Fresh Thyme Market, a better-for-you Midwest-based grocer, has released its second annual food trend predictions for 2025.
The report – which is in collaboration with retail data and intelligence provider SPINS – is the only one of its kind in the region and leverages shopping behaviors to spotlight the top 10 food trends that will shape the way Midwesterners will shop and eat in the coming year.
“At Fresh Thyme Market, we believe creating a phenomenal experience for our shoppers and team members begins long before they walk through our doors,” said Fresh Thyme Market President Liz Zolcak.
“Our annual trends report helps us not only understand the needs of our shoppers but ensures we’re exciting them by curating our shelves with the most fresh, innovative and local products. Our shoppers are savvy, so it’s important they know innovation is at our core and we can help them discover new products – often before they’re available anywhere else in the Midwest.”
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Here are Fresh Thyme Market’s top 10 Midwest grocery trend predictions for 2025:
- Functional ingredients – Consumers want more than just basic nutrition from their diets and will be seeking out products that incorporate functional ingredients – those that provide more targeted and specific health benefits.
- Evolution of the mushroom – Adaptogenic mushrooms, which may help the body manage stress, anxiety and fatigue, will start to gain momentum. The grocer expects to see more mushroom-based products in everyday pantry staples like pasta, broth and coffee, allowing consumers to add its anti-inflammatory and sleep aid properties to their diets.
- Rise of non-alcoholic, mood-enhancing beverages – Non-alcoholic beverages will become more sophisticated as a way to cater to an array of holistic needs. For example, Fresh Thyme expects to see a spike in drinks made with plant-based and mineral ingredients like kava and magnesium because of their mood-enhancing benefits. Beverages that contain multiple cannabinoids like CBD also will be trending thanks to their popularity in social settings.
- Spicy foods takeover: Consumers are demanding more complex flavor profiles and will be bringing on the heat through expanded use of more fresh and dried chiles like ghost chiles, Chilis De Arbol and jalapeños.
- Mango everything: Mango-flavored products are expected to show up in everything from drinks to snacks. According to Meghan Sedivy, Fresh Thyme Market’s registered dietitian, mangoes are a “nutritional powerhouse” packed with vitamin C to help support the immune system and are great for adding sweetness to foods.
- Nature’s natural sweeteners: Natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup and dates will become more prevalent in 2025 as consumers continue to look for ways to limit their refined and processed sugar intake.
- Boosting brain power: Improved cognitive function will be on everyone’s minds with supplements like ginkgo biloba, magnesium and GABA on the rise. These ingredients are known to enhance mental clarity and focus.
- We’re heading to Seoul: The rising popularity of Korean barbecue in recent years will pave the way for other Korean ingredients like gochujang and kimchi popping up in even more kitchens. This growing trend reflects consumers’ desires to incorporate more bold, global flavors into their everyday cooking.
- Next-gen sustainability: Grains and produce grown using Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), like greenhouse farming and other next-gen practices, that have significantly less impact on the environment will have shoppers buzzing. These items will see explosive growth in the new year due to their increased sustainability.
- Prioritizing protein: While Fresh Thyme is known for its fresh protein sources like quality meat and seafood, protein will be breaking out into new categories in 2025. Shoppers will be flocking to more protein-boosted options for added fuel and nutrition.
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