Future food and beverage trends include honey, canned fish

Blooming trends in food sound like a throwback to the caveman diet: fish is the hottest protein, honey is the flavor of food, and venison is an upgrade to shrimp boards.

That’s according to the hundreds of items on display at the Summer Fancy Food Show, a trade show organized by the Specialty Food Association that has earned a reputation as a place to spot the next big flavors, foods and drinks that will dominate menus and grocery stores. shelves. The annual show returned to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York this week, running from Sunday to Tuesday.

More than 2,400 companies showcased their food and beverage offerings to attendees, which included restaurant operators, specialty food retailers and trend watchers. Past show trends that are making their way onto mainstream consumer palettes include yuzu, mushrooms and sophisticated alcohol substitutes.

Previous shows have also been a springboard for smaller brands looking for a wider audience. Honest Tea, Ben & Jerry’s and Tate’s Bake Shop are among the companies that followed the show in its early days on their way to becoming popular consumer brands now owned by the industry’s biggest players.

Here are some highlights from this year’s delicious summer food show:

Humans have been eating honey for thousands of years, but it’s in the spotlight as a flavoring with some food and beverage manufacturers. In the SFA’s preliminary report on the show, its observers called out honey, noting its health benefits.

Honey was the star in both food and drink throughout the show. Green Bee showed off its Honey Soda, which includes a Honeycomb Cider flavor. Owl Creek Organics & Natural Flavors featured honey dips, with flavors ranging from coffee mocha to lemon poppy seed. And the Dutch company Klepper & Klepper used honey as a flavoring for their licorice.

In previous years, the canned fish was mostly moved to booths in the Spanish and Portuguese pavilions. But this year, exhibitors displayed their canned fish products across the show floor.

TikTok helped fuel the canned fish trend last year, boosting sales of canned sardines. Now specialty food companies are responding.

This is not the canned tuna of yesteryear. There are more flavors, different varieties of seafood and more trendy packaging. Wildfish Cannery, an Alaska-based company that was founded in 1987, showed off a new retro design for its stocked salmon, giving it a richer feel. Krill Arctic Foods showcased its canned krill meat, which may lack the same appeal in its packaging, but boasts the nutritional profile of the food.

Exhibitors also showcased new ways to eat fish on the go, hoping to capitalize on consumers’ desire for convenience and more protein in their diets. The association named “satisfying snacks” as one of the trends it has seen.

Acme Smoked Fish highlighted its new Lox in a Box snack boxes, available with cream cheese or avocado. Legend of Master International, an Asian food supplier, sampled Kani Fish Cake Sticks, made to be eaten as string cheese or for cooking.

Like canned fish, the popularity of shrimp boards owes a lot to social media, where users can dazzle their followers with elaborate displays of meats, cheeses, and canned fruits.

Companies at the Summer Fancy Food Show showed off some new options to up the ante on foods — especially sausage. Tempesta Artisan Salumi offered black truffle-flavored salami, while Salt & Twine’s selection included a mezcal and salty lime relish.

But exhibitors weren’t just having fun with the flavors. Some are looking beyond pork to make processed meats. Driftless Provisions’ salami uses elk, venison and bison in addition to pork. Fossil Farms’ sausage link included lamb and wagyu beef.

What’s a cocktail or glass of wine without a snack? Targeting consumers who need help finding the perfect pairing, both Wine Chips and The Drinks Bakery showcased their snacks, designed to be eaten with specific alcoholic beverages.

The Drinks Bakery, a Scottish company, sells “drinks biscuits”. Its parmesan, toasted pine nuts and basil crackers (called crackers in the US) can be eaten with approximately 20 drinks, from a non-alcoholic lager to a whiskey shot.

Wine Chips, on the other hand, sells thick-cut potato chips specially designed to be eaten while drinking wine. For example, its Sel Gris fragrance, named after French sea salt, is made to pair with any sparkling wine, such as champagne.