10 things you can learn from Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2016

Last month Retail Express attended the Speciality & Fine Food Fair in London to find out how you can keep your store ahead of the curve.

Here are 10 key trends and new products you need to know:

1) Healthier big nights in

A new face is coming to the sharing bags fixture as Graze announces it is launching six new varieties.

Retailers can promote the products with a branded free-standing display unit.

2) Crickets could be the snack of choice by 2050

By 2050 there will be nine billion humans on Earth and, according to the UN, all of them will be eating insects. Luckily brands like Crobar and Jimini’s are on hand to help you prepare your store for the demand for creepy-crawly cuisine.

3) On-trend ice cream flavours

Avocado sales grew by 30.9% last year, the largest growth in the green produce sector. Now the market’s trendiest fruit (yes, it is a fruit) is coming to the freezer.

Fravocado is available in three flavours, Original, Raw Cacao and Raspberry & Basil.

4) Outfox the supermarkets this Christmas

Jam producer Manfood has launched six gift boxes, which could help you stand out from the supermarkets this Christmas. Each pack contains its bestselling jellies, chutneys and marmalades, RRP £19.95.

5) Are you gin shoppers always buying tonic?

6 O'Clock Gin has become the first gin company to produce its own tonic, which can help you drive sales in store by merchandising gin and tonic together.

6) Time to stock free-from snacks?

The free-from trend continues as Yumsh Snacks teams up with Tango to create Poptang, which is Orange and Apple Tango-flavoured popcorn.

7) Do your customers understand craft cider?

This year marks 200 years in business for Sheppey’s and, as part of the brand’s celebrations, it is launching two new flavours, Elderflower and Old Conky to continue to drive craft cider sales.

8) Stand-out hot beverages sales

You can now bring some flower power to your drinks with Flora Tea, which could get your tea sales literally bursting with life.

Flora Tea is a flower bulb that blooms when you pour hot water over it. It takes one minute to open and then in four minutes time results in a refreshing drink.

9) Can you make more from meal for tonight?

Catch is a fish cake marker from the New Forest, which makes cakes from fish caught across the south coast.

The cakes are available in packs of four, RRP £6, and can be promoted with the brand’s sauces and pâté, RRP £2 and £3.50 respectively.

10) Soft drinks with a difference

Last year Colorado entrepreneur Ken Graham launched Sofa Folk Root Beer and Cream Soda in the UK after discovering he didn’t like any of the other products currently on offer.

Now the brand is planning to launch three new flavours, Juniper Juice, Californian Grape and Cloudy Apple.

The bottles and packs are still in development but the brand plans to launch the flavours in January.