Top 5 Food & Drinks Trends @ 2020 Winter Fancy Food Show

Keto and plant-based remain major macro trends, as consumers yearn to eat deliciously, healthfully and sustainably. Here are 5 trends that stood out at this year's Winter Fancy Food Show.

Savor the Oat

Oatzarella

Oats are continuing their renaissance. With Oatly's Starbucks partnership announcement, this alt dairy is primed to go mainstream. It is only natural that its creamy, non-allergenic nature paves that path towards savory innovations. Oatzarella offers an organic, dairy-alternative mozzarella in both wheels and shreds. Though the texture leans more soft, it is notably creamy.

Meanwhile, plant-based cheese powerhouse Miyoko's has remained elusive to those with nut allergies until now. The brand expands its popular vegan butter line with an oat milk varietal. Similar to its cashew-based sister product, the oat butter delivers a rich spread experience.

This oat renaissance continues to widen the plant-based door for new consumers to explore increasingly sophisticated (and tasty!) offerings.

Hot Cocoa Grown Up

Cacoco

Hot chocolate is breaking out of the kid mold. The new wave of hot cocoa, or "drinking chocolate," is positioned as a healthy indulgence with clean labels and dark chocolate's wholesome benefits. Cacoco offers a line of organic heirloom, fair-trade hot chocolate without refined sugars. The flavors are rich, sophisticated and highly fulfilling. The brand also leverages another hot trend: compostable packaging, as it is a big proponent of the zero waste movement.

The adulting of hot chocolate goes beyond upstarts. Numi's drinking chocolate was prominently featured as their big innovation, a significant leap from its tea core. All 4 flavors are crafted with organic cocoa and low sugar, while complying with paleo diet standards. The brand sees strong appeal, as consumers value both "emotional wellness" and "superfoods."

The Refined Mocktail

Saint Ivy

The non-alcoholic beverage trend continues to gain steam, driven both by wellness and generational habits. For Gen Z, recent Mintel reports show that underaged drinking has hit its lowest levels, while 20% of 22-24 years-olds have not had alcohol in 3 months. Much of this is driven by social media values and evolving entertainment options. Beautiful, healthful selfies are better than drunk, tired posts. Meanwhile, digital entertainment, like Netflix and Amazon, keep many iGens home-bound. Millennials are also looking to extend the wellness lifestyle as much as possible. Dry Januaries, turn into months, as mocktail options are growing.

Saint Ivy brings a refined take on mocktails, with its Gin & Tonic and Moscow Mule offerings. Delivering strong flavors with no sugar, the beverage is refreshing and easy to consume on various occasions.

Meanwhile, Hella Cocktail, features strong bitters "Dry" and "Spritz" drinks derived from gentian tincture. Inspired by aperitif culture, Hella sees its beverage as a functional mocktail that can be consumed any time of day.

Waste Away

Ocean’s Halo

The zero waste trend has dialed up the compostable packaging movement significantly this year. Upstarts and established brands, alike are highly motivated, as the global warming and ocean plastics are on many consumers' minds.

Ocean's Halo state of being is at the heart of the ocean conservation. The brand's newest line, Big Bowl of Noodles, not only offers a filling eat for vegan consumers, but also has a microwaveable, plant-based, biodegradable package. Its compostable look does stand out among it's primary colored peers.

Tea powerhouse, Numi, has always been vocal about their non-GMO, biodegradable tea bags. Now they've taken it a step further with compostable tea bag wrappers, that are comprised of 50% post-consumer waste. This packaging innovation is projected to avert 15 metric tons of waste.

These brands are paving the way for new packaging materials to service this market, while consumer concern grows for single-use plastics, recycling capacity, etc. It'd be prudent for any brand to set a road-map in this inevitable direction.

The Konjac Hack

Miracle Noodle

Though konjac has been consumed in North Asia for centuries, it's still a new ingredient in the western world. With the Keto craze in full gear, people are in search of carb replacement options, putting kojac on the radar. Made from the root of an herb, konjac is zero calories, zero carbs and made only of fiber. It has a gelatinous texture that aids in gut health, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism and blood sugar levels.

Though Miracle Noodles has operated for years, it's recently launched "Keto Meals" to speak directly to this consumer. Their konjac line ranges from noodles to functional soups, all while generating greater awareness for this ingredient.

Konjac also made an appearance beyond the main plate. JayOne offers drinkable konjac jelly in various fruit flavors, promising to be a satiating alternative to shakes and smoothies. Interestingly, it's offering was packaging in a single serve pouch, similar to the baby food category.

With keto fever continuing and konjac's nutritional profile, we can expect to see more of this ingredient across blogs and feeds.