New Food Trends #3: More Food in Grocery Stores

Now that grocery stores have become more democratic – that is, there's less of a caste system and all foodstuffs are created equal – the stores will bulge to accommodate more private labels or even old generic brands that have transmogrified into their own brands. “Name brands” have lost their 'cache' as the quality of the cheap stuff has improved to the point that you really can't tell the difference anymore. It doesn't hurt that they're less expensive as well and the whole country it seems is tightening its collective belt. There is even some talk of co-branding between the private brands and the fat cats, and that's why you'll see more food in grocery stores.

Stores are growing in other ways too. They will pay attention to what people are seeking, and they're scaling their deli's and take-out selections way up. Even butchers and fish mongers are showing up again. Just as butchers have been all-but eliminated, the study predicts that they'll come back in larger and larger numbers, especially in locally owned grocery stores. Just like in the new restaurants, stores will cater to help define exactly what the family dinner table is, and those stores will show the most gains. The grocery stores will grab their share of customers away from take-out joints as people look to prepare meaningful meals at home. Want chicken? Stop off and pick one up from the store rotisserie.

We may also see stores catering to an older population, not only with the types of food they offer, but with bigger aisles which accommodate mobile chairs and we'll see items placed lower on shelves. Also, people will be willing to go shopping everyday to get the freshest ingredients. You'll eat what you buy and have less waste.

In many ways, social networking will contribute significantly to this as people twitter about the best deals available at which stores right now, and our iPhones will help us share the bargains. It's already happening in restaurants, and as supermarkets get in on this trend, more shoppers means more food in grocery stores.

Perhaps it's not a coincidence that Improve Everywhere chose a new mega-mart for their latest musical performance. If you're not familiar with them, they break out into spontaneous musical or dance productions in busy, public places without anyone's knowledge or permission. Some of their videos have gone viral, and though this one is relatively small with only about 10 people performing (some of them involve hundreds), it's still fun to watch. Perhaps in-store entertainment will become part of the new shopping experience. Live performances in grocery stores? Stranger things have happened.

(Joint research by International Food Futurists, The Food Network, and Culture Waves, determined the 2010 top ten food trends.)

PHOTO CREDITS: Specialty sections, quinn_anya, flickr, Fair Use Rights, http://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/2214637305/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Butcher, Natalie Maynor, flickr, Fair Use Rightshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/nataliemaynor/4177417796/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Deli Item, Chris Denbow, flickr, Fair Use Rights, http://www.flickr.com/photos/mojodenbowsphotostudio/385068070/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Spirits Section, stevendepolo, flickr, Fair Use Rights, http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/4372157132/sizes/z/in/photostream/