Budding food trends sound like a throwback to the caveman diet: Fish is the hottest protein, honey is the flavor of the moment, and game is an updated version of the charcuterie board.
That’s according to the hundreds of items on display at the Summer Specialty Food Show, a trade show sponsored by the Specialty Foods Association that’s known for discovering the next big flavors that will dominate menus and grocery stores. , food and beverages. The annual show returns to New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Center this week, running Sunday through Tuesday.
More than 2,400 companies showcased their food and beverages to attendees, including restaurateurs, specialty food retailers and trend spotters. past show trends Examples that are making their way into mainstream consumer tastes include grapefruit, mushrooms and complex alcohol alternatives.
Previous shows have also been a springboard for smaller brands seeking a wider audience. Companies such as Honest Tea, Ben & Jerry’s and Tate’s Bake Shop have participated in the show since its inception and have gone on to become well-known consumer brands and are now owned by the largest players in the industry.
Here are some highlights from this year’s Summer Food Show:
Honey – as a flavoring agent
Owl Creek Organics & Natural Products’ honey spread line unveiled at Summer Food Show
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Humans have consumed honey for thousands of years, but it’s taken center stage as a flavor by some food and drink manufacturers. In the SFA’s preliminary report on the show, trend watchers strongly recommended honey, citing its health benefits.
Honey is the star of the show in food and drink. Green Bee showcased its honey soda, which features a honeycomb cider flavor. Owl Creek Organics & Natural Flavors showcases honey spreads in flavors including mocha and lemon poppy seed. Dutch company Klepper & Klepper uses honey as a flavoring for licorice.
canned fish
Krill Arctic Foods canned krill meat
Amelia Lucas | CNBC
In the past few years, canned fish has been mainly concentrated in the booths of the Spanish and Portuguese pavilions. But this year, exhibitors displayed their canned fish products in the booth.
Last year, TikTok boosted the popularity of canned fish, boosting sales of canned sardines. Now specialty food companies are responding.
This is not the same canned tuna as before. More flavors, diverse seafood varieties, and more fashionable packaging. Wildfish Cannery, an Alaskan company founded in 1987, has unveiled a new retro design for its Sockeye Salmon, giving it a more upscale feel. Krill Arctic Foods showed off its canned krill meat, which may lack the same appeal on packaging but boasts about the food’s nutritional content.
The fish is leaving
Acme Smoked Fish’s boxed Lox kits on display at the company’s booth
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Exhibitors are also showcasing new ways to eat fish on the go, hoping to satisfy consumers’ desire for convenience and more protein in their diets. The association lists “satisfying snacks” as one of the trends it has been watching.
Acme Smoked Fish highlights its new Lox in a Box snack packs, available with cream cheese or avocado. Asian food supplier Legend of Master International tasted its kani fish cake sticks, which can be eaten like cheese skewers or used in cooking.
Upgrade Deli
A range of salami flavors from Fossil Farms, including lamb and bison
Amelia Lucas | CNBC
Like canned fish, charcuterie boards owe their popularity in large part to social media, where users can dazzle their followers with elaborate displays of cured meats, cheeses and fruits.
Companies at the Summer Food Show showcased some new options that elevate charcuterie, particularly salami. Tempesta Artisan Salumi offers black truffle flavored salami, while Salt & Twine offers mezcal and salty lime flavors.
But exhibitors didn’t just have fun with the flavors. Some people are looking for cured meats other than pork. Driftless Provisions’ salami uses elk, venison and bison, as well as pork. Fossil Farms’ salami line includes lamb and wagyu.
Pair with snacks
Wine Chips’ Sel Gris flavored potato chips go well with sparkling wine
Amelia Lucas | CNBC
What’s a cocktail or a glass of wine without a snack to go with it? For consumers who need help finding the perfect pairing, both Wine Chips and The Drinks Bakery are showcasing their snacks, which are designed to be consumed with specific alcoholic beverages.
The Drinks Bakery is a Scottish company selling “drink biscuits”. Its parmesan cheese, toasted pine nut and basil biscuits (called crackers in the U.S.) can be paired with about 20 drinks, from non-alcoholic beers to whiskey highballs.
Wine Chips, on the other hand, sells thick-cut potato chips designed to be eaten with a glass of wine. For example, its Sel Gris flavor is named after French sea salt and pairs well with any sparkling wine, including champagne.
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