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A typical large grocery store in Arizona may have more than 50,000 unique items, and this mix will change in many ways in 2025 with different marketing strategies.
More protein-rich foods, more vinegar, more exotic international flavors and more ready-to-eat meals designed for multiple diners, not singles. Here are 10 trends grocery experts see in the coming year, as reported by the trade publication Progressive Grocer:
1. More sweet sensations towards sour tastes
Lemon and vinegar flavors will become more popular in dressings, sauces and condiments, predicts Arlen Wasserman, managing director of food strategy consultancy Changing Tastes. Partly because of newcomers from Latin America, Asia and Africa — “buyers who are used to more acid in their food, whether from citrus or vinegar.” In a related trend, supermarket giant Kroger Co. owns and operates fries food stores in Arizona, hoping to boost the popularity of “briny” foods like olives, pickles and kimchi.
2. More international fares
Whole Foods expects more snacks and packaging to come with exotic zest, such as mango sticky rice chips, plantain tostones and chili crunch edamame oil and nut mix. Dumplings can also appeal to more taste buds, spice up the doughy staple with interesting flavors like Pizza Bao or Chicken Parmesan, Whole Foods said.
3. Greater interest in healthy seafood
More stores sell sustainable seafood, but not all industry certifications ensure it’s free of antibiotics (though wild seafood is), Wasserman said. This has led to increased consumer scrutiny of aquaculture products that use antibiotics to grow fish and other seafood, leading many consumers to reconsider whether “ Is eating fish really a healthy choice?” He expects to see producers do a better job of assuring the public that farmed seafood is safe to assume.
4. Focus more on food and eating.
Expect to see more ready-to-eat offerings in supermarkets, driven in part by the gradual return of workers to the office. “Pizza, sandwiches, fried chicken and sushi for lunch are here to stay along with the deli and salad bar,” Wasserman said. “However, now is the time to spice up the mix and rotate the selection frequently.” He also expects to see more curated choices designed for two or more diners, not just individuals, focusing more on dinner, not just lunch.
5. Focus more on saving money.
Consumers’ willingness to stretch their grocery budgets should come as no surprise, given that food price inflation emerged as a major issue in the presidential election. According to Kroger’s team of experts, which includes buyers, chefs, data scientists and others, among other effects, this will lead to a greater preference for private-label foods, which are sold under the grocer’s brand but Made by other companies. But supermarkets will need to deliver more than competitive costs: it will also be about high-quality taste, Kroger said.
6. An upcoming protein spread
Protein-rich foods have never gone out of style, of course, but many predictors see more choices coming. For example, Whole Foods expects consumers to like products that go beyond protein power bars. One possibility suggested by the chain is diets that feature combinations of organ meats with traditional muscle meats.
7. More time for tea and water
Both global staple drinks can come out in new versions and enjoy popularity. In Whole Foods’ view, consumers should explore new ways to use sweeteners in tea, milk tea and beverages such as cold brew bags in water bottles. Are adult tea parties ready to replace alcohol-based happy hours? That’s a possibility, according to Whole Foods. And don’t be surprised to find more bottled water choices, Grocer added, like antioxidants in cactus water.
8. A little bit of everything
In addition to the trends mentioned above, Kroger expects more foods to feature peppery flavors such as Calabrian chiles and guajillo peppers, along with “new takes” on Caesar salads and dressings. Whole Foods, meanwhile, has a greater emphasis on crunchy items for all kinds of meals and snacks, from mushroom chips to dehydrated fruit and possibly even drinks like crème brulee espresso martinis.
9. More earth-friendly packaging
Whole Foods and others expect more food offerings to come in compostable containers and packaging, in everything from cling wrap to single-serve coffee wrappers to low-impact packaging for wine, beers and other beverages. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food waste, including packaging, makes up about a quarter of the material sent to landfills, so there’s plenty of room for improvement.
10. Greater use of technology everywhere
Another theme cited by Progressive Grocer will be the increased reliance on technology by supermarket chains. An example offered by the publication, with input from 1WorldSync, will see increased use of QR codes, also known as 2D barcodes, on product packages and include information such as expiration dates. Another is the increasing use by users of artificial intelligence services such as ChatGPT, which allow shoppers to perform tasks such as researching products before purchasing.
Reach the author at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.
