Page 6 - Gourmet Snacks

Whether it’s part of a New Year’s resolution, or a goal such as trying to get in beach body shape, many consumers turn to a gluten-free diet to help keep a healthy lifestyle. Currently there are 3.1 million Americans following a gluten-free diet for personal and medical reasons according to Forbes. Business consulting firm Grand View Research tabulated all the numbers and their data shows the gluten-free market size has been estimated at a whopping $17.59 billion in 2018 (and still growing).

While there are many gluten-free food products on the market today, the category in hot demand is baked goods, according to Allied Market Research. With the continued popularity of baking competition shows and Pinterest’s pretty pictures promoting a gluten-free lifestyle, it’s not surprising that consumers want to make their own gluten-free baked creations at home.

Gluten-free baking can be challenging the

As temps drop, we tend seek soothing warmth: adding extra layers of clothing, pulling out the fleece throws, and sipping hot beverages. Americans consumed 84 billion servings of tea in 2018. That’s equal to 3.8 billion gallons – that’s a BIG cup! Dare we destroy your idyllic downtime of cozying up to a ‘cuppa’? Would you be shocked to know that the hot, soothing beverage you’re enjoying might not actually be tea?

Have clever marketers been deceiving us all along? How could it be our beloved lemon ginger lifter or nighty night brew are not actually tea at all? Before you get upset and wonder what other fibs you’ve been duped into believing, lets look into what tea is and what it is not.

Tea Defined

Though tea has come to be synonymous with ‘any hot beverage made from dried plants’ that definition is not entirely accurate. Tea is not a beverage. Wait . . . what?! The word ‘tea’ actually refers to a specific plant, Camellia Sinensis. This evergreen

Charcuterie — aka cured meats, and cheeses, once seen as a high-end European-type meal is gaining popularity in the United States. A 2017 Nielsen survey found that the meat department and deli counter represent a $9 billion industry in the US, with $200 million of that coming from the specialty deli meat segment. The same growth can be seen in cheese. USDA stats show that consumption of cheese in the US has more than doubled from 14.3lbs in 1975 to 36.9lbs in 2017. In fact, according to Packaged Foods, projects that the natural and specialty cheese market will grow to exceed $18 billion by 2023.

The rise in specialty meats and cheese is attributed to customers’ love of the exotic, local, and in the case of meat products, heritage cuts, which are more sustainable. Whether it’s an intimate dinner or a large get-together, customers are looking to create special moments for guests through exceptional and unique food experiences.

A charcuterie board

Labor Day is only weeks away and 25% of Americans will be getting out of town, 35 million of them hitting the roads and 16.5 million taking to the skies worldwide. Big travel weekends can mean big sales opportunities for food retailers. According to a survey conducted by Frito-Lay, 75% of travelers say that they’re packing snacks for their trips. However, what those snacks look like is changing.

Each year, new foods or ingredients, emerge as the “it” healthy items that everyone is rushing to add to their cart. Based on a survey of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN), Trade magazine Today’s Dietitian and health and wellness communications firm Pollock Communications identified this year’s top 10 most popular superfoods.

An interesting item revealed — RDNs observed that healthy labels were eclipsing taste in their patients’ food decisions. The takeaway — communicating the health benefits of certain ingredients is more important than ever.

You’ll see that the majority of these foods listed are items you already have on the shelves. Make sure those healthy labels are presented where they are highly visible by creating your own superfoods logo and “shelf talker” sign describing health benefits. To reinforce the signage throughout the store, post the list of this year’s “superfoods” at the front of your store so customers have a starting point for their hunt.

A hotel stay used to be a time of indulgence, from ordering late night room service, to consuming every snack in the mini bar, to stocking up on goodies from the gift shop. Not anymore. Moderation of indulgences has taken over, and health trumps taste in consumers’ snack selections, whether they’re traveling or not according to a recent survey by Culinary Visions. With more and more travelers on the lookout for healthier snack options, keep them happy by catering to their tastes with the food you stock in your hotel and resort gift shops.