Bessie! Dairy cows no longer have a monopoly of the milk market as companies and consumers alike have sought out dairy alternatives. !These alternative sources include soy milk, nut milks (almond, walnut, cashew), goat milk, coconut milk and rice milk. Each boasts their own array of health benefits and versatile range of uses. !This versatility means consumers can now find a variety of ice creams, yogurts, cheeses, and more made from non-traditional dairy sources.

Naturally SweetA look at most packaging shows that consumers are looking for lower sugar contents in their food -- a trend that is only gaining popularity as time goes on. !America is behind on this trend -- it has already taken off in places like the U.K. -- but is making great strides in reducing added sugars in foods. Lawmakers are creating greater restrictions on the amount of sugar allowed in products and lowering intake recommendations. !Desserts, condiments, dips and dairy are some of the foods that fall into this ever-evolving category. !

In a PickleAdding a twist to the traditional, pickle companies are pickling everything they can get their hands on. !Consumers can buy a wide range of pickled products from red onions to beets to watermelon. !With the benefit of preserving the food for longer, pickling changes the food’s texture and flavor to make a familiar food completely different. Pickling reinvents old favorites in a fun new way!

Pumpkin Spices Things UpPumpkin brings the spice to your life outside of the holiday season. !Moving away from traditional recipes, pumpkin has made its way into nontraditional foods that have never had this fun twist before. !Pumpkin seeds offer many nutrients such as protein and zinc, and are a great on-the-go snack while boosting heart and liver health.

Going CoconutsMany companies are making coconut the main ingredient in products across the board: whether reinventing old favorites or creating new products altogether. !Coconut provides the best of both worlds to consumers: the sweetness they crave and the health benefits they need. !Coconut substitutions are now available for everything from coconut oil, milk, water, to flour!

A Trend Sure to StickMaple flavoring is adding serious flavor in ways it never has before. Maple has made its way into everything from almond butters to liquors to water. !Maple syrup is reinvented as a drizzle for yogurt or a sweet glaze for grilling vegetables. !Maple syrup is a reliable alternative to honey, which depends on dwindling bee populations, offering the same powerful taste with increased versatility.

Coffee CrazedCoffee continues to move out of the cup and into every product on the shelves. Companies have created an infinite amount of coffee products and consumers are addicted. !Coffee products fit into the fast paced lifestyle of today’s society. Coffee-based products create great-tasting and energy-boosting food and drinks that consumers crave. !With a great taste and health benefits like promoting a healthy heart, no wonder coffee products are everywhere!

The Journey CountsConsumers want to know the story behind their food more than ever before. This means that how their food gets from farm to table has a larger impact on consumers’ buying habits. !Restaurants, grocery stores and big companies alike have had to make the story behind their foods as transparent as possible. This transparency gives consumers peace of mind while increasing their perceived value of their food providers. !

Interested in using these trends to open opportunities for your brand?!

!!!

Contact us!!brandbuilders@lapineinc.com!

(203) 327-9099

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