For retailers, understanding these trends can be pivotal in staying competitive and meeting evolving consumer demands. Here’s a breakdown of Fresh Thyme’s top trends for 2025, with actionable ideas for how you can incorporate similar products into your offerings.
1. Functional Ingredients for Targeted Wellness
Consumers are increasingly seeking more than basic nutrition from their food. Functional ingredients like colostrum, probiotics, and adaptogens are in demand for their specific health benefits, such as immune support and gut health.
Actionable Idea: Look for products that feature functional ingredients. Brands such as Symbiotics Colostrum Plus and Coconut Cult offer great examples of innovative wellness-focused products that can enhance your selection.
2. Adaptogenic Mushrooms Enter the Mainstream
Mushrooms like Chaga, Lion’s Mane, and Turkey Tail, known for their adaptogenic properties, are gaining popularity for their ability to reduce stress and improve focus. These mushrooms are starting to appear in everyday products, from coffee to pasta.
Actionable Idea: Consider adding mushroom-infused items to your product lineup. Look for brands like Om Mushrooms Coffee Blend and Kettle & Fire Mushroom & Chicken Bone Broth to bring these powerful ingredients to your shelves.
3. Non-Alcoholic, Mood-Enhancing Beverages
Non-alcoholic drinks are no longer just an alternative for teetotalers—they now serve specific wellness functions, such as relaxation or mood enhancement, with ingredients like kava and CBD.
Actionable Idea: Expand your beverage aisle with mood-enhancing options. Brands like Kin Euphorics and Recess are paving the way with sophisticated non-alcoholic drinks that offer consumers both taste and wellness benefits.
4. A Growing Love for Spicy Foods
Complex and fiery flavors are trending, with consumers gravitating toward spicier foods. Fresh and dried chilies, such as ghost peppers and jalapeños, along with new hot sauce varieties, are seeing increased demand.
Actionable Idea: Boost your spice section with hot sauces and dried chilies that cater to adventurous palates. Products like Lola’s Hot Sauce and STL Pure Heat can help satisfy the growing demand for spicier options.
5. Mango Everything
Mangoes are gaining popularity as consumers look for vibrant, nutritious, and flavorful ingredients. Known for their high vitamin C content, mangoes are appearing in beverages, snacks, and even wellness shots.
Actionable Idea: Introduce a variety of mango-flavored products. Beverages like Synergy Raw Mystic Mango Kombucha and So Good So You Energy Shots can help tap into this growing market.
6. The Shift Toward Natural Sweeteners
Consumers are moving away from refined sugars and opting for natural alternatives like honey, maple syrup, and dates. These ingredients offer sweetness without the downsides of processed sugars.
Actionable Idea: Highlight natural sweetener options in your store. Stock products like Fresh Thyme Organic Maple Syrup or Realsy Peanut Butter Cacao Dates to meet the demand for healthier sweeteners.
7. Brain-Boosting Ingredients
With a growing interest in cognitive health, ingredients like ginkgo biloba, magnesium, and GABA are set to see increased popularity as consumers look for ways to boost mental clarity and focus.
Actionable Idea: Source brain-boosting snacks and supplements to cater to the cognitive health trend. Brands like Pym Attention Chews and MagMind offer accessible ways to capitalize on this category.
8. Korean Cuisine’s Rising Influence
Korean flavors, led by the popularity of Korean BBQ, are entering the mainstream. Ingredients like gochujang and kimchi are finding their way into more home kitchens as consumers look for bold, global flavors.
Actionable Idea: Expand your selection of Korean-inspired products. Consider stocking items like Ofood Gochujang Sauce and Cleveland Kitchen Classic Kimchi to attract consumers looking to experiment with global flavors.
9. Sustainability through Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)
Environmental sustainability continues to drive consumer choices, with CEA-grown produce and grains becoming more desirable. This farming method reduces environmental impact while delivering high-quality products.
Actionable Idea: Promote eco-friendly products by sourcing items from companies that use sustainable agriculture methods. Brands like Brixy and Purely Elizabeth’s Ancient Grain Granola provide excellent options for your eco-conscious customers.
10. Protein in Every Aisle
Protein is breaking out from traditional sources like meat and dairy to appear in cereals, pastas, and snacks. Consumers are seeking high-protein options that fit a variety of dietary preferences and needs.
Actionable Idea: Broaden your protein-rich offerings by adding items like protein-boosted cereals, oatmeal, and pasta. Stock brands such as Seven Sundays Protein Oats and Fresh Thyme Market’s Chickpea Penne Pasta for consumers looking for convenient, high-protein choices.
Key Takeaways
