United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) brought more than 3,400 retailers and suppliers together at its Spring and Summer Selling Show in Orlando to examine five major trends reshaping grocery retail, from private label dominance to the growing emphasis on gut health.
The distributor’s Feb. 10-12 event highlighted shifts in shopper behavior that grocers should prepare for during the spring and summer selling season, with particular focus on health-conscious products and value-driven purchasing patterns.
“As the grocery industry rapidly evolves, UNFI is focused on helping retailers identify and scale emerging trends across our broad network of suppliers,” said Louis Martin, president of conventional grocery products and chief commercial officer at UNFI. “We’re partnering with our customers to offer compelling value, unique product assortments, innovative merchandising programs,and services that help them stand apart from the competition.”
Private label reaches near-universal adoption
Private label products have achieved penetration in 90 percent of American households, establishing store brands as essential rather than alternative options for shoppers seeking value without sacrificing quality.
UNFI showcased nearly 50 new private label products at the Orlando show, spanning categories from healthy snacking to high-protein and fiber-rich options. Recent innovations from UNFI’s Woodstock brand include new Banana Water flavors in strawberry, blueberry and chocolate, along with frozen fruit bars and chocolate-dipped fruit bites.
The Essential Everyday brand expanded with frozen breakfast bowls and sandwiches, frozen protein waffles, protein instant oatmeal and additional zero sugar juice flavors.
Gut health becomes priority for most shoppers
Digestive wellness has shifted from niche interest to mainstream concern, with eight in 10 consumers now considering gut health important to their overall well-being. This has driven demand for prebiotic beverages, fiber-enhanced foods and products containing beneficial bacteria.
“Serving our community means leaning into emerging trends and evolving with our shoppers’ needs,” said Saj Kahn, EVP and CMO at Nugget Market Inc. “As we prepare for the spring and summer selling season, UNFI’s data-driven insights, broad assortment and tailored merchandising solutions are helping us bring in the innovative products our shoppers are looking for.”
Protein continues evolution beyond muscle building
While protein maintains its position as a grocery growth driver, the nutrient’s applications have expanded beyond athletic performance to encompass everyday nutrition, satiety and metabolic health. Consumers increasingly seek protein in diverse formats and from varied sources.
High-fiber products are emerging as protein’s complement rather than replacement, with shoppers recognizing that multiple nutrients work together to support health goals.
GLP-1 medications influence food choices
The rising use of GLP-1 weight management medications is reshaping nutritional priorities, creating demand for nutrient-dense foods that support muscle preservation and digestive function in smaller portions. Products addressing these needs represent a growing category for retailers.
Value, convenience drive shopping patterns
Economic pressures continue influencing purchase decisions, with shoppers balancing quality expectations against budget constraints. This has accelerated interest in private label products while maintaining demand for innovative national brands that justify premium pricing through functional benefits.
The Orlando show connected retailers with suppliers offering products positioned to address these intersecting trends, from affordable everyday items to premium health-focused innovations.
In UNFI’s Pitch Slam competition, Halfday Prebiotic Iced Tea won recognition among emerging suppliers in the company’s UpNext program.
“Halfday Prebiotic Iced Tea is ushering in a new era of iced tea with low sugar, gut-healthy and functional benefits while keeping the classic iced tea taste you know and love,” said Luke Ledyard, VP of sales and distribution for Halfday. “UNFI’s UpNext program has provided incredible value as we work to scale our business and introduce more consumers to the benefits of Halfday.”
The show featured thousands of products across natural, organic, fresh, specialty and conventional categories, with 50 new-to-market items debuting at the event.
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