Here’s What Kroger Thinks You’ll Want to Pick Up More of While Grocery Shopping This Year
If anyone is going to spill the tea on what Americans are eating, it should clearly be a grocery store. And on January 18, America’s largest grocery retailer did just that. Get ready to make your shopping lists because Kroger seems to know all of the items you’ll want to pick up and trust me, there’s some good ones on there.
Releasing their 2022 Food Trends Report, which is an annual report curated by their food experts that uncovers trends we’ll see filling our refrigerator shelves in 2022, Kroger wants to make sure shoppers are reaching for all the right things on their next grocery haul. Taking into account the trajectory of the past couple of years, our love affair with cooking at home, caring for our health and that of the planet, and finding comfort through food are all taking center stage.
“As many Americans return to work and ease back into social gatherings, it became apparent new habits formed in 2020 are here to stay — including cooking more at home. Customers are enjoying the convenience, affordability, and just plain fun that comes from preparing meals at home,” Stuart Aitken, Kroger’s senior vice president, chief merchant and marketing officer, said in the release.
According to the report — which predicts emerging food trends, consumer behaviors, and popular items — while we can expect another year of comfort food, it’ll be elevated a bit from just a good ol’ bowl of classic mac n’ cheese. You’ll start to see flavors once reserved for foodies popping up everywhere. Rich and savory umami notes traditionally found in Asian cuisines now have a place in a broader variety of grocery items like premium truffle butter and mushroom ravioli, while the “everything” seasoning (typically a blend of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and salt) amps your palate up in foods from the bakery to dips and specialty cheeses.
Along with comfort, we’ll also see a continuing trend of caring for ourselves and the planet, with consumers shopping local and choosing plant-based items with up-cycled ingredients and recyclable packaging.
This year’s trends are also hitting a throwback vibe. As we cook more at home, recipes from our childhoods are delivering comfort and joy. According to the report, we’re tapping into yesteryear’s fluffernutters (New England’s riff on a PB&J that replaces jelly with marshmallow fluff), corn dogs, pizza bagels, and pimento cheese spread.
And don’t think that classic food has to be boring. You can also look forward to grocery glow ups — bringing decadent vibes to all the basics, with grass fed all-beef burgers, organic flavored nitro coffee, and kimchi meatballs, to name a few. Even our charcuterie boards are upgraded in 2022, branching out beyond appetizers to a variety of small portions that start or end our days (hello, breakfast and dessert boards!).