Page 4 - Wholesale Gourmet Food

The love baking and baking ingredients received in 2020 was beyond measure. Total sales reached $26.5 billion in 2020, a 24% increase from 2019, according to Baking Business. Expect that number to continue to rise and get beat by 2025, based on predictions by FoodNavigator-USA.com. 45% of consumers call themselves avid bakers, baking at least 1-2 times a month (FoodNavigator-USA.com). Whipping in some new baking supplies could be the secret ingredient to a rise in some serious

2020 was the year of chocolate, with sales reaching record highs. Up there with chocolate, was wine, both making national supermarket chain Kroger’s list of top purchased items for 2020. For 2021, expect to see these trends continue. Also sticking around for 2021 according to PopSugar, is the at-home foodie, with home cooking and tasting kits providing culinary entertainment in a box. Good things come in pairs. Now’s the time to pair customers’ love of chocolate and their zeal for wine with their inner foodie. Introduce them to chocolate pairings.

Chocolate and food pairings elevate chocolate from everyday snacking to a gourmet experience. Perfect for customers looking for a new way to entertain at home. Great for you as it creates the perfect upsell opportunity.

When it comes to pairs go beyond the typical peanuts and caramel. We asked our chocolate experts to help guide us to view chocolate and food pairings with a fresh pair of eyes. Here are some

Women-Owned Confectionery Brands to Watch

Nancy Maria Donaldson Johnson patented the home ice cream maker in 1843. In 1885, Agnes B. Marshall took the idea of ice cream one step further and made ice cream “craft” before its time, with unique ingredients, shapes – even forecasting a cone and instant ice cream with liquid nitrogen. Ruth Graves was the mastermind behind the iconic dessert, the chocolate chip cookie. For decades pioneering women have shaped the confectionery and culinary industry. Nowadays women owned business have potential to rake in serious dough (pun intended). According to You.gov, the customer base for women-owned business is more affluent than most, with 22% earning more than 100K per year. The survey also found that younger customers are more likely to buy women owned, with 55% being either Millennial or Gen Z. Sounds like it’s time to identify the women owned brands on your shelves, if you haven’t already.

Read on to learn about some of our favorite

2020 turned us all a little salty – or at least where snack cravings are concerned. Salty snacks sales were up 14% for the year according to Nielsen, with 58% of consumers snacking more than they were previously. So far for 2021, this new snack order is here to stay.

Customers want to be a-salted with that salty flavor, but at the same time are looking for something a little outside the snacking norm. In fact, 40% of younger consumers say they are more likely to try a snack option if it’s new, according to Progressive Grocer. You know what time it is – time to shake up your salty snack selection. Here’s how.

Feeling lost in predictions of the on-trend foods and hottest new flavors for 2021? We’ve done the work for you, combing data from industry leaders like Whole Foods, and the Specialty Food Association, and McCormick, for foods and flavors your customers will want to savor.

Here are the top picks:

There’s no denying that Covid has changed how and what food consumers purchase. According to Food manufacturing, 72% of consumers are shopping less often during COVID-19, opting for stocking up. There’s also a move towards online food shopping, with 78.7% of US shoppers purchasing their groceries online, according to Supermarket News. Regardless of how they’re purchasing, online or in stores, and how frequent, we’re seeing two types of consumers emerging — those craving comfort and those drawn towards food’s health benefits.

Knowing and understanding these shifts in cravings can help you to better determine what products to stock and promote. Let’s dive into the types of cravings and what foods consumers desire right now.