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Organics Are Hot at National Annual Show
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ORGANICS ARE HOT ITEM AT NATIONAL SUPERMARKET SHOW
by Phil Lempert, Chicago Tribune, May 14, 1997
Organic is in and fat is out, and home-meal replacement continues to lure
shoppers, at least the shoppers visiting the recent Food Marketing Institute's
annual convention at Chicago's McCormick Place. More than 35,000 supermarket
retailers visited the show, which had more than 1.3 million square feet of
exhibit space. With more than127,000 supermarkets in the US and sales of more
than $42 billion at stake, exhibitors and their 1,300 exhibits are trying to
understand and anticipate consumer trends and offer supermarket buyers their
new products or services. Here aer some trend highlights that will affect the
way we all shop in the coming year.
- Organics are continuing to grow and move into the mainstream. There are
organic bagels, organic pizza and most important, lower prices that compare
favorably with those of non-organic products.
- It appears that "fat free" is over and being replaced by health without
the hype. More companies are moving toward simpler, purer products that
are good for you without adding lots of preservatives and additives to
make up for the flavor loss.
- Spicy seems to have cooled off, but is being replaced by herbs and spices
that promise flavor instead of just burning the roof of your mouth.
- Everyone seems to think his product is a "home meal replacement" and has
named it or renamed it accordingly.
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What's happening in the consumer food market: People want organics, and
cleaner, purer food.
The farmers need to be listening to the consumers, not the
chemical/genetic companies and their predatory bankers.