Fresh Thyme Market, a better-for-you Midwest-based grocer with a mission to foster healthier communities by offering real, fresh food, vitamins and body care products, has officially published a report to relay its second annual food trend predictions for 2025.
Going by the available details, the stated report was prepared on the back of Fresh Thyme’s collaboration with the leading retail data and intelligence provider, SPINS. It is also the only the component, across its region, to leverage shopping behaviors for spotlighting the top 10 food trends that will shape the way Midwesterns will shop and eat in the coming year.
Anyway, talk about the given lowdown on a slightly deeper level; it begins by projecting a growth in the functional ingredients space. As consumers of today have shown want more than just basic nutrition from their diets, Fresh Thyme’s report expects them to seek out products that incorporate functional ingredients, ingredients that provide more targeted and specific health benefits – like colostrum for its immune-boosting properties or probiotic cultures for better gut health.
Next up, the report in question predicts a landmark evolution of the mushroom. Here, the study deems adaptogenic mushrooms like Chaga, Lion’s Mane, and Turkey Tail, that may help the body manage stress, anxiety and fatigue, to become more prevalent. As a result, consumers can see more mushroom-based products in everyday pantry staples like pasta, broth and coffee, thus enabling them to effortlessly add its anti-inflammatory and sleep aid properties to their diets.
“At Fresh Thyme Market, we believe creating a phenomenal experience for our shoppers and team members begins long before they walk through our doors,” said, Liz Zolcak, President of Fresh Thyme Market. “Our annual trends report helps us not only understand the needs of our shoppers, but ensures we’re exciting them by curating our shelves with the most fresh, innovative and local products. Our shoppers are savvy, so it’s important they know innovation is at our core and we can help them discover new products – often before they’re available anywhere else in the Midwest.”
Moving on, Fresh Thyme’s exercise also took this opportunity to reveal the bullish potential of non-alcoholic and mood enhancing beverages. To expand upon the same, the report expects a spike in drinks made with plant-based and mineral ingredients like kava and magnesium because of their mood-enhancing benefits. Beyond that, beverages that contain multiple cannabinoids like CBD look set for a breakout, thanks to their popularity in social settings.
Alongside the stated beverages, Fresh Thyme even sees an expanded use of fresh and dried chilis like ghost chilies, Chilis De Arbol, and jalapenos, something which should cater the growing demand for more complex flavor profiles.
Not just spices, mango is also looking to make some noises in the year 2025. You see, according to Meghan Sedivy, Fresh Thyme Market’s registered dietitian, mangoes are a “nutritional powerhouse” packed with vitamin C to help support the immune system, and at the same time, they are also great for adding sweetness and a creamy texture to foods. Keeping that in mind, the stated fruit is now poised for a big year.
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in the rising popularity of Korean BBQ. This consistent uptrend will pave the way for other Korean ingredients like gochujang and kimchi, while simultaneously taking the cuisine to even more kitchens.
Apart from that, Fresh Thyme calls the emergence of next-gen sustainability. This includes a growth in demand for grains and produce grown using Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) like greenhouse farming and other next-gen practices that have significantly less impact on the environment. Markedly enough, the report in question also claims that shoppers will be flocking to more protein-boosted options when it comes to everything from cereals, oatmeal, pasta, pasta sauce and even flavor bursting queso for added fuel and nutrition.
Among other trends, Fresh Thyme expects an uptick in sales of natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup and dates. It also projects a rise in demand for supplements like ginkgo biloba, magnesium, GABA, and other components that are known for enhancing mental clarity and focus.
