Speciality Food October 2024

free spirits, Miles adds, have seen the largest percentage rise within the category in volume sales during the last year, up an incredible 23%. 6 HOT SAUCE If you add just one condiment to your aisle this Christmas, let it be hot sauce, says Kier Kemp, co-founder of Condimaniac. “I’ve been saying for a long time hot sauce is the new craft beer, and it has been for a while,” he explains. “Hot sauces are just such a trend,” agrees Becky Vale, marketing director at Tracklements. “Our recent quantitative research showed that 44% of shoppers are using hot sauces to go with everydaymeals at home!” 7 ALPINE CHEESE Cheesemongers and wholesalers across the UK tell @specialityfood us they’re seeing a greater demand for Alpine-style cheeses, whether Continental, or made in Britain. Svetlana Kukharchuk of The Cheese Lady says she believes its appeal lies in “the cheesemakers’ unwavering commitment to quality, especially the quality of their primary ingredient –milk. This dedication inevitably translates into phenomenally delicious and complex cheeses.” Alpine cheeses are also “timeless, always appropriate, and versatile. They can shine as part of a cheeseboard, elevate the flavour of a dish when used in cooking, and become the star of the showwhen melted into a fondue.” 8 SHEEP’S MILK CHEESE This is no longer a cheeseboard obscurity. Shoppers are being drawn to new generation 24 4 HOT HONEY Speaking of honey, those varieties infused with chilli and spice have shaken up the condiments aisle this year. You’ll see hot honey everywhere – from retail to restaurants. Consumers just can’t get enough of its swicy profile. We highly recommend stocking up on this product for Christmas. Hot honey gift sets could be a great seller alongside food and drink using it as an inclusion, such as TomSavano’s Hot Honey Margarita RTD. 5 ALCOHOL-FREE SPIRITS Brands across the sector have reported rapid growth – some of themdoubling or even tripling sales year-on-year. Recent statistics demonstrate this is not a category to be ignored. “Part of this is down to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis,” says WSTA chief executive Miles Beale, “but also a noticeable change in drinking habits. There are clear trends of consumers choosing to drink less, or finding alcohol alternatives. The no and low alcohol category remains relatively small, but it is consistently growing.” Alcohol- I t’s been a thrilling year in the speciality food and drink sphere. So much change. So much innovation. And the driving force behind it all... quality. The movers and shakers, new product launches, and inventive new flavours and ideas we’ve seen emerging in 2024 have proved just howmuch of a moveable feast this sector is. We’ve witnessed the rise of adaptogens and functional products in response to consumer interest in wellbeing. HFSS regulations have led to the creation of new brands and new lines from existing producers, with a laser focus on reducing sugar, fat and salt whilst still igniting taste buds. The desire from shoppers to be more sustainable has sped up the packaging sector, with compostable and plastic-free becoming much more commonplace. And products boasting ‘clean’ ingredient decks, free from artificial additives and UPFs, are increasingly taking up shelf, chiller and freezer space in response to the gut-friendly foodmovement. Underpinning everything though in 2024, is the hunger for nostalgia. Consumers want newness, yes, but they’re also craving comfort, and tastes that remind them of childhood and family. As you finalise your Christmas plans, we reveal 18 of the biggest food and drink trends we think you need to consider stocking. 1 GINGER This aromatic root is the flavour trend no one saw coming, though it’s thought its rising star has something to do with the nostalgia hook in food and drink right now, or perhaps the wellbeing trend. We’re seeing ginger popping up in kombucha, RTDs, cakes, biscuits, puddings and cereals, withmany brands saying it’s fast becoming their bestselling flavour. 2 CLASSIC CHUTNEYS Speciality shoppers are appreciating spice and new flavours (Hawkshead Relish, for example, plans on keeping its new aubergine relish due to strong sales), but on the whole it’s classic flavours that are hitting the mark in 2024. Across the board we’ve been told onionmarmalades, ploughman’s relishes and piccalillis are topping the chutney charts, with consumers especially interested in jars that are all-natural, lower in sugar, and high in fruit and vegetables. “People are willing to pay for what they get,” says Candi Robertson of Candi’s Chutney. “And, like always, they like a story, and to knowwho’s behind what they’re buying.” 3 MEAD Still, sparkling, RTD cans, bottled...the entire spectrum of mead has taken off in a big way both in the UK and in the USA, with Fortune Business Insights projecting a category growth of 11.33% this year. “They’ve become hip and trendy again,” agrees Peter Taylor, founder of Nidhoggr Mead, saying part of the drink’s popularity comes down to it being completely natural, with no chemicals or sulphites, appealing to those veering away from artificial additives. Peter also reflects that there’s concern around protecting Britain’s bees. “There’s a big campaign at the moment to save the bees, and the best way is to buy more ethical honey, mead and honey wine.” Stock up for 2025 300 exciting product ideas for independent retailers For further information contact Louise on 01206 508629 or louise.barnes@artichokehq.com 10 FOOD AND DRINK TRENDS TOKNOWFORCHRISTMAS 2024 What should you be stocking up on ready for the festive season? Speciality Food finds out