Natural Products Expo West: 6 Food Trends to Watch for in 2018
When it comes to food and nutrition trends, there’s always the “Next Big Thing.” From non-GMO to gluten-free options, the trends are constantly evolving, and if you’re in the industry, it’s important to stay in the know.
To find out what food and nutrition trends are emerging in 2018, we attended the Natural Products Expo West this March. Thousands of companies from the food, nutrition and supplement industries, retail giants, and potential investors gathered in Anaheim, California to learn more about upcoming trends and find out how they can stay ahead of the food game.
Here are six food and nutrition trends we think will continue to trend this year.
6 Food Nutrition Trends from the Natural Products Expo West
Prebiotics and Probiotics. Probiotics and their sister, prebiotics, are being featured in just about every imaginable food category at the Expo. From supplements to bars to tea, all indications show that the digestive health trend is not slowing down in 2018.
Healthy Dairy. Forget the almond, soy, and cashew milk. Dairy is making a comeback this year in a big way. Look for healthy dairy products, like cottage cheese and cheese bites in a specialty food stores like Whole Foods, Earth Fare and Fresh Thyme.
Healthy Treats. Who says baking can’t be healthy? The formerly stagnant baking category is now on fire with a host of new products and food items. This year, you’ll notice an uptick in clean, organic baking ingredients to help you satisfy your sweet tooth.
Water. Water, water everywhere – and look for even more options in 2018! Whether it’s the right pH or infused with minerals, probiotics, or chlorophyll, water is delivering many benefits beyond hydration.
Meat Is Back. Move over plants. Meats are back to vie for their share of the protein market again. Look for lean meats to fill your protein needs. Jerky bar, anyone?
Global Influence. Global influence brings unique flavors to every health food category, from coffee to chocolates to foods. You can expect exotic and interesting flavors to start showing up in some of your everyday snacks. Hey – just because a food is healthy doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice an exciting taste!
If you would like a one-page snapshot of these trends, click here.
Are some of your current favorites missing from this list? Don’t worry – it's clear some of the trending tastes from today are here to stay, including plant-based, free-from (a.k.a. allergen friendly), non-GMO (genetically modified organisms), and organic foods. These healthy food trends aren’t likely to go out of style or leave shelves anytime soon.
Staying on-trend can be tough, regardless of the industry. Want to learn more about
keeping up with industry trends? Contact Vrios now.
Natural Products Expo is produced by New Hope Network.