10 Big Grocery Trends On Their Way in for 2025, According to Store Employees
Even though it feels like 2024 just started, 2025 is shockingly right around the corner, bringing exciting changes in the world of groceries. To make sense of the ever-evolving trends, Whole Foods tapped its official Trends Council — made up of local foragers, regional and global buyers, and culinary experts — to gauge what’s resonating most with shoppers.
Recently, the team unveiled its annual list of the 10 most anticipated food trends for the upcoming year. And according to Cathy Strange, ambassador of Food Culture for Whole Foods Market (and member of the Trends Council), this year’s batch not only reveals consumer preferences “but also pushes the boundaries of what’s possible for the world of food.” Extra crunchy snacks! Tea-flavored desserts! All the dumplings you can dream of! These trends (and more) will grab even more grocery shelf space in the months ahead.
1. Plant-Based Aquatic Ingredients
As interest in sustainable eating rises among consumers, aquatic plants are making waves (literally and figuratively) in the food world. Seaweed continues to dominate this space — beyond in its dried state for sushi. Expect to see brands like Atlantic Sea Farms add it to salads, and even kimchi. The team is also seeing products with sea moss and agar agar (vegan gelatin) gain traction as well.
2. Compostability
Brands aren’t just shifting their ingredients toward sustainability but also their packaging. “Products that aren’t ditching packaging completely are going the compostable route, making some or all elements of their packaging compostable,” according to the Trends Council. This means consumers will be seeing more compostable packing for coffee bags and bread. Meanwhile some brands like Compostic are leading the charge with at-home compostable products like cling wrap that break down in compost bins.
3. Snacks!
The snack aisle has grown well beyond chips, crackers, and cookies. Now, flavors from all over the world are popping up in grocery stores nationwide. “Products in this trend introduce consumers to different parts of the world through a mix of traditional international snacks like chamoy candy and new combinations like mango sticky rice chips or a chili crunch oil edamame and nut mix.” The brands taking center stage? Siete, Fly By Jing, Tamalitoz by Sugarox, and more.
4. Lots of Protein
Whole Foods’ Trends Council found that consumers are looking for ways to increase their protein intake beyond protein bars and powders, “with an emphasis on ramping up protein consumption at mealtimes and with ‘whole food’ snacking.” This means there’s a notable shift toward protein-rich foods like cottage cheese, regenerative beef, and yogurt.
5. Sourdough
Sourdough had a major resurgence with home bakers during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now we’re seeing it pop up all over grocery shelves (beyond just bread!). The living yeast culture is finding new popularity in pasta, pancakes, crackers, and more!
6. Hydration+
Today’s consumers want hydration from more than just their average water. “It’s impossible to ignore the trend at food and beverage trade shows, where you’ll find popsicles with electrolytes, sparkling coconut water, chlorophyll water, and even protein water.” Coconut beverages have been at the forefront of this trend, between coconut-watermelon flavored drinks from Once Upon a Coconut and even whole-coconuts from Cocobear. This shift has also opened the doors for brands like Pricklee to shine with its antioxidant and electrolyte-rich cactus water.
7. Teatime
Speaking of hydration, tea is also having its own moment (and not just in the kettle!). “There’s tea talk everywhere you turn — both in flavor popularity for food like desserts and granola, new steeping formats, and a wave of new hot products like plant-based teas and sparkling teas.” This also means the return of vintage-inspired adult tea parties where folks are serving not only steeped tea, but treats like Van Leeuwen London Fog Ice Cream Bars and Bubblies Green Tea Mochi.
8. Great Frozen Dumplings
Grocery store dumplings have come a long way over the years, thanks in part to brands like MìLà that offer truly exceptional frozen dumplings. You can expect to see more and more brands appearing in both frozen and shelf-stable formats. But consumers aren’t only seeing Asian-inspired dumplings; they’re also embracing third-culture spaces with Pepperoni Pizza Bao Buns from Boazza and portable (and shelf-stable) Fillo’s Bean Salsa Verde Walking Tamales.
9. Sustainable Drinks
If you haven’t noticed, sustainability is really at the forefront of some consumers’ shopping habits these days, and forward-thinking alcoholic (and nonalcoholic) brands are stepping up to reduce their environmental impact: “Brands are taking things a step further by embracing regenerative practices and lower-impact packaging.” Beer producers like Brooklyn Brewery are moving toward drought-resistant fonio, and regeneratively farmed kernza in their brews and wine brands like Tablas Creek are cutting down on their bottle weights and packaging.
10. Crunchy Everything
Between extra-crispy granola, roasted nuts, and dehydrated mushroom chips, consumers these days are all about that crunch. Expect to see lots of dehydrated fruits, plant-based bacon bits, and freeze-dried treats to to zhuzh up the texture of salads, roasted vegetables, and yogurt.
Which of these trends are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments below.
Further Reading
The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can’t Stop Talking About
Ball Just Dropped the Most Beautiful Mason Jars for Its 140th Anniversary ("So Iconic!")
