Jim Olson, Senior Retail Insights Manager at SPINS
While we all love KeHE for the great partners they are to both INFRA and SPINS, they also know how to put on a quality trade show. These summer shows (held in winter) are a great sneak peek at the emerging trends we’ll see across the industry throughout the rest of the year. By the end of day two, my phone’s notepad app was chock full of observations and ideas. Here are a few trends that I think will have the momentum to make a big splash this year.
First, if there’s one thing the Natural Foods Industry is known for it’s a strong focus on products’ ingredients, or in this case a lack thereof. The Less Is More approach seemed to permeate several booths regardless of the category they played in, emphasizing the absence of contentious ingredients.
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B’Free and their Celiac-friendly line of Gluten-Free bakery products were a great example of this approach, and their 13% sales increase across INFRA is pretty great, too.
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Another instance was Voyage Foods and their kid-appreciated peanut-free spreads, not to mention their 100% sales increase at INFRA.
Speaking of kids, the next generation of natural food eaters seemed to be front of mind for many of the exhibitors in SLC.
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Chubby Snacks have created an alternative to Uncrustables with their own Peanut Butter (or Almond Butter!) & jam to-go snacks. They’re also experiencing a 140% bump in sales among INFRA Members!
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The Froot Thief snuck their way to American shores all the way from South Africa with their real fruit snacks lacking added sugars. While still new to the U.S. they did generate an impressive $360,000 in Natural Channel sales last year.
Finally, the trend I encountered most of all was what could be tagged as the “Eco-House.” Food products are still the major driver in the Natural Industry, but an increasing number of brands are trying to help consumers switch out the harmful chemicals and additives in their everyday household products.
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Molly Suds targets your washing machine, offering laundry powder and detergent sheets that are free of liquid and plastic, with a 93% INFRA sales boost this past year.
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The fine folks at Hi-Bar are interested in cleaning up hair care with their shampoo and conditioner bars, also free of liquid to allow plastic-free containers and fully recyclable packaging. They’re also doing great work at the cash register, holding a 28% increase in INFRA sales.
Remember to check back in with both INFRA and SPINS after major trade shows for complimentary breakdowns of all the hot product trends making an impact on our industry!
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