Every year poses its share of market challenges to companies operating in the snack and bakery market—a vital economic sector, which at retail alone accounts for over $100 billion in annual US sales.

About a quarter of US adults report to NPD they are on a diet, and 16% of those are on "their own diet" versus a  formal diet plan, like intermittent fasting or keto. 

Kroger's 2022 Food Trends Report is curated by Kroger's food experts – from Our Brands product developers to culinary specialists. The report contains 10 top trends that will influence consumer food purchases in 2022, while uncovering the "why" behind the trends.

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I love surprises—especially when they are of the culinary sort. When Prepared Foods asked me to write about future food trends, it led me to think about all the change our food and beverage industry has endured during the past few years. I also am thinking how we’ve adapted so quickly, and with such extraordinary ingenuity. I started to reflect on what surprised me the most and what sort of change we can expect in the future.

From news to new products, to trends and research, our audience found itself engaged with specific pieces of content throughout 2021. Here is a look what you, our audience, found most useful and inspirational in 2021.

Nearly two-thirds of US adults agree that the pandemic has made them reevaluate their life priorities, according to Mintel research on American values. In food and drink, US adults say the pandemic caused the most change in where they eat, how they grocery shop and how they approach their diets.

Among flexitarians (those who usually but not exclusively follow vegetarian or vegan diets), trust in the safety of plant-based products is high, but concerns remain over cost and limited choice. Innova’s research does, however, show a widespread desire among European consumers of all types to sample more plant-based alternatives across a range of products.

Most analyses during the pandemic have focused on discerning its impact on consumer behavior and forecasting how this might change going forward. However, before the pandemic structural changes in the workforce and the aging population already contributed to a home-centric lifestyle, and COVID accelerated it, reports The NPD Group.