Fastest Growing Food Trends and Segments

The fastest growing food trends emphasize natural ingredients and convenience, according to the new PMMI Business Intelligence report '2019 Trends and Advances in Food Packaging and Processing.'

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Clean ingredient labeling, clear and sustainable packaging, and on-the-go convenience are all trends of the fastest growing food products. And because lead times are lengthening on ingredients while product development is being measured in months, correctly identifying food product momentum in the market is critical.

According to the U.S. Economic Census Bureau, the fastest growth food segments by value of shipment over the 2014-2017 period were creamery butter at 17.7% CAGR, retail bakeries at 10.9% CAGR, and nonchocolate confectionery at 10.7% CAGR. Those showing a loss with the lowest growth were fats and oil refining and blending at -11.3% CAGR, flour milling at -10.1%, and dry, condensed, and evaporated dairy products at -7.8%.

According to Food Business News, the organic food market has continued to grow in the last few years, although growth was the slowest it has been in a decade at 5.9% in 2018.

Millennials are a key driver of the organic food market, and increased sales in the dairy segment (milk and eggs) have helped propel the rise of the entire organic food industry.

Food Business News also reports that private label brands held the largest market share in all food categories as store brands continue to attract consumer loyalty.

Top growth trends include “Healthy/natural,” “Plant-based alternatives,” and “Portioned and convenient.”

Fastest Growing Food TrendsFastest growing food trends include natural ingredients and convenience

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