Food and Beverage Trends for 2007

Top 10 Food and Beverage Trends For 2007

by Nina M. Lentini, Monday, Dec 4, 2006 5:00 AM ET

HERE ARE 10 FOOD AND beverage trends for next year, as forecast by Datamonitor. · Calorie-burning beverages First came Celsius, "Earth's first calorie-burning soda." Coke and Nestle plan to go national next year with Enviga. · Satiety-enhancing foods and drinks New in the U.S. is LightFull Satiety Smoothie. In Europe, it's Danone Shape Lasting Satisfaction Yogurt. Both aim to keep consumers from "snacking their way into obesity." · Mobile food Frito-Lay is ahead of the pack with Doritos Action Cups for "on the go" enjoyment. · Local sourcing of ingredients The number of farmers' markets increased 79 percent from 1994 to 2002, says the USDA. The concept of "Food Miles" is surfacing, reflecting a desire to help the environment by buying food that doesn't need to be transported long distance. Can carbon ratings on packaged foods and beverages be far behind? · Healthful kids' food Marketing to kids is getting more complicated. In the U.S., Fizzy Fruit Sparkling Fresh Grapes add carbonation to grapes for a new snacking taste sensation. · Antioxidants Increased awareness unleashed a boom in dark chocolate in 2006. Can coffee and tea do it, too? Tea is working its way into food products like Luna Tea Cakes and the T-Bar Green Tea Nutrition Bar. "Superfruits" like goji berries, acai and pomegranate, also high in antioxidants, are positioned for mainstream acceptance. · Immunity-boosting foods and drinks Probiotic foods that help regulate digestive tract health, including cultured dairy drinks and yogurts, are leading the way. Also coming: probiotic juices, snack bars and even breakfast cereals. Kashi has released Vive Probiotic Digestive Wellness Cereal. · Food and drink for one Research shows the average number of persons per household has slipped to barely more than two. Ahead of the pack: Green Giant Just for One! Frozen Vegetables and Baker's Inn Short Loaf Sliced Bakery Bread. · "Smart" products and packages Smart technology is behind Pfizer's new Listerine Agent Cool Blue Plaque-Detecting Rinse and Pet Ecology Scientific Professional Cat Litter that detects urinary tract disease. Packaging to indicate freshness is coming. · "Better for You" beer With beer losing ground to wine, sudsmakers are fighting back. At the forefront: Stampede Light, claiming to be the "first-ever government-approved vitamin beer" with its B-vitamins, folic acid and folate