So what will be 2015’s biggest grocery trends? In a nutshell, craft foods delivered same-day to aging boomers.
That’s an amalgam of several of the trends, as predicted by U.S. grocery expert Phil Lempert (otherwise known as the Supermarket Guru) in his annual look at what will be hot for the coming year.
Among Lempert’s predictions, as reported by the Chicago Tribune:
Grazing golden-agers: Baby boomers are hitting their seniors’ years and, as a result, aren’t eating as much. They want smaller meals and more snacks.
More same-day delivery: Companies like Instacart and Google Express are promising to get people their groceries within hours of online ordering.
Craft foods make their way into kitchens everywhere: Big food companies are purchasing smaller companies and launching more craft food brands, with an artisanal feel.
Although online grocery may be on the rise, Lempert still thinks supermarkets have room to keep customers coming back.
Hence another trend: Supermarkets converting to socializing spaces. That’s why retailers are hiring chefs and dietitians.
“They’re looking to build relationships with shoppers that transcend price,” he said.
Read the full story and more of Lempert's trends here.