Whole Foods Reveals Top 10 Food Trends, Launches Product Discovery Box

Whole Foods Market is launching a Trends Discovery Box to allow consumers to interact and experiment with emerging food trends. The discovery boxes will offer an assortment of 10 products representing each of the ten trends that are likely to catch on with consumers.

For the upcoming year, the company anticipates alcohol-free spirits, yuzu, reducetarianism and functional beverages made with prebiotics and botanicals to top the list.

Each year, Whole Foods compiles the list based on the findings of a council of more than 50 Whole Foods Market team members, which includes local foragers, regional and global buyers and culinary experts, who assess product sourcing and the study of consumer preferences, as well as in-depth workshopping with emerging and existing brands.

The new predictions and product offering come at a time when consumers’ eating and shopping preferences have changed at a rapid clip, especially during the height of the pandemic.

“Last year, we saw tremendous pandemic-related shifts in grocery buying habits as the world adjusted to spending more time at home. As the food industry slowly adjusts to a new normal, we expect to see consumers prioritize food and drink products that deliver additional benefits-like functional sodas and tonics- and products that support their sense of well-being, like urban garden greens and products grown with farming processes that help address soil health,” said Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, chief marketing officer at Whole Foods Market.

Some of the food trends predictions for 2022 include:

• Ultraurban farming — Since the opening of its Brooklyn Whole Foods Market location in 2013 featuring a Gotham Greens greenhouse on top, the grocer has noticed the indoor farming trend balloon
• Yuzu — A lesser-known citrus mainly cultivated in Japan, Korea and China. This tart and sour fruit is now making appearances in vinaigrettes, hard seltzers and even mayos.
• Reducetarianism — Reducing consumption of meat, dairy and eggs without cutting them out completely.
• Hibiscus — Producers are harnessing the sweet, tart flavor in the form of fruit spreads and yogurts.
• Functional Fizz — Soda with probiotics and fizzy tonics with added prebiotics and botanicals.

The Trends Discovery Box is available for a limited time only at wfmtrythetrends.com for $30 each.

Originally published at https://retailbum.com on October 19, 2021.