Speciality-Food-June-2025

customers of Speciality Food readers; while cheap supermarket- shelf options are readily available, by checking out the options offered by delis, farm shops and food halls they are proactively seeking something beyond the basic – a product which will not only feed the appetites of inspired by – the grand heritage of Italy a delicious proposition for shoppers, who are coming to recognise the value of paying a little more for, for example, pasta made using bronze dies to improve its cohesion with sauce. Sustainability is also a key consideration for PANTRY STAPLES specialityfoodmagazine.com SOPHIE ZIEGLER-JONES SUMA CLAIRE HARCUP SUN VALLEY RICE SALLY ASSINDER GAROFALO AL OVERTON IBIS RICE COMMENTATORS L ike many pantry favourites, pasta and rice have been given a new lease of life in 2025 thanks to the growing consumer demand for higher quality, better flavour and sustainable credentials. While premium options which demonstrate the above attributes necessarily come at an added cost, many shoppers do not consider this to be off-putting – indeed, if a pasta or rice product comes wrapped in premium quality, attractive packaging it can even be suitable for gifting. Provenance plays a role, of course, with pasta hailing from – or their friends and family quickly, but will also support the environment and people from the place it hailed from. Sophie Ziegler-Jones of Suma agrees that eco-friendly options are the way forward when it comes to pasta and rice. “We’re seeing a continued shift toward conscious consumption,” she begins. “Shoppers are increasingly looking for pasta and rice products that align with their values – whether that’s organic certification, sustainable sourcing, or ethical production practices. There’s also growing demand for products that support healthy lifestyles, including wholegrain, high-protein, and gluten-free options. Convenience is important too, but not at the expense of quality or provenance.” Travel the world from your storecupboard With social media, online content and television shows rich with culinary inspiration, it’s only natural that many shoppers are looking to expand their repertoires. Plus, the Covid-era trend for travelling from the comfort of your kitchen is still going strong, and levelled up for fine food with an interest in products from specific geographical areas. “Consumers are exploring beyond the basics. There’s a noticeable increase in interest in regional and heritage varieties – such as PANTRY HEROES True store cupboard stalwarts, pasta and rice, are primed to delight fine food shoppers in 2025