As the holiday season quickly approaches, 2025 food trends become a hot topic. Kroger revealed its predictions for the upcoming year. While flavor, value, and convenience will always be key drivers, Kroger is set to continue to dominate one specific category.
Trying to determine what will be the next must have ingredient, take over restaurant menus, or overwise dominate social media is difficult. Few people would have imagined that swicy would be everywhere or the chicken sandwich wars would still be entering new battlefields.
While globally inspired flavors seemed probably and healthy eating is always popular at the start of the new year, people want more than just another one-off topic. Broader based concepts that crossover many categories are vital to broader adoption.
Speaking about Kroger’s 2025 food trends, Juan De Paoli, Vice President, Our Brands for Kroger said, “Our Brands provide an opportunity to get exceptional value on the top trending products while still enjoying the same high quality and unique flavors customers crave. 2025 is all about flavor - with hot peppers continuing to rise, fermented flavors quickly growing in popularity, and staples like Caesar finding new adaptations in the kitchen. Whether customers are looking to try a new dupe on a viral favorite or explore the real power of protein, Kroger is excited to offer Our Brands products that give customers a taste of their favorite trends."
What are Kroger’s 2025 food trends?
According to its recent announcement, Kroger’s 2025 food trends are: Food Dupes, Bold and Briny, The Protein Renaissance, Pepper Palette, and Hail Caesar. While these ideas are both forward facing and extension of current popular concepts, Kroger has a bevy of food products that fit into each category.
Specifically, the Kroger private label brand is a great example of its ability to leverage Food Dupes. Given that people are still cost conscious, those private label food dupes bring all the flavor without the extra cost.
From Private Selection Wisconsin Mac and Cheese to Simply Truth Egg Bites, the reality is that people appreciate that food is about flavor, not just the paying extra for a particular name.
Looking at the other food trends, these ideas tend to continue concepts that currently fill the table. Whether it is a new take on pickle flavors or adding extra protein to popular recipes, people crave that boost in the choices they know and love.
As the new year kicks off, shopping habits will continue to evolve. While these ideas are the start, others might start to fill the basket, too. 2025 is heating up to be a flavorful year.