Attention, Snackers: These New Flavors Are Taking Over Grocery Store Shelves
:extract_cover():upscale()/2015/01/14/918/n/1922195/29d88c6c_edit_img_cover_file_1346512_1421260179_Trends-COVER.jpg)
The Winter Fancy Food Show is an opportunity for food companies to showcase their newest snacks, beverages, and desserts and a chance for us to eye all the latest trends soon to hit grocery store shelves. Are your taste buds ready for more sriracha, turmeric, and matcha? Whether or not . . . here they come in the form of these packaged foods.
Trend: Lentil Chips and Snacks
Goodbye, potatoes; hello, lentils! Snack makers from all over have adopted protein-rich lentils as the base of chips. We saw everything from a take on traditional papadum to popped lentils, as well as new-age sriracha chips and baked varieties.
Mediterranean Snacks Cracked Pepper Baked Lentil Chips
Trend: Coconut Chips
Last year, Dang released a brand-new concept to the American snack world: crispy, crunchy coconut chips. This year, many other snack companies are following suit. We saw intriguing new flavors like maple vanilla as well as toasted and savory sea salted.
Made in Nature Vanilla Maple Toasted Coconut Chips
Trend: Matcha
American palates are finally ready to embrace matcha, a Japanese green tea powder made by grinding the whole leaves into a fine, emerald dust. Because matcha can sway toward the grassy side, we saw many products that simmer down that green flavor like sweetened latte mixes, minty chocolate bars, flavored salts, and matcha-green tea blends.
Trend: Powdered Peanut Butter
For years, it has appeared that PB2 made the only powdered peanut butter on the market — until now. This year, we saw companies introducing more flavors like cinnamon, maple, and vanilla. We even tried a powdered peanut butter hot beverage (like instant hot cocoa but peanut butter!).
Peanut Butter & Co. Vanilla Powdered Peanut Butter
Trend: Sriracha
Yes, we know 2013 was the year of sriracha, but the spicy condiment has not let up in popularity. Chips, puffs, popcorn, and more intriguing snacks (like fried banana slivers) are receiving a hefty dusting of sriracha flavor.
Trend: Turmeric
The mustard-yellow Indian root will be America's go-to healthy ingredient in 2015. Chocolates, teas, and bottled beverages are just the start of a full-on turmeric explosion. We anticipate seeing more of it in chips and other snacks as the year progresses.