By Josh Resnik
CEO
The past decade has seen a huge shift in food. As gurus of great flavor, we’re excited for what’s to come. Through conversations with staff across the co-op, here’s a list of eight big trends in food and supplements that fill our shelves right now.
1
milk without moo
The days of sacrifice and boxes of rice milk are long gone. The options, not just for milk alternatives, but dairy-free cheeses, ice creams and pizza, have improved tremendously. We will continue to see both lactose-intolerant and dairy-loving people choosing dairy-free options—because they have gotten that good.
2
healthy drinking
The past decade saw a radical shift from sodas and sugary beverages to kombuchas, switchels, sparkling waters, matchas, canned teas and cold-brew coffees. Every time the market seems saturated, a new interesting beverage comes along. Also, look for a merging of trends with more functional beverages with non-dairy milks.
3
save the planet
Thankfully, packaged goods are taking climate change seriously and we are seeing products with stronger sustainability stories. From compostable packaging to regenerative agriculture to renewable energy to Fair Trade, sustainability is becoming a priority.
4
eat your veggies
Fresh vegetables have always been celebrated at co-ops. But now they continue to show up in new places — from cauliflower pizza crusts to beet chips to zucchini noodles. They continue to be thought of as a center-of-the-plate star.
5
protein power
While the focus has shifted over the past decade and a half from Atkins to Paleo to Keto, the idea of more protein and less carbs is still going strong. I think protein (especially from non-meat sources) will continue to be huge. Look for more products made with chickpeas, beans, nuts, lentils, tempeh and more.
6
the world in our kitchen
The last decade has seen the cuisines of Korea, Israel, Morocco, and other regions join the longtime popular ethnic cuisines of China, Italy, and Mexico as part of our American food culture. As I see kids noshing on seaweed snacks and harissa replacing ketchup on burgers, I think we will continue this global exploration.
7
food as medicine
With rising costs of health care, people are looking more to food as preventive medicine. From functional mushrooms to collagen, products aim to help with immunity, joint health, mental clarity, and much more. It’s no longer about what to avoid but what can give you a positive boost.
8
CBD explosion
The emergence of CBD supplements in our wellness department is the biggest new segment we have seen in the co-op in years—if not ever. From sparkling waters to chocolate bars, CBD in food products have done extremely well. Assuming the FDA gives the green light, I would expect CBD to find its way to most categories across the store. CBD cereal? CBD pasta? It’s not so far-fetched.