2019 Top Ten Food Trends Revealed

BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 6^th annual Culinary Trends report, the Sterling-Rice Group (SRG), a research leader on trends in the food industry, identifies the top culinary trends that will stand out on menus, expand into grocery shelves and attract consumer interest in the year ahead.

The report identifies flavors, ingredients and even technological advancements in Artificial Intelligence and farming as components of the wave of dining and eating influences. It also cites a growing interest in food as a health, wellness and beauty partner. SRG's Culinary Trends Report for 2019 (https://www.srg.com/culinary-trends) was overseen by the agency's culinary director Liz Moskow and its culinary team who drew insights from over 175 food experts, sociologists, chefs, nutritionists, and other trend-spotters.

"The thread that ties all the new flavors, ingredients and market forces together is how our desire to improve all aspects of the human experience is profoundly influencing the foods we will be eating well into 2019," explains Liz Moskow, Culinary Director at SRG. "We are also seeing extreme diet protocols from keto to paleo and more, giving consumers permission to eat things that were previously considered bad for you. This gives full fat dairy and other foods a seat at the table."

SRG says to look for these culinary trends – and more - to expand and grow next year as they move from cutting edge to mainstream:

• Butter is the New Bacon – Fat Bombs are the new antidote to hunger and ketosis. And butter now appears on restaurant menus at an all-time high of 64%.
• Bitter is the New Sweet – Sugar aversion has given rise to bitter as the flavor of choice – menu references to bitter have risen more than 22% in the past four years and are projected to grow over 18% in the next four.
• Lettuce is going beyond the salad bowl and into fresh-pressed juice with exotic new varieties and hydroponically grown lettuces being called out by name on menus.
• Rooted and Ravishing – The plant-based revolution has taken hold with diners hungry for hearty veggie-centric main dish options with vegetables like cassava, Japanese yams, parsnips, jicama and even the classic white potato served up in delightful new forms.
• Data Mining Dining - Artificial Intelligence is the hot dish being served up in the food industry now. Technology is being leveraged to foresee food and flavor trends happening in real-time. Tech companies like Spoonshot, Foodpairing, Analytical Flavor Systems, and FlavorWiki are employing machine learning to support new product and menu development to pinpoint ever-changing consumer preferences as they happen.

"SRG has built its business on helping our clients leverage changing food and dining trends to bring fresh new offerings to their consumers," explained Cindy Judge, CEO of SRG. "With insights like these to help guide our innovation process, we have been able to deliver over $10 billion in new revenue to our clients over the past five years."

About Sterling-Rice Group (SRG)

Headquartered in Boulder, Colo., SRG is a nationally recognized brand consultancy and creative agency. The agency has expertise in consumer insights, brand strategy and positioning, new product innovation, advertising, and design. With deep experience in all things consumer and culinary, it is responsible for $10 billion in incremental value for clients over the past five years alone. SRG has been ranked on Outside Magazine's Best Places to Work list for the past eight years and was also recognized by Ad Age as a 2016 and 2017 Best Place to Work.

SOURCE Sterling-Rice Group

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