international

Trends shape our business strategy. They dictate what we sell and to whom we sell it. Now that we’re a few months into 2014, here’s a look at the promising food industry trends that may drive our next year:

The Dream of the ‘90’s is Alive in…Wisconsin?

Fans of the satire “Portlandia” know that the “Dream of the 1990’s” is alive in present-day Portland. But it seems that a particular philosophy of the 1890’s could gain favor in Wisconsin given a recent trend in the dairy sector.

An 1895 Wisconsin law that banned the sale or use of margarine in the Dairy State was repealed in 1967, but dairy purists might want to lobby for its reinstatement citing consumers’ recent rejection of food products that are heavy in trans fats, such as margarines.

According to the American Butter Institute, butter consumption is at a 40-year high in the United States because shoppers are looking for healthier, more natural food choices.  Thus, they are moving away from highly processed foods with artificial ingredients. Butter as a health food---who’da thunk it?

Quinoa is Sooooo 2013

Americans’ hunger for exotic grains shows no signs of being satiated. Now that most consumers are familiar with the tricky-to-pronounce “quinoa”, they want more whole grains and seeds to fuel their allergen-free or lower-carb cravings. Amaranth, chia, millet and sorghum are some of the gluten-free ancient grains gaining popularity with those wanting wheat-free alternatives.

For consumers counting their carbs, Middle Eastern freekeh and Italian farro are two fiber-filled, protein-packed wheat strains that are predicted to gain popularity in 2014.

Compared to a few years ago, food safety fears in China have surged among consumers. The 2008 melamine/infant formula scare that killed several and sickened approximately 300,000 has been a cornerstone for this growing concern. Chinese parents have taken to other methods to procure formula for their children since, including the following: importing of brands from outside of the country, smuggling, obtaining via the mail, and even as featured in the New York Times, instructing friends, family, and others to bring home formula back from their international vacations.

As one Chinese mother said