The Sterling Rice Group has identified the top food trends for 2013 when it comes to food and beverages. Based in Boulder, The Sterling Rice Group collected data from food industry experts and trade shows in order to identify emerging trends in the organic and natural food space. Remember that organic and natural DO NOT mean healthy. Actually, most of these top 2013 food and beverage trends are not very healthy at all. We probably will try them but just as a taste test. The list of the top 10 natural and organic food trends for this year include:
#1 | South American Super Foods
We’ve already heard of maqui and maca, but the next new food trend for this year will simply be South American super foods incorporated into everything from beverages spipked with purple maize to snacks with acerola cherries, maca powder and maqui fruit.
#2 | Nutritional Desserts
Desserts have always been considered ‘unhealthy’ but they are addictive. Now, companies are trying to promote the ‘nutritional’ desserts. Remember that nutritional does not mean healthy either. However, these wide array of functional desserts will try to tempt your taste buds and at the same time, give you an added nutritional blast. From probiotics to detoxification and from added protein to fiber, these nutritional desserts will likely be one of the fastest growing food trends this year.
#3 | Nut Butter
We’ve all tasted and fell in love with Nutella, the first true nut based butter/spread. However, other nut butters are being launched very quickly and is becoming one of the top 10 food trends this year. With a dazzling mix of flavours that includes berries, banana, cacao, nuts, honey and seeds, these ‘flavored’ nut butters add a bit of variety to the traditional peanut butter.
#4 | Allergen Free Alternative Proteins
A growing trend in the snack space are high protein plant based snack foods that promote satiety boosters and are a great alternative to soy and dairy based products. Another growing food trend in 2013 for these allergen free alternative proteins are gluten free products.
#5 | Vegan and Vegetarian Meat Products
As more consumers are turning towards vegetarianism or veganism, another top 10 food trend for 2013 are high-tech mock meats. From pea protein to soybean products and even quinoa and quorn meatless grounds, this seems to be a trend that will be proliferating into more product categories in the next year.
#6 | Bubble Tea for the Western World
Another food trend for natural and organic beverages are chewy type drinks. Much like Bubble Tea from Taiwan, the new Western chewy beverages incorporate superfoods like chia, flax or kombucha to give you a bit of a bite. They also try to make you feel full so that’s probably another marketing angle for weight loss diet.
#7 | Fortified Upscale Water
If VOSS or Vitamin Water wasn’t enough, another top 10 beverage trend of 2013 are fortified, high-end upscale water. The newest one on the shelves is BLK which is made of highly alkaline fulvic acid that provides a black hue to the fortified water. It promises to counteract the acidity from processed foods and meats. Wow, why not just eat better to begin with?
#8 | More Salad Green Products That Aren’t Salads
Another top 10 food trend this year is the use of leafy greens in various drinks, snacks and sweets. We all know that both kale and arugula in addition to spinach and swiss chard are some of the most amazingly dense superfoods. Now, consumers can enjoy a ‘full serving of veggies’ from a box. Like it or not, healthy or not, these are definitely here.
#9 | Beverages with Higher Order Benefits
Not just functional (like heart health and weight loss), these new beverage lines will tap into your deep emotions, proclaiming high-order benefits such as calmness, inner peace and clarity. Some of the new ingredients that will help consumers achieve this is turmeric based beverages.
#10 | Natural and Organic Foods Targeted Towards Men
From increased protein and fiber content to testosterone boosters, these brands and health foods targeted towards men follows the hugely successful foray of brands into the female product space.
