Kroger has released its 2023 Food Trends Report, detailing which of its store brand products it expects to be popular this year.
Stuart Aitken, senior vice president, chief merchant and marketing officer at Kroger, said family and cooking at home will remain important to consumers this year.
"Customers not only learned to cook during the pandemic, they grew to love it. In 2023, cooking at home remains a mainstay with customers gathering together to celebrate time lost and save money as inflation moderates. From global flavors and elevating a special meal to household staples, Kroger is proud to offer our customers fresh, affordable food every day and we are honored to play a small part in so many shared happy moments,” he said.
Kroger believes consumers will seek products such as cheese, cheesecake and salt and pepper flavored items. Snacking will continue to be popular and dips and dippers as well as fresh veggies and protein packed snacks both for snacking and for parties. Sweet and salty snacks are also on the rise with customers according to Kroger’s trends report. Shoppers will be seeking traditional salty snacks as well as finding an easy dessert option for the family or celebrations.
The report said home meals will remain a staple with shoppers as they continue to seek ways to elevate their menus. Products such as shrimp, sea scallops and crabcakes could be popular to help add a special element to a meal and save money.
Foods and flavors from around the globe are being embraced as customer favorites, according to the report. Families and friends are seeking to diversity both meals and flavors found in food they bring home.