Five Trends for 2020 & Beyond

A new year – and decade – is finally upon us! What will 2020 bring in terms of food trends? We track food and flavor trends all year long, and it’s always interesting to see what is, and isn’t, changing. Authentic ethnic cuisine, for example, has been trending for the past several years, but each year, the countries of origin are different. Some trends stick around year after year, while others fizzle out in a year or two – and sometimes, it can be difficult to predict which ones will have a lasting impression.  This year, Chef Howard Cantor and Director of Marketing Shannon Cushen teamed up to predict 5 food and flavor trends for 2020 and beyond. These are trends we think will pick up steam in 2020 and will be here to stay.

Here are the five trends to watch in 2020:

Tangy & Sour Flavor Trends – consumers, and especially Gen Zers and men, are craving tangy and sour foods & flavors. Kombuchas, kefirs, and kimchi are on the rise as a result, as are Persian, Korean, and Filipino cuisines.

Simple Ingredients – health-conscious consumers are seeking products that feature easy-to-pronounce, simple ingredient statements with recognizable ingredients. Consumers perceive products with simpler ingredient statements to be healthier.

Vegan Food Trends – plant-based foods are everywhere now! From innovative veggie & grain bowls in the frozen aisle to plant-based burgers in foodservice establishments of all kinds, vegan foods are here to stay.

Cooking Method Call-Outs – smoked and grilled flavors have been on the rise for the past few years, but expect to see more call-outs to other cooking methods, like sautéed, roasted, and braised, on product labels. Consumers are craving more complex flavors and are also seeking out specificity on the label – anything that makes a product sound more interesting, exotic or sophisticated.

Convenience Cooking – always on the go, consumers are seeking more convenient ways to cook at home, which they prefer as they perceive it to be healthier. Expect to see meal kits and prepared meals take new forms and exotic flavors as busy consumers demand time-saving – but unique, authentic and delicious – options for eating at home.

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